Police Dog Service Puppy Rearing Program

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Table of Contents

Forward

Puppy Rearing

Foundation of Temperament in the Dog

Philosophy

Grooming

Kennel Maintenance

Obedience

Performance Requirements for Evaluation of Dog Handler Teams

Criminal Apprehension

Tracking

Conclusion

Guidelines - Puppy Rearing Program

FORWARD - DOG REARING PROGRAM

The goal of this program is to have potential dogs being raised in an acceptable manner for us to determine if they will make suitable Police Service Dogs.

You have displayed an interest in Police Dog Service and have agreed to help us in this program. By doing so can be beneficial to yourself as it gives you a great deal of hands on experience with dogs as well as it hopefully produces potential police service dogs for us. As a participant you will be responsible for the care and well being of these dogs. Naturally a police service dog must possess certain special qualities that are necessary for training. Hopefully the dogs selected for this program will have or show a potential for these desired qualities and it will be you who should be able to maintain and nurture these required attributes in the dog.

The supervising dog handler will monitor your progress and assist in all aspects. Should any problems arise he should be available for assistance as well as this Training Center will be available to assist when required. Your monthly dog rearing report along with the new monthly training chart will be monitored by both the local dog handler and this Training Center. In this manner we should be able to assist you in your progression of rearing and any training to be done.

The following information will assist you in your endeavors.

PUPPY REARING

The O i/c Police Dog Service will advise the Officer Commanding as well as the division F.S.S.B. Officer of those potentials volunteering in order that they are made aware of the condition of the rearing arrangements. The kennel house and run will be supplied to the member. All expenses ie food, veterinarian, etc., will be paid for by the individual and recouped on 1393, use collator X6132.

At each month's end, the potential dog handler will be required to submit a report on the dog. Form .2303 is supplied for this purpose and is to be forwarded through your supervising dog handler (see appendix "A") along with the frequency graph (attached at appendix "B").

CRITICAL STAGES OF CANINE SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

Ref: Roscoe B. Jackson Memorial Laboratory, Bar Harbour. Maine
Dr. John Paul Scott

STAGE 1 - BIRTH TO 21 DAYS OF AGE - FOOD - WARMTH - MASSAGE - SLEEP

a) eyes open between 11-19 days

- cannot see until 21st day
- will not blink unless eye is touched
- blinking is a learned reflex

b) walking begins between 13 and 18 days

- before this, they crawl
- abrupt change from crawl to walk
- never regress from walk to crawl

c) elimination is a reflex to licking

- occurs where they lie
- after 21st day
– move from nest to eliminate

d) ears are plugged until 21st day

- will not respond to loud noises
- cannot hear

e) several neonatal behaviors cease abruptly on 21st day

- crawling
- crawling backwards
- swinging head sideways

f) 21st day

- all sense organs are functional
- no longer dependent on reflex response to hunger, cold, or touch

Two Methods of Verification

1. Electroencephalograph

- recording of brain wave patterns

- very little difference in brain wave activity whether asleep or awake

- no change in activity under stimulus of loud noises

- before 21st day there is virtually no activity

- on the 21st day there is a profound change in activity in differentiation between asleep and awake from external stimuli

2. Myelination of central nervous system pathways - anatomical studies

- several cranial nerves immature and not fully developed

- rapid cranial developments from 21st day

- by six weeks all but optic nerve fully developed for functioning

CONCEPT; The first 21 days the wires connecting the switchboard in the brain are in the blueprint stage and it takes three weeks to get all wires hooked up and the juice turned on.

STAGE 2 - 21 DAYS TO 7 WEEKS - SOCIALIZATION AND CANINE BEHAVIOUR

A) Intelligence and emotions begin functioning from 21st to 28th day

- primitive drives develop

- moods develop

- aggressiveness and instincts develop

B) Removal from dam for extended periods will create emotional upsets

- at no other time can a puppy become so emotionally upset nor could, such an emotional upset have such a lasting effect as during the period from the 3rd to the 4th week of life

C) 28th day to 7 weeks of age is when canine behavior is learned from dam and siblings

- order of dominance is formed
- degree of aggressiveness is formed

- the pack leader, if male will be the largest, if female, the loudest

- if removed during this period from the litter - can result in sexual aberrations and fighters who do not know how to get along with others of the same species
- begin to form learning habits and learn how to learn

STAGE 3 - WEEK 7 TO WEEK 12 - LAST CHANCE TO SHAPE CHARACTER TRAITS AND BIND PUPPY TO OWNER

a) dogs left with dam and siblings during the period 7-12 weeks with little individual attention, may develop as:
- bully
- underdog
- unresponsive

b) little individual attention will limit learning ability

c) would develop preference for company of dogs to humans

d) would fail to learn how to learn and be unsuitable for training

STAGE 4 - WEEK 12 TO WEEK 16 - INDEPENDENCE

a) during this period the dog learns to depend on himself as an entity

b) instincts, drives, etc. are developed or repressed

c) a degree of sovereignty develops

At the end of this period, culminating the four critical stages of his life, the dog is what the product of the four stages has made him, which cannot be altered.

Environmental stimuli have systematic effects on a dog's behavior as is apparent in the stages of canine social development. Dogs should be familiarized at night as well as during the day. The following are some of the areas the dog should be made familiar with: traffic, riding in a vehicle, crowds, bush, stairs (up and down), elevators, waxed tile floors, machinery.

Dogs should be socialized with people as well as other animals in order that he/she establish an indifferent attitude to their presence.

Potential service dogs should be raised as the animals they are, not as children in fur coats. To develop properly they must have the right environment when they are young. During the pup's early months the physical and social environment have their maximum impact. A dog cannot be permitted to develop on his/her own without direction with the idea of her/him eventually having the potential for police service.

Dog have natural traits, ie herding, coursing, trailing, retrieving, stalking, alerting, as well as social organization. These traits are also true of wolves. It is these traits that we look for when testing a dog's potential for service as they vary in desire. Our interest in the traits first mentioned are self evident by what we train our dogs to do, however, his/her place in the social structure also has meaning - dominance. We are interested in dominant dogs as subordinate dogs lack the confidence required to do the job.

As we want the dog to be dominant within his/her social organization, she/he must also respect the handler as the master. This is done by a bond of mutual respect between handler and dog which will result in a reciprocal affection between the two. This bond between dog and handler is the basis for all training of that animal. The dog must learn at an early age to respect the handler. She/he should respect authority judiciously applied by the handler. The dog may have many human friends, but only one handler. Nature provided a dog with a tendency to go as far as he/she can with all its endeavors. The handler must stand unchallenged in suppressing some of these endeavors. Between the dog and handler, the handler must be dominant. However, the handler should not misinterpret being dominant as being overbearing. Overbearing will produce unacceptable results.

A dog should be discouraged from wrong doing by shaking him/her by the scruff of the neck, Discipline must be administered immediately and only if you have caught her/him in the act. Should the dog run to avoid discipline, do not call him/her to you and give her/him what for, you go to him/her.

In training a dog, the handler must learn to communicate at the dog's level. An understanding of how the dog sees you is important. When a. pup is taken from its littler mates, he/she begins an adjustment period. How brief this period is depends on the handler. The pup will respond to the family as though they were members of her/his pack. The handler must convince the pup to pay attention to him/her, establish her/himself as the leader and develop a bond. A dog extends and receives effectively through body language and physical contact, stroking, roughhousing, etc. As well, he/she will soon relate to voice inflection which will become very important in her/his police service training as he/she will associate words with events, tone to praise or corrections, etc.

