May 18, 2011
I was wondering if you could tell me were I could get some info on the required training hours a narcotics dog should have and a patrol dog?
Full Question:
I was wondering if you could tell me where I could get some info on the required training hours a narcotics dog should have and a patrol dog? Reason being our new chief thinks one day a week is too much for four dual purpose dogs and wants to cut us down to twice a month. We do use our dogs a lot considering we work in the projects and border one of the highest crime rate cities around. Most of the dogs are young. 
Leerburg's Answer:
I always recommend a minimum of 4-6 hours for a Patrol dog and 4 hours for a narcotics dog per week, once you have the dog at a level where you would call your work maintenance. If remediation needs to occur, or if your deployments are far above average this time increases to maintain proficiency. Lack of use does not equate to a decrease in need of these maintenance hours.
If you track extensively you should look at an increase in this as well for the multipurpose dog. If you assist or are part of a tactical team, which utilizes the canines as more than outer perimeter security, you must also increase this amount to include team training with tactical officers or with K-9 handlers in the role of tactical officers. The time commitment is significant but the rewards are high levels of proficiency leading to strong officer safety, good defense against frivolous lawsuits, it protects the administrators and supervisors from failure to train issues, and it will lead to more evidence located, more suspects captured, and greater confidence among the handlers. Certainly not least is that the confidence department personnel will have in the program increases resulting in the use of a proven, valuable resource.
There is also another end to this. LEO's can be lazy and that includes K-9 guys at times. They must be held responsible for using their training time wisely and this is the supervisor’s job and in turn the administration must be kept appraised of the training the dogs are under going. After action reports, training records, and an ongoing evaluation of the progress of the handlers and dogs is a must. I am also an advocate of training in areas where you have a great amount of your field calls so that the troops see handlers working their dogs, not drinking coffee. Communication with dispatch and field supervisors must be maintained during training so that a response can be made to canine deployments during general maintenance hours. The handlers must be aware that they are subject to call out and that the field guys know how to get a hold of them.
Kevin Sheldahl
K-9 Services
If you track extensively you should look at an increase in this as well for the multipurpose dog. If you assist or are part of a tactical team, which utilizes the canines as more than outer perimeter security, you must also increase this amount to include team training with tactical officers or with K-9 handlers in the role of tactical officers. The time commitment is significant but the rewards are high levels of proficiency leading to strong officer safety, good defense against frivolous lawsuits, it protects the administrators and supervisors from failure to train issues, and it will lead to more evidence located, more suspects captured, and greater confidence among the handlers. Certainly not least is that the confidence department personnel will have in the program increases resulting in the use of a proven, valuable resource.
There is also another end to this. LEO's can be lazy and that includes K-9 guys at times. They must be held responsible for using their training time wisely and this is the supervisor’s job and in turn the administration must be kept appraised of the training the dogs are under going. After action reports, training records, and an ongoing evaluation of the progress of the handlers and dogs is a must. I am also an advocate of training in areas where you have a great amount of your field calls so that the troops see handlers working their dogs, not drinking coffee. Communication with dispatch and field supervisors must be maintained during training so that a response can be made to canine deployments during general maintenance hours. The handlers must be aware that they are subject to call out and that the field guys know how to get a hold of them.
Kevin Sheldahl
K-9 Services
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