A Belgian Malinois was shot by a police officer after attacking it's K9 hanlder when responding to a bank robbery. The link to the article is below Lafayette, IN Police Dog Shot
In the article it says that the officer had been bitten 2 times prior to the fatal incident. In April the handler sustained a broken arm inflicted by the dog, while he was putting on flea-tick meds. It seems to me that this dog probably had temperment issues and should have been evaluated. I didn't read anything that would suggest it had been done. This incident might have been avoided if proper steps would have been taken.
As an amateur pet trainer only, I hesitated to comment on this story, but I'm going to put in my two cents as a layman anyway:
1) Dutch working lines Malinois...
2) HIGH drive, dominant (intact?) male...
3) Trained not only in tracking & drug detection, but also in bite work...
4) This K9 had shown prior increasingly serious handler-aggression on at least two previous occasions...
5) Crime scene location where (I assume) the dog was very focused & frustrated (agitated?) wanting to begin his job...
6) Handler was restraining him to put on the dog's working tack, maybe had to give strong correction/s, possibly pinched him in the process (?)
7) I don't suppose this type of deployment would ever be done in muzzle (?)
So, what steps would folks experienced in these matters say should have been taken along the way in this dog's AND this handler's training & management (from selection up to the final event) that may have helped prevent such an unfortunate outcome ???
I, too am an amateur. Could there have been re-testing of temperment under stressful conditions? What I meant was a closer evaluation of the dog in mock training? How he responded under pressure. The handler may have triggered something. They were together for 2+ years. There alot of questions that are floating around as far as I'm concerned.
Ed Frawley Administrator Reg: 07-11-2001
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This is not the first time something like this has happened and it will not be the last.
We only know one side of this story and the media is seldom an accuate source of information. (they never let the facts get in the way of a good story)
I don't allow civilians to comment on the training of police service dogs on this board. Don't take is personally - its a simple issue of a lack of qualifications.
Ed, I agree with your comment of the media the more specialized an activity the more inaccurate the reporitng becomes. That being said I've owned and trained protection dogs for 15 years, including helping with K9s, and I've never been "BITTEN" by one of my dogs. We're not talking about a nip here, they had to shoot the dog. Someone at sometime should have figured out something was amiss with this team.
Maybe the simple lack of qualification here was with the handler. It would be interesting to hear some speculation from the more seasoned trainers and handlers on the site that have been in this situation.
Ed Frawley Administrator Reg: 07-11-2001
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Luke - I too have never been badly bitten and I have owned and trained more dangerous dogs than most.
Training a personal protection dog or taking bites on a police K9 is not the same as a police service dog deployment. There are factors involved and adrenaline flowing that civilian dog trainers don’t experience.
I just don’t feel comfortable second guessing this handler or his training. I know officers that have had to shoot a dog off them. Each instance involves different circumstances. In my opinion each incident was warranted.
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Police Dog Shot after attacking handler
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