Obedience training of potential service dogs will be done under the direction of the dog handler supervisor. The potential dog handler will not advance on his/her own. He/she will, however, practice those aspects already instructed by the dog handler. These sessions should be about 5-15 minutes twice per day, if possible, five-six days per week.

Basic tracking exercises may also be introduced by the dog handler supervisor. This allows opportunity to assess the dog's tracking potential prior to his/her being brought in for training. Searching, however is not done until the dog is brought in for training.

The equipment for this training, ie - choke collar, leash and long line will be paid for by this center, along with grooming gear, feed and water containers.

To train dogs to track, search and pursue a fleeing suspect they must have an abundance of natural desire to retrieve. The rearing of a pup then must include some basic retrieving exercises. Formal training should not be attempted because if not done correctly, it could ruin the dog's desire. Get him/her chasing a variety of objects - soft as well as hard. Encourage him/her to bring
them back but don't insist. The kennel run (6' x 6') and the house (4' x 5') will be shipped to you. A proper lock is required to secure the kennel gate on the run - see Appendix "B"

It is important that the kennel run and house be kept clean. The run should be floored with "pea" gravel (approx 1/2 yard). Parasites thrive in filth so ensure stools are removed as soon as possible. Place stool in a plastic garbage bag in a closed container and empty the container daily and disinfect, weather will dictate. However, the kennel house and run should be cleaned and disinfected monthly.

Six to twelve month old pups should be fed twice daily, morning and night. Feeding times should be consistent from day to day. Twelve to 18 month dogs can be fed once per day, however if convenient, a small portion of the daily feeding could be given in the morning (a light breakfast) which is considered a better feed program. The food should not be left with the dog longer than 15-20 minutes whether he has eaten or not. This trains the dog to eat when offered rather than become a picky eater. The job he/she will be trained to do demands her/him being in good condition. This feed procedure ensures him/her being well fed at all times also, food left for long periods promotes contamination. Feed dishes should be washed immediately after use. Water buckets should be washed and fresh water supplied daily.

The dog should be groomed daily. This ensures a healthy coat and skin. Bathing the dog is done when needed. The feel of his/her coat or her/his odor will be your guide. Use a good quality dog shampoo. In the event the dog has a skin problem a veterinarian will recommend the shampoo. When grooming or bathing, take the opportunity to check the dog over thoroughly. The nails should be checked to see if they are split or in need of trimming; pads to see if cut or foreign object between toes, such as fox tails; the ears should be cleaned when necessary, using a cotton swab moistened with mineral oil. Check the eyes for foreign bodies which are causing tearing. A cool moist or a dry warm nose is not an indication of the dog's health. The nose is thick tough skin and is without glands. Any moisture that may be present is due to the dog licking or nasal secretions. The skin should be smooth, pliable and free of scales, scabs, odorous secretions and parasites. Part the hair in several places and check the skin itself.

A dog's hair coat is made up of guard hair (long outer coat), fine hair (under coat) and tactile hair (whiskers). German Shepherds shed and replace coats continuously. The temperature of the dog's environment as well as the amount of light he is subjected to (artificial or natural sun) are major factors as to the amount of shedding. The coat itself should appear glossy.

A pup is born without teeth. The deciduous teeth start at three -four weeks and are all in by the time he is six weeks of age. Between two and five months the permanent incisors come in followed by the permanent canines at five - six months. The last molar in the lower jaw appears at six - seven months.

A healthy German Shepherd looks the part. He/she is alert, sharp-eyed, ears erect and his/her coat has a healthy gloss to it. When he/she is feeling down your first clue will likely be a change in her/his personality. He/she will appear somewhat listless, eyes dull and the ears held less than erect. The hair coat could be dull but not always true. Get to know your dog as quickly as you can and you will readily identify when she/he is not up to his/her norm.

Male dogs and bitches reach puberty between 6 - 12 months of age. Males may be able to produce sperm and copulate as early as four to five months. Puberty is influenced by climate, nutrition, breed of dog and his/her psychological maturity. Mentally, they reach maturity at 12-18 months, some longer, some not so long, depending on the individual and her/his environment. Experience has taught us in Police Dog Service that a female does not show true mental maturity until about 24 months of age-

A potential dog handler rearing a Force-owned pup has certain do's and don'ts he/she must adhere to;

DO'S

- observe his/her actions and interpret those actions

- be consistent, be patient and anticipate the dog reactions

DON'TS

- make a young dog jump hurdles

- be overbearing (browbeat)

- let dog run loose in traffic

- nag the dog or chase him/her to catch her/him

A well rounded potential dog for police service will possess the following;

- well familiarized

- best of health

- basic obedience training

- a good retrieve quality

One of the major problems of Police Dog Service is to have suitable dogs available for training. With the assistance of qualified potential dog handlers this "in-house" rearing program will, hopefully, alleviate at least some of our problems in this area of concern.

FOUNDATION OF TEMPERAMENT IN THE DOG

When wishing to train a dog and to understand and judge its behavior it must be clear that human standards cannot be applied. A dog is not a creature which thinks and feels in a human way, but a beast of prey which man has turned into a domestic animal.

The nature of our domestic dog is composed of the inherited qualities of its wild and domesticated forebears and its own personal experience. It is important for us to recognize that about 75% of the mental qualities are derived from its wild forebears and only about 15% from domesticated forebears; only about 10% are acquired qualities.

We see from this how all-powerful are the inherited instincts of the wind forebears, even today in our domestic dogs and how important it is to direct these instincts at an early stage into the channels we want in such a way that the dog does not suffer any psychological damage and is able to adapt itself to human society.

The instincts of the dog correspond to several groups of functions. Among them, the instinct of self-preservation and the instinct to perpetuate the species are predominant. The largest part is played by the instinct of self-preservation without which all life would come prematurely to an end. On the instinct of self-preservation are based the instincts of feeding, flight, self-defence and in part, gregariousness.

In the feeding instinct once again are rooted the instincts of hunting, tracking, seeking and retrieving, which express themselves in the passion for hunting (instinct of pursuit), and in the desire to seek and fetch. To the instinct of flight correspond timidity, mistrust and fear. The instinct of self-preservation expresses itself in the apparent sharpness of the dog which bites through fear.

In the domain of the instinct to perpetuate the species belong the instincts of sociability and reproduction. The social instincts are divided into those of aggression, defense, self assertion, subordination, homing, watching and guarding. These express themselves once again in courage, the urge to dominate, submissiveness, dependence on human beings, watchfulness and in good guarding qualities. The instinct of reproduction expresses itself in the sexual and parental urges. Apart from all these instincts which are found in every dog, each individual differs in respect of temperament, fortitude, hardness or softness.

From the domestic forebears are inherited confidence in man, increased ability to learn and suppression of the instinct of flight, ie confidence in the presence of man.

The acquired characteristics are based. upon the personal experience of the individual, its upbringing and training. These are not qualities which derive from the instinctual domain, but factors which are anchored in memory and determine action. Now it is a characteristic of domesticated animals, and above all dogs, that they are much less homogeneous in their instinctive make-up than their wild forebears. Thus, particular instincts may be exaggerated or barely present.

