NCJ Number
212038
Journal
Law Enforcement Technology Volume: 32 Issue: 10 Dated: October 2005 Pages: 8-10,12,14
Date Published
October 2005
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This article examines K-9 management from the perspective of how law enforcement agencies select and procure dogs for their K-9 units.
Abstract
For law enforcement agencies, the quest for man’s best friend is a challenge worthy of the canine companions. The challenges facing law enforcement agencies in obtaining and maintaining an effective K-9 unit consist of the selection and purchasing of dogs that meet the requirements for police work and the ability of law enforcement agencies to supply administrative and budgetary support for their K-9 units. The demands on trainee search dogs are high and only a small population possesses all the necessary characteristics to complete training. To select dogs that are trainable requires knowledge of which traits are most important and predictive of future success. Since search dogs are used for a variety of purposes, the article examines whether the characteristics required for different uses vary. In addition, how to select the best behavior traits for any police service dog is discussed and include traits, such as motivation to search, independence, and prey behavior. However, it is important to remember that a dog’s potential is limited by its genetic makeup. Drives cannot be created or eliminated, only enhanced and modified through training. It is said, that only about 10 percent of dogs bred for police work display the aptitudes necessary to perform search tasks.