NCJ Number
180706
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 47 Issue: 12 Dated: December 1999 Pages: 49-51
Date Published
December 1999
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article offers tips that can ensure a successful and productive police canine program.
Abstract
The first step toward success is to realize that police service dogs are not push-button machines; they require maintenance training. A department with a dual-purpose dog (one that works patrol and drugs) should provide at least 8 to 10 hours per week for training. This should include, but not be limited to, obedience, scent training, officer protection, searching, tracking, and apprehension training. Weekly evaluation sessions allow supervisors to evaluate their teams and discover whether a problem exists. Teams must train for distractions, and training outside the department should be regularly conducted, at least twice a year. Watching other teams and listening to various instructors with fresh ideas will motivate a team to excel and increase its success rate. Supervisors should know what tasks their canine teams are capable of performing, and patrol officers should know the team's capabilities as well. Once the team feels comfortable in working together, it should be used regularly. The more experience the team gets on the street, the more proficient and successful the team becomes.