The temperament of a good working dog is strong in respect. Of the instincts of tracking, mobility, aggression, defense, subordination and guarding. In the case of watch dogs the guarding instinct and in the case of hunting dogs the hunting instinct, should be marked and predominant.

The effects of the instinct of flight are generally undesirable. Fear and timidity, which are characteristics of the wild animal, are disturbing factors in human society and create obstacles to proper upbringing and training. A moderate degree of mistrust is, however, desirable so that the dog may be aware when there is danger. The instinct of flight of the wild forebears should be severely reduced and discouraged. Dependence on and trust in, man must prevail over the instinct of flight in every situation.

Of recent years it has been realized more and more that unwanted instincts can be eradicated and desired qualities promoted by planned breeding. In this way we may increase and improve the inheritance from domesticated ancestors and so lay the foundation for the breeding of dogs which can be well trained.

In training, it is however, important to recognize which instincts can be made use of in connection with individual types of performance and how far they can be discouraged, promoted or even completely suppressed without bringing about situations of psychological conflict in the dog. The whole process of training requires from the dog in most cases a subordination of his instincts to the human way of life, which is of no interest to him and which he regards as something incomprehensible and alien.

The dog has no insight into what we want of him and for what purpose he is supposed to do or refrain from doing.

He has only a very limited capacity of penetrating into our minds, although a certain transference of feeling between man and dog is not excluded. Man, on the other hand, thanks to this intellectual superiority, is able, by studying the psychological qualities of the dog, to penetrate into his mind and understand him. Man has a moral obligation to study the minds of dogs if he wishes to keep and train them.

UNDERSTANDING BEHAVIOUR OF DOGS

It is not expected that everyone will already have the requisite knowledge for the correct training of a police dog. Such knowledge can only be obtained from practical experience with dogs and the development of an understanding of dog behavior To obtain this understanding, every officer selected to train and handle a police dog must have genuine interest in dogs.

The handler must be resourceful. Even though most training procedures are carefully set down and the handler is under supervision, it is inevitable that situations will arise calling for action not covered.

INDIVIDUAL TRAINING-REQUIRED

The methods of training are based on certain principles which apply to most dogs. However, dogs are not identical in characteristics and ability to learn. This means that some dogs must be handled and trained differently from others. Because of this, the rules of training have to be adapted to fit the needs of the individual dog. A resourceful handler can determine what is needed and devise methods to achieve the desired results.

The handler must develop perfect timing when giving commands, oral and visual.

In all his dealings with dogs, the handler must show patience and perseverance and realize that they cannot be expected to learn rapidly, or in the same manner, as human beings.

Throughout the dog's service, continuation training will need to be carried out. The responsibility for this training will rest with the handler. It must be done regularly and not left to refresher training

WORKING SUCCESS

The working success of dogs in the service depends to a large extent on expert handling and on the handler being so well acquainted with the peculiarities of his dog that he knows how to interpret correctly the meaning of the dog's every reaction. Unless the handler has learned to understand his dog and to train him well, the working results will always be mediocre.

Anyone who wishes to train a dog and to understand and judge his behavior must realize clearly that human standards cannot be applied. A dog is not a creature that thinks and feels as a human being does, but a beast of prey which many has turned into a domestic animal. Once this is properly understood, the rearing of puppies and young dogs will be an interesting and
worthwhile task.

PRINCIPLES OF DOG TRAINING

1. The training of dogs is not a problem which can be solved with a. mathematical formula.

The temperament and individual characteristics of each dog must be considered and the training varied accordingly. When a handler knows what the (Jog's reactions are likely to be, lie has the advantage. Experience and training will enable an observant handler to anticipate the dog's next move and will help the handler to decide whether to force or to modify his demands.

Knowledge of dog behavior does not come easily and can be acquired only by application and study. It is essential.

The following principles of training should be studied.

CONTROL

2. Control is the major factor in training dogs, self-control on the part of the handler as well as control over the dog. Self control requires that the handler must, at all times, have complete control over himself.

If he loses his temper, he will lose; angry reprimands, shouting, jerking and repetitions which follow will do nothing except confuse the animal.

IMPLICIT OBEDIENCE

3. When a dog fails to obey a command, there is always the possibility that he has not learned it properly. Right from the beginning of training, a dog should never be permitted to ignore a command or fail to carry it out completely.

He must learn to associate a command with his performance of it and must never be allowed to suspect that there is anything he can do but obey. Furthermore, the dog must learn that he will have to do what is commanded, however long it takes. Laxity on the handler's part on one occasion only, may make such an impression on a dog that difficulty in maintaining the standard of training may easily ensue.

All new exercises should be started when the dog is restrained and controlled if the acquisition of bad habits is to be prevented. The handler must be patient.

PATIENCE NEEDED

A dog can sense any change in the handler's attitude. Patience is a major requirement in training but, at the same time, it must be coupled with firmness. The moment it is certain a dog knows what should be done, instant obedience must be demanded and obtained.

OBEDIENCE TRAINING HAPPINESS

Training periods should be pleasant, then the dog will look forward to learning. Once this atmosphere is established, the dog will begin to enjoy training.

The ultimate aim of obedience training is that a dog will react in the same way each time he hears a certain command or sees a visual sign from the handler.

CONSISTENCY OF TRAINING

To obtain this degree of response from the dog, the handler must be consistent in commands and manner. The dog will not understand if there is, day by day, a change in tone of command or a marked variation of attitude. From the day the dog is taken over, the same pattern of behavior must always be followed. Consistency in command and action is of vital importance.

INCORRECT ASSOCIATION

As training in nose and criminal work progresses, the principles of association of ideas has to be amended. A dog rapidly learns to associate certain happenings with certain localities, sounds or people. If a particular criminal work exercise takes place too frequently in one location, the dog will anticipate what is required.

CHANGE OF TERRAIN

It is for this reason that training must be carried out in a variety of localities and terrain, so that no particular area is allowed to become associated with any one exercise in a dog's mind.

REPETITION

In the beginning of training, a dog is not aware of what is expected of him or how to associate words with the action required, it is natural that the dog will be uncertain of what he is to do.

Before he grasps the full meaning thoroughly a command and its response will have to be repeated a number of times. Hence, repetition plays a big part in the correct training of a dog. It is essential that a dog is made to carry out the same command time after time until the required response is obtained without any delay. This repetition is important.

AVOIDANCE-OF-BOREDOM

It is important, however, that boredom is not allowed to creep in. After a few commands of "sit", etc., it is far better to have a break or move on to another exercise.

COMMAND ACTION AND GUIDANCE

In teaching new exercises, the formula of Command, Action and Guidance is applied. This means that the dog is helped into the correct position when necessary but, as soon as it is expedient, the guidance must be withheld. Do not, however, repeat commands.

ATTENTION TO DETAIL

In the early stages, a dog should not be allowed to get into a wrong position, ie, a wide or lazy "sit" or "down" instead of "sit". The dog must be pulled up when he starts to do something wrong.

WORKING HAPPINESS

Play between exercises is as necessary and important as training, if working happiness is to be obtained.

COMMANDS NOT TO BE REPEATED

Commands should not be repeated once the handler is satisfied the dog knows their meaning as this will lead to a bad association in the dog's mind.

