NCJ Number
127483
Date Published
1990
Length
327 pages
Annotation
This dissertation identifies and describes sources of information on the working dog industry that may prove useful to the military in designing a successful working dog program for law enforcement and physical security operations.
Abstract
Information was derived from a traditional literature search using Dissertation Abstracts, the Defense Technical Information Center, the National Technical Information Service, Index Medicus, FEDLINK Technical Notes, the On Line Computer Library Center, a questionnaire, oral and telephone interviews, and written requests for followup information. The study concludes that the lack of a centralized system to consolidate and standardize pertinent information about the use of working dogs is an industrywide problem and that ample information, resources, and expertise exist to assure the optimum operation of a working dog program once goals, resources, methods of procurement and training, and commitment by management are assured. Study recommendations focus on the need to exploit outside expertise and to establish an information management system that will keep information sources current. Four factors are crucial to a military working dog program: development of a master plan; unified command and control (management); consistent procurement methods; and quality and quantity of the end product. Additional research needs to be directed at each of these factors in order to verify and demonstrate optimum methods and principles involved in producing a consistent supply of working dogs. Appendixes contain the study questionnaire, supplemental information on the military working dog program, and a list of military literature.