If a wrong command is given, no attempt should be made to correct it, as this will only tend to confuse the dog. Let the dog finish the first command, then give him the command originally intended. Each time the dog executes a command correctly he should be rewarded with praise.

REWARDS

Whenever a dog successfully completes any action or command, however small, he must always be rewarded. This should be given even when the dog has had difficulty in doing the task but has accomplished it in the end.

METHODS OF PRAISE

Praise can be given in various ways. This must be treated as of great importance and the praise for every small successful accomplishment must be given i n such a manner as will suit the individual dog.

It may be given by words, patting, food, etc. The handler must find out what praise suits his dog and the amount to be given and then apply it. After having been praised suitably the dog will sense that he has done the right thing and will do it the more readily the next time he is given the same command.

HAPPY CONCLUSION OF TRAINING

As has been stated, periods of training should end with about of play, but if the dog's performance in a particular exercise does not warrant praise, he must be allowed go perform a short exercise which he knows thoroughly an does well, so that he will earn a reward legitimately. In this way, all training periods will finish on a happy note.

CORRECTION

Dogs do not understand human standards of right and wrong. Reward and correction are the means by which a dog can be taught what must be learned.

If a dog does an exercise incorrectly, the exercise should never be allowed to go uncorrected. The handler should make the correction without losing his temper, help the dog to do the exercise correctly and then when it has been satisfactorily completed, give praise.

PHYSICAL PUNISHMENT UNNECESSARY

The simple admonition of "no" and the withholding of praise will often be sufficient. If not, then correction must be more sever and effected by correct use of the leash, check chain and vocal commands.

IMMEDIATE CORRECTION

It must be understood that any correction must fit the particular dog, as well as the incorrect behavior and equally important, that it must be well timed. A dog cannot connect punishment with incorrect behavior committed a long time before the punishment. Therefore, correction must be administered immediately a dog misbehaves.

He must never be punished for slowness in learning or inability to understand. This will only spoil training. He should learn to feel secure in being with his handler and to regard the hands of his handler as a symbol of affection.

PHILOSOPHY

PURPOSE AND STRUCTURE OF-TRAINING

- Police orientated
- support service
- student centered training
- individual attention to trainee
- multi purpose training
- one handler/one dog concept

PRAISE REWARD METHOD OF TRAINING

The dog is rewarded for his/her actions by praise from his/her handler both verbal and physical. In certain situations a material reward is used as well, along with the verbal/physical aspect.

Praise must be given when
- the dog has done what you asked of him/her
- through his/her actions it is just and deserving
- required to reassure an action.

The amount of praise given is dependent upon the individual dog, some requiring more than others. Sufficient praise must be given to display your pleasure to the dog for what he/she has done. Ensure all praise is genuine - from the heart, and that it is given at the right time to be meaningful. CAUTION - DO NOT OVER PRAISE.

COMPULSION

- "use of force"
- used to enforce a verbal command when dog does not perform
- the task
- don't confuse compulsion with correction
- don't use correction when compulsion is intended
- only use as much compulsion as is necessary to accomplish the intent
- the "amount" is dependent upon the circumstance

FIVE BASIC NEEDS OF THE DOG ARE:

FOOD - SHELTER - SELF-ESTEEM - LOVE & AFFECTION - PRAISE

There are a variety of factors which contribute to the phrase of "why dogs do the things they do". In order to understand a dog's actions you must be prepared to be part psychologist and reason out its actions, not react instinctively without thought. There are times when immediate reaction is necessary, however, understanding must play an integral part in training a dog. Some of the key factors which affect a dog's behavior are: moods, temperament, illness, instinct, conditioned response, confusion, taught behavior, copy behavior, creature of habit, animal scent and the animal world.

These factors all play an important part in determining what your dog does and why the dog does it. GET TO KNOW AND UNDERSTAND YOUR DOG.

THE BOND

In order for a good working relationship there must also be a good bond developed between handler and dog. A bond is not something you can force on a dog. It must develop naturally between both parties and takes time to accomplish. In order for this to happen you must first have a genuine liking for the dog. As well, by you being the provider of the five basic needs of the dog, he/she will soon respond and react in the desired manner.

B - believe - prime important
0 - observe - each dog is an individual consideration
N - nurture - to care for - to train - to educate
D - depend - on each other

B - BELIEVING IN THE DOG is of prime importance. Many actual cases illustrate this point. If the handler has the tendency to led the dog while tracking they will never become a proficient team since the dog will soon become discouraged and refuse to work properly. It is the duty of every dog handler too follow and investigate indications made by the dog no matter how impossible it may seem.

eg - P.S. Dog indicates a garbage can. Dog handler considers chastising the dog. Mentally alert, the dog handler lifts the lid of the garbage can and find the stolen goods inside. The dog handler stakes out the area and a short time later arrests the subject when he returned for the loot. This was an actual case.

By believing in the dog greater success and appreciation will follow. It is not intended that the handler should follow blindly behind the dog. We must remember that it is a team effort and as such, the handler must be mentally alert and assist when necessary, however, he should not doubt the ability of his charge. Many dog handlers learn to believe their dog following his/her doubt and oft times experience proves to be the best teacher.

0 - OBSERVE THE DOG - Each dog, as stated earlier, must be treated with individual consideration. Therefore, each dog communicates or indicates through actions, in a different manner. The dog handler must observe in order to interpret the actions of the dog. If the dog handler is not mentally alert he/she may miss the indication of the dog or he/she may
misinterpret an indication and this could mean the difference between success and failure.

N - NURTURE – This word not only pertains to diet, but also the education or teaching. Some people feel that there is no limit to what a dog can be taught. With the use of imagination and hard work a dog can become a very effective handler to contribute as much as possible to the education of his/her charge. By simulating actual working conditions the dog will become very proficient and confident. The more time one spends with the dog, and we must remember that the dog is learning all the time he is with the handler, the closer the union will become between handler and dog.

D - DEPEND ON ONE ANOTHER Under the heading Obedience it is seen that the dog must depend on his handler for his/her very existence. The handler will care for the dog in all respects. It is the duty of the handler to care for the dog in the best possible way. On the other hand, the handler must depend on the dog, hence a mutual feeling of dependence. The dog is the handler's so called bread and butter. If the handler has followed all the instruction received, passed the knowledge on to his/her dog through training and completed his/her responsibility then the handler has a proficient helper, one proficient enough on whom the handler can depend. Therefore the dependence is mutual.

The bond between handler and dog may be described as feel for one another, however it should be gone into much deeper since, without bond, we do not have a proficient working team.

The motivation of the handler is one point that must be considered. If a handler's motive for working with a dog is that of personal gain or prestige, then there is bound to be a gap in the bond. On the other hand, if his/her motive is the pleasure and satisfaction attained in working with the dog, then there is a better chance of the bond forming.

The bond between handler and dog does not come about immediately but is a gradual process which takes time, in some teams longer than in others. One prime factor is that the handler must like the dog. Throughout, mention has been made of dogs being individuals and as such have certain trait: that. are reflected. These may be referred to as personality traits which are taken up by the prospective handler. If the handler does not like the personality of a certain dog it is his/her duty to make his/her feelings known to her/his superior. Dislike of the dog on the part of the handler will reflect on the dog and the feeling will be mutual, resulting in no bond.

It is imperative that this bond is formed in order that a successful team can be produced.

The handler and the dog are the only two that know when the bond has been formed, but an experienced trainer can see the rapport between the two.

CONDITIONING AND PROGRESSION

Points of Importance
- show the dog what is required
- repetition of the exercises
- beware of too much too fast
- meet objectives
- progress within the level system

Progression within the level system is accomplished by;
- instruction (theory - classroom instruction)
- practice - (doing the practical field exercises)
- performance -(consistently meeting objectives)
- satisfy trainer - (and yourself)
- evaluate (done by Sr NCO)
- advance - (progression to the next level)

COMMUNICATION - HANDLER TO DOG

- voice (verbal commands)
- hands (signals)
- gestures (body movements)
- enthusiasm (displayed by handler)
- training aids (used to direct/correct)

COMMUNICATION - DOG TO HANDLER

Dogs communicate t." the handler by way of the eyes, the mouth, the voice, the stance of the body and the motion of the tail.

THE EYE: Squinted when in doubt, wide eye through excitement or self assurance at the situation.

THE MOUTH: Open and tongue wagging when happy and content, closed when uncertain or assessing and lip curled back and teeth exposed when upset by man or beast.

THE VOICE: Voice of the dog has a dozen inflections. The handler can tell by the bark or whine of his dog whether the sound is one of joy, pain, pleading, fighting, fear, play, warning or of mere
pleasure in barking through boredom.

THE STANCE: Body erect and tail up when in control. Body squats and tail part way down when in doubt or unsure.

THE TAIL; There is nothing in this world more expressive than a dog's tail except a person's smile.

READ THE DOG

CONSISTENCY, REPETITION AND ANTICIPATION

The key to successful training.

Consistency is essential in order for the dog to become conditioned to the desired response. There must be consistency in commands, how they are applied, and in what the dog can or can not do as part of the team. Repetition is the only way the dog will learn to do a certain task and be able to perfect it. Anticipation is necessary in order to attain optimum results, be it for praise, corrections or commands. Remember, the dog is a creature of habit and will become what you allow him/her to be.

The secret to successful training of a dog lies in two words - be consistent. As a dog handler you must recognize the importance of consistent actions. The concept that a dog must be made to do certain things is not one of the dog's but one of human's. A brood bitch will teach her pups by example, not by force. If you adopt the philosophy that by showing the dog what is required of it, be consistent in your actions, use praise and reprimand, voice and training aids,-you will have a well-trained dog. One that you can be proud of and one that will be an asset to law enforcement. A well trained dog is an asset, a poorly or untrained dog is a liability.

PATIENCE AND UNDERSTANDING

It is important that you remember the following points;

- temper and what it can do, or more importantly undo
- look at things from the dog's perspective
- avoid confusion where at all possible
- identify problems quickly and rectify

The three P's - PATIENCE - PRACTICE - PERSEVERANCE

POSITIVE REENFORCEMENT

- ideal as opposed to negative reinforcement
- think quickly
- don't allow dog to make mistakes

The use of the hands in praising the dog is a very important part of the training philosophy. The dog will not be physically abused in any way. Training aids will be used to the optimum. The electronic training aid will be used under the control of the trainer and only for specific problems that other training aids cannot correct. The dog is a being, not a machine and must be understood and cared for in every respect and taught what is necessary to produce a successful police dog. Dog handlers often hear outsiders say "you must have a great deal of patience to train dogs". Patience is a virtue as the saying goes, and successful dog handlers must be always aware that patience is necessary when training the dog. The handler must be the leader of the team. She/he must be firm but not tyrannical. He/she must be patient, have understanding and maintain a pleasant attitude in order to train a dog successfully. Training a police dog is a very worthwhile and rewarding experience.

The subject of training the dog begins and ends with the basic consideration that whereas a human is trained almost entirely by speech and the printed word, the training of dogs must be done by an appeal to the dog's mind through its physical senses, chiefly hearing and seeing. The entire philosophy of teaching technique in connection with canines must be founded upon this factual limitation.

"You can't teach an old dog new tricks" is a proverb quoted frequently, and like most generalities presents half a truth. Greater patience and understanding, a keener insight into the workings of the canine mind are necessary in teaching a dog already set in his ways, let us say, more than three years old. In most instances, the handler is unwilling or unable to furnish this supervision and training; the dog is too smart for the teacher.

The basic elements of educating the dog's mind apply equally to young and old dogs. Memory, repetition, fear, pleasure, reward and punishment, confidence in the handlerall apply fully to the old dog.

True training of the dog seeks not so much to make the dog a creature of habit as to train, educate and mould a dog's mental attitudes so that of his/her own accord, she/he can be depended upon to act consistently in varied situations.

DOG SENSES

The handler must also have an understanding of the dog's senses if he expects to train her/him successfully.

It is difficult, at times, to draw a line in the twilight zc-)ne between acts which arise out of pure intelligence on the part of the dog and acts which arise out of the dog's ability to learn by repetition.

The five common senses of the dog can be placed' in order of importance as means of communication and are;

1) smell 2) hearing 3) sight 4) touch 5) taste

FIRST - SMELL
The sense of smell in the dog is the most developed sense, far ahead of that in the human. It must be considered as being based not upon any discrimination in flavors or odors, but into general classification of smells, useful and useless, friendly and dangerous.

SECOND - HEARING
A dog is born deaf and cannot hear until approximately 21 days old. The young dog has problems telling what direction sounds come from until he/she is fairly mature. Dogs are sensitive to extremely loud noises and also to high pitched sound. Some researchers indicate a dog's hearing is somewhat more acute- than that of a human's while others indicate it is about the same in acuteness as a human's, however, the dog has a higher range of pitch. That is to say, dogs can hear sounds that a human cannot.

THIRD - SIGHT
We have long maintained that dogs are mostly color blind and we have been condemned soundly for the opinion. it is likely that the external world appears to them as varying highlights of black and gray. Experimental evidence supports the opinion that to dogs the world looks like a black and white photograph. Perception of movement is a type of visual stimulation to which dogs seem very sensitive. If an object is moved, ever so slightly, most dogs will detect it and respond to the movement. Dogs make- little use of their eyes in learning except for their perception of movements. Dogs cannot see as far distant as can humans.

FOURTH - TOUCH
Touch has little development in the dog because it is little needed. The hairy covering of her/his entire body, except nose, makes its use almost impossible.

FIFTH - TASTE
In taste, the dog has not developed variety. The dog can be taught to like almost any taste whether it is evil-tasting or agreeable-tasting. This must be borne in mind in connection with the overfeeding and the wrong feeding of dogs.

DO DOGS REASON?
Judged by the strict requirements laid down by psychology, the dog does not reason. To reason is to compare, to seek likenesses and differences, to go to the unknown from the known.

The mind of the dog responds to memory, whether the memory is that of fear or pleasure. To memory or association is added that ability to imitate. These, together, form the main background of the dog's mental processes. They may be acquired through the= instinct handed down generation after generation or through the training of the dog by its handler.

METHODS OF TRAINING THE DOG

The handler must study and observe his/her dog, take advantage of the dog's likes and inclinations. Each dog presents her/his own different case and the handler must adapt the instruction to the dog's personality and peculiarities.

One must acquaint himself/herself early with the idiosyncrasies, peculiarities and tendencies of his/her own dog.

Not all dogs have the mental qualities to make them well trained dogs. They differ in their abilities as do humans.

SOME PRINCIPLES OF DOG TRAINING

1. All dog training must be founded upon educating the dog,that is, drawing out of her/him and developing his/her instincts and accidental and acquired habits.

2. Situations and contacts must be interpreted entirely from the dog's, not, the human's, reactions and abilities.

3. The dog is not to be fooled. He/she has a sense of humiliation and of pride. If she/he has been taught to do certain acts, do not give him/her the command and then, trifle with her/him. At all times let hint/her see what you are doing. Always she/he is to understand that when you say certain things, he/she is to do certain things.

4. Success must be at the completion of an act of training. The dog is to understand that at the end, a certain thing will take place, for instance, if he/she is tracking, she/he must find the person tracked.

5. Commands always should be given in the same words and with the same tone of voice and speed of-speaking.

6. Anticipate the dog's actions. Think ahead of time. Give your command before the dog acts or moves.

7. If the dog does one step wrongly, do not repeat this step but begin again at the beginning for the dog must be taught to consider only successful acts in their entirety.

8. Reward or punishment should follow quickly after every act.To punish a dog at any other time than instantly after, the wrong act, is cruelty rattier than a part of training for the dog does not connect the punishment to the act.

9. The dog has a single track mind… Teach one specific thing at a time. This dogs not mean that a training period cannot include a half-dozen different tasks.

10. Give the dog a moment's time for carrying out your command. To demand instant obedience is to confuse the dog.

11. Have patience. The dog is not a human being. The dog probably is more successful as a dog that you are as a human being.

12. Develop a bond. All future training depends upon this.

13. Remember that a dog cannot ask questions, neither can he/she understand all you say. She/he knows only the words, the commands and the names you teach him/her.

14. The success of a handler depends on being able to make a dog understand what he/she has to do and then to instill that into her/his brain until it becomes instinctive.

15. Always use kindness.

16. Be decisive, firm and most of all, be sure that you know exactly what you want and how it should be done.

17. Never try to teach a dog anything until you yourself have, a thorough knowledge of how to teach it, and a. clear mental picture of each stage.

18. As far as possible, always have your dog with you, you cannot train him/her all the lime, but she/he will become accustomed to your actions, words and surroundings, which will help to make his/her training easier. When basic training is over, however, she/he should be housed in a kennel, not made a house pet of.

19. Never allow other people to pet and fuss over your dog unnecessarily. You are the dog's handler and he/&;he must look to you for everything.

20. Your first thought is your dog.

21. Always finish a training period on a good note. Never leave off if the dog has done something wrong. Correction is essential.

22. Never put your dog away for the night with a cross word, end the training period on a happy note and see that the dog has mastered the obstacle - and knows that he/she has done so - before you say "good night".

SOME TRAINING DON'TS

1. Don't punish your dog while you are angry or lack control of yourself.

2. Don't lose your temper while training your dog. If you do, he/she will lose some of his/her respect for you.

3. Don't chase your dog to catch her/him; he/she must come to you or follow after you.

4. Don't coax your dog to you and then turn upon her/him with punishment. You will regret the deception.

5. Don't nag your dog; don't be giving orders to him/her constantly; don't pester her/him with your shouting.

6. Don't punish the dog for failure to obey unless you are certain that he/she understood fully what you commanded.

7. Don't praise the dog for doing a certain act, then at a later time, scold him/her for doing the same act.

8. Don't permit anyone to give commands to your dog while you are training him/her.

DEALING WITH BASICS

When we strip away all tree furnishings, training dogs involves nothing but conditioning a desired behavior In this respect people are no different from dogs. Our behavior is a result of conditioning being reinforced by positive or negative rewards. To be sure, conditioning behavior in humans is much more complex that in the dog, but the principles are the same.

As we get involved in training, we sometimes lose sight of the fundamentals of conditioning. There are three basic laws that should be kept in mind when preparing to teach a dog something.

FIRST - The dog must be prepared to learn. If the dog is nick or frightened to the point his/her main concern is survival, or if she/he is aware that a bitch in season i5 around, he/she is riot prepared to seek social reward, i.e. praise and affection, from humans as a result of doing what we ask.

SECONDLY - The dog's performing what we ask must result in something meaningful happening to the dog. If nothing happens when the dog sits, he/she will not be very likely to do it again. However, if she/he were to get a steak, he/she would very rapidly learn that the result of sitting is eating a steak.

FINALLY - In order for a dog to learn, he/she must do it several times. A dog does not learn to sit by doing it once. On the other hand, if she/he repeats it too many times, his/her desire to sit may drop off fast. We must keep repetitions interesting and fun for the dog.

A conditioned response is a response to action (sitting) the dog learns to do when receiving a conditioned stimulus (a verbal command or signal). An unconditioned response is one that occurs that the dog may have no control over. An unconditioned stimulus is used to produce the unconditioned response. In all training, the job is to change an unconditioned response to a conditioned response. In teaching the sit, the unconditioned stimulus is putting the dog in the sit position, the unconditioned response. The command to sit is the conditioned stimulus, and the- dog's sitting on command becomes the conditioned response.

As stated earlier, in order for the response (the sit) to occur with some regularity, the response must be reinforced either positively or negatively. With the positive reinforcement (praise, petting), the reward follows the response. With negative reinforcement (discomfort) the response begins an end to the negative reinforcement. Furthermore, the shorter the time between response and reinforcement, the faster the learning takes place. Studies have shown that performance of animals trained with negative reinforcement drops off faster when the reinforcement is withdrawn than those trained with positive reinforcement.

There are two types of reinforces we should be familiar with, primary and secondary. Primary reinforcers are those used to establish learning acid are those that should have the greatest meaning to the dog. Primary reinforcers: praise, petting, discomfort. We cannot use these where the dog is not near us, but reward is still needed. We then use secondary reinforcers the most common being verbal praise.

TO A DOG

"Some years ago, Senator Vest, of Missouri, happened into a small town where a court case was in progress. The plaintiff was suing the defendant for the malicious killing of his dog, and the senator was asked by the attorney for the plaintiff to assist him. Evidence pro and con was adduced, but there was no certainty as to the finding the jury would arrive at until the senator took
the floor and addressed them:

"Gentlemen of the jury," the senator said in a quietly modulated tone, "the best friend a man has in the world may turn against him and become his enemy. His son or daughter that he has reared with loving care may prove ungrateful. Those whom we trust with our happiness and our good name may become traitors to their faith. The money that a man has he may lose. It flies away from trim in a moment of ill considered action. The people who are prone to fall on their knees to do us honor when success is with us may be the first to throw the stone of malice when failure settles its clouds upon our heads. The one absolutely unselfish friend that man can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts hire, the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous, is his dog. A man's dog stands by him in prosperity and poverty, in health and sickness. He will sleep on the cold ground, where the wintry winds blow and the snow drives fiercely, if only he may be near his master's side. He will kiss the hand that has no food to offer; he will lick the wounds and sores that come in an encounter with the roughness of the world. He guards the sleep of his pauper master, as if he were a prince. When all other friends desert he remains. When riches take wings and reputation falls to pieces, he is as constant in his love as the sun in its journey through the heavens.

"If fortune drives the master forth an outcast in the world, friendless and homeless, the faithful dog asks no higher privilege than that of accompanying him, to guard against danger, to fight against his enemies, and when the last scene of all comes, and death takes the master in its embrace, and his body is laid away in the cold ground, no matter if all other friends pursue their
way, there by the graveside will the noble dog be found, his head between his paws, his eyes sad, but open in watchfulness, faithful and true oven in death." The plaintiff had sued for $200.00; the jury's verdict was in his favor to the amount of $500.00."

GROOMING

The responsibility for grooming and maintaining your animal rents with you. This handout will provide you with the required knowledge carry out your responsibilities. Topics covered include:

1. Equipment
2. The Don'ts of Grooming
3. Proper Method of Grooming
4. Physical Examination while Grooming
5. Nail Trimming
6. Ear Cleaning
7. Anal Glands
8. Bathing

Prior to learning how to groom and why the need to groom you should first have an understanding of your dog's hair coat. The dog's coat is made up of three separate and distinct types of hair:

1. Guard Hair
- outside
- long and straight
- provides external protection

2. Under Coat
- under the guard hair
- shorter, more compact, "wooly"
- insulates (hot/cold)

3. Tactile Hair
- whiskers, eyebrows
- warning receptors
- rooted to sensitive areas

EQUIPMENT

Comb
- remove loose hair, tangles or burrs

Plastic Brush
- remove loose hair, stimulate oils, massage skin

Mitt
- used to finish procedure

Trimmers
- used to trim toe nails

Q-Tips and Oil
- used to clean ears

DON'TS OF GROOMING

1. Don't use horse grooming gear
- designed for horses, not dogs

2. Don't use stripping gear

3. Don't groom out undercoat
- serves as temperature regulator

4. Don't groom against grain
- breaks outer guard hair
- removes undercoat

5. Don't cut nails too short
- causes pain and bleeding
- causes apprehension in dog

6. Don't go too deep while cleaning ears
- could rupture ear drums

PROPER METHOD OF GROOMING

1. Groom daily
- imperative to insure health of dog
- prevent minor problems from becoming major problems

2. Cover entire body
- tip of nose to tip of tail

3. Use good deal of finger massage and hand strapping
- stimulates oils
- removes loose hair

4. Use comb to remove loose hair, tangles or burrs

5. Use grooming mitt and hand strapping to finish procedure

PHYSICAL EXAMINATION WHILE GROOMING

1. Eyes - color, dilation, discharge, redness, soreness, foreign bodies

2. Ears - discharge, smell, foreign bodies, inflammation, tenderness

3. Nose - discharge, moisture, temperature, foreign bodies

4. Teeth - calcium deposits, damage, tenderness, foreign bodies

5. Gums - color, blood supply (good indicator), tenderness, inflammation, foreign bodies. *To check health of gums, press just above canine, release and note recovery of pink
color

6. Throat - inflammation, foreign objects

7. Hair Coat - tone (glossy, dull), texture (smooth, matted), foreign bodies

8. Skin - loose, pliable, cleanliness, injury, hot spots, tenderness bruising, parasites

9. Pads - injury, foreign bodies

10. Nail - damage

11. Genitals - hot spots, discharge, injury

General condition - respiration, heart beat, personality, feeding, water consumption

EXTERNAL PARASITES

FLEAS
- small, brown or black, wingless, rapid moving insects that infest the
- hair coat of animals and occasionally, man
- feed on blood by biting affected animals
- responsible for the spread of some diseases and tapeworms

LICE
- small wingless insects
- two main types - biting and sucking
- biting - louse - irritation, do not penetrate skin, feed on
dead skin, natural body secretions and hair

sucking louse - penetrate skin and feed on blood may produce anemia

TICKS
- small parasitic insects capable of attacking moat animals and man
- attach to skin and feed on blood
- injure animals by the irritation of their bites and loss of blood
- "Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever" in man

MITES
- cause mange, scabies, ear infections
- do riot begin treatment until mite identified - eg canine ear mite, sarcoptic (scabies) mite, demodectic (follicular-) mite

NAIL TRIMMING

- regular intervals (monthly)
- if the tips are below the pads of the feet, the pads have no traction on smooth surfaces

Equipment
- nail trimmers
- silver nitrate stick - required should nail be cut too short and bleeding result

Method
1. Sit dog facing you on a steady table
2 Consider covering the dog's eyes if he is particularly adverse to having his nails cut
3. Hold foot in one hand
4. If possible, ascertain exactly where the quick in the nail ends (dark nails - check underneath the nail)
5. Clip on a 45o angle with the end of the clipper towards the nail
6. Start with hind dew claws, if there are any
7. Clip the nails on the forefeet
8. If quick is accidentally cut, wipe blood with cloth or paper towel and quickly put the silver nitrate stick on the toenail

EAR CLEANING
- check ears regularly
- excess cleaning not desirable because a certain amount of wax is needed to maintain the health of the tissues

Equipment
- Q-tips
- cloth, paper towel
- mineral oil (do not use ether, alcohol or other irritating solvents)

Method

1. Moisten cloth with mineral oil and wrap it around your finger

2. insert finger into the ear canal as far as it will go and gently wipe the surfaces to remove- dirt, excess wax and debris. Also clean shin on the inside of the ear flap.

3. Fold. and crevices which cannot be reached with the cloth can be cleaned with the Q-tip moistened in mineral oil. Hold applicator vertically and direct downward to a.void damaging ear drum.

ANAL GLANDS

- located at about five and seven o'clock in reference to the circumference of the anus
- appear to be of use in territorial marking and to enable dogs to identify one another
- impaction results when sacs fail to empty normally - can be expressed by vet during annual medical

BATHING
- over bathing a dog can remove natural oils which are essential to the health of the coat. Twice a year, spring and fall should be enough.

Preparation
- groom before bath
- plug ears with cotton
- put ointment in eyes to prevent soap burn (drop of mineral oil)
- select shampoo and water temperature

Method
- work from head to tail
- rinse thoroughly
- dry thoroughly
- keep dog warm, avoid chill

CONCLUDING STATEMENT
The importance and nature of police work places the police service dog in a special class. The number of working hours, the physical exertion and the constant vigilance which must be maintained by your dog while working is very demanding on the dog's body. Thus, the health and care of your dog is extremely important to the successful accomplishment of the team's function and every effort must be made to keep the animal in the- best possible state of health.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

The Standard Book of Dog Grooming
- by Diane Fenger and Arlene Steinle

Dogs and How to Groom Them
- by Hilary Harmer

The Complete Book of Dog Care
- by Leon Whitney

*Dog Owner's Home Vet Handbook
- by Delbert Carlson and James Giffin

Approximately 2/3's of your dog's life is spent within the confines of his/her kennel and run. It is her/his home: While your dog is within those confines, you become, of necessity, X11 things to him/her - butler, maid, maintenance person. To perform your duties you must first understand your responsibilities.

1. Type of kennel and run, including roof over the run
2. Location of kennel and run
3. Type of floor and run
4. Maintenance of kennel and run
5. Equipment
6. Cleaning of run and kennel house
7. Bedding

TYPE OF KENNEL AND RUN

- Force approved type kennel house
- approved run 4 m x 2 m x 2 m
- phylon fiberglass roof
- protection from; rain, snow, sun, foreign objects thrown in

LOCATION OF KENNEL AND RUN

- quiet area of a fenced back yard, away from distraction or teasing
- shaded area, if possible
- lock kennel - civil liability, prevent loss of PSD

TYPES OF FLOOR

- concrete - advantages/disadvantages
- easy to clean and maintain
- good drainage
- spreads toes
- not portable

- gravel (pea) - advantages/disadvantages
-inexpensive
- tightens up toes
- good drainage
- portable, easily removed

EQUIPMENT FOR MAINTENANCE OF KENNEL AND RUN

- shovel - removal of feces
- plastic garbage bags - line garbage can for disposal of feces
- garbage can
- hose - hosing run and kennel
- rake - loosen gravel
- squeegee - remove excess water from kennel are disinfecting
- disinfectant
- pail - fresh, clear water at all times
- straw or pine chips - bedding (use oat straw, doesn't chaff or splinter)
- tiger torch - disinfects run, destroys those organisms not affected by disinfectant - available from gas company

KENNEL DUTIES

- pick up feces daily or when necessary
- dog may eat if bored
- attacks disease carrying organisms

- hose down run daily, weather permitting
- disinfect run weekly with good quality disinfectant
- disinfect kennel house monthly
- change bedding periodically
- paint kennel house annually
- dismantle, repair hinges, etc.
- repaint (high gloss enamel, lead free paint)

The importance of sanitation and cleanliness cannot be over emphasized. Your dog's health and well being rests entirely on your shoulders. Don't let him/her down!

OBEDIENCE

Dog handlers have obedient dogs.

OBEDIENCE - The police service dog submitting to the authority the handler.

POLICE OBJECTIVES IN OBEDIENCE

- Control - could save dog's life
- Avoid bad publicity due to dog's action
- Good image - professionalism
- The dog will work much better if he is obedience - mutual respect
- An obedient dog provides a relaxed and comfortable working relationship

TRAINING AIDS
- 6 foot leash
- choke collar
- long line

TRAINING METHOD
- pressure and release
- loose leash except if correction is necessary
- quIck pressure -.release
- dog learns through repetition
- leash in right hand
- left hand is left free for praise and corrections

TIMING

Timing is as hard to explain as it is to understand. It is the art of making a correction and giving praise at exactly the right second. That split second is actually when the thought comes into the dog's mind and the split second before his body reacts. It takes a very good and knowledgeable handler who can read his dog quickly and well to have this perfect timing. Timing is something beginner handlers have difficulty with because they have not yet learned to read their dogs.

Almost anyone can develop good timing by concentrating on the practice sessions. Keep,attention riveted on the dog so the voice or leash can prevent a mistake and permit praise. Please don't interpret this as stringing up the dog on a tight lead. It means watching every movement of the dog on a loose lead and the split second you see him begin to move away from the heel position or hesitate before an automatic sit you can correct and praise simultaneously.

Timing is hard to develop and it takes concentration and practice. However, when you can distract or correct and praise when the dog is beginning to err, you may suddenly realize. you didn't even think about it. You just did it naturally. That's timing.

DRILL COMMANDS

- SQUAD FORWARD
- LEFT/RIGHT TURNS
- LEFT/RIGHT ABOUT TURN
- LEFT/RIGHT WHEEL
- LEFT/RIGHT ABOUT WHEEL
- WEAVE
- SQUAD HALT

BASIC COMMANDS

HEEL - SIT - DOWN - STAY - COME

VOICE

Volume
- should be used for emphasis
- don't yell, the dog's hearing is much more acute than human's

Tone
- must be separated into three separate areas:
- command tone
- praise tone
- reprimand or chastisement tone

Inflection
- will determine how your dog perceives the command
- tell him, don't ask him
- it must vary, don't be monotone

Genuine
- from the heart
- mean it

BODY LANGUAGE
- utilizing all your faculties to best advantage for the situation at hand:
- knees
- hands
- feet
- gestures
- eye contact
- "don't be overbearing or intimidating"

PRAISE
- must be genuine and from the heart
- too little or too much is no good
- the right amount just be determined between you and your dog

CHASTISEMENT
- by way of voice (command word "no")
- by way of training aids (leash and choke collar).
- never correct or chastise your dog in a fit of rage or temper

PROGRESSION IN TRAINING
- at the dog's pace
- don't progress too far too fast
- you may have to regress to reinforce
- exercise patience
- show the dog what is wanted
- his name is an attention getter, don't allow the dog to react until commanded
- obedience is an ongoing exercise that does not end on the obedience field, however, the handler should be cautious not to over train
- the over trained obedience dog may not perform the extension tasks properly,willingly and with enthusiasm.

GOLDEN RULES FOR DOG TRAINING
- be consistent
- preventing mistakes is easier than curing wrongs
- make absolutely sure your dog understands what you want of him
- praise the attempt
- keep your dog's attention at all times
- never train when you are tired or ill-tempered
- take each exercise by section, then fit them together
- use patience and perseverance
- each dog is different, know your dog and adjust accordingly
- repetition helps learning but watch out for boredom
- keep sessions happy, end exercises on a positive note

COMMON FAULTS
- not being consistent
- lagging or forging at the heel
- not sitting square
- not laying square
- not anticipating the dog
- not thinking quickly
- slow corrections
- improper use of aids
- over praising
- handler not being "himself"
- not sufficient conditioning to the commands
- being a tyrant
- excessive leg slapping
- multiple commands
- using the dog's name as a command instead of an attention getter
- improper speed - the man must set the pace
- dog breaking
- over training
- allowing the dog to make a mistake
- not mastering the dog
- not understanding the dog

TRAINING TIPS

Points to Remember

PLAY WITH YOUR DOG This can be done before, after and between training exercises; but - when working, be earnest and let your dog know it is serious business.

DO NOT OVERTRAIN Your dog's mind tires easily. At first, 5-10 minutes a day is all that is necessary. Gradually increase the training period to 20 min, then 30 min, etc. In hot weather, be considerate of the dog by working him during the coolest part of the day.

BE CONSISTENT Don't confuse your dog with multiple or varied commands.

BE PATIENT Move slowly. Your dog must understand his basics before you can advance him.

VARY THE EXERCISES The dog must not get bored. He should be looking forward to his training exercises eagerly and not respond like a robot.

BE FIRM He must do as lie is commanded; however firmness should be tempered with understanding.

CONTROL YOUR TEMPER: Temper has no place in dog training. Loss of temper ranks up there with frustration. If you feel your cool slipping - discontinue the exercise. Nothing will be accomplished anyway. Finish on a positive note.

KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF YOUR DOG Use the training aids as much ate. possible. Constant grabbing will cause your dog to shy away. This applies only to correction, not praise.

STROKES Kindness will accomplish much,more than harshness. A dog has a tremendous memory, and he won't forget one's attitude. towards him.

REDUCE DISTRACTIONS INITIALLY Gradually increase them.

MAKE PUNISHMENT FIT THE CRIME Never strike your dog out of temper. Voice tone, coupled with effective use of aids should make the dog understand your displeasure.

ALWAYS FINISH ON A POSITIVE NOTE The dog should be in G happy frame of mind at the termination of each session. He must be given something pleasant to remember, so
that he will eagerly await the next lesson.

REVIEW YOUR WORK If a dog fails a given exercise, don't be afraid or too proud to go back to basics. Sometimes you must back up to go forward.