For all the police handlers/trainers:

During your bitework training sessions, what percentage of time are you spending between Bite Suit, Hidden Sleve, and Muzzle Training? Not taking into account problem solving issues as that is a specific usage. Just general training.

X+Y+Z= 100%

Matthew,
Our agency's K9 teams currently hold formal training sessions 5 hours a week. I try to bump that number up another 5 hours when things are slow and I feel my partner might be slipping in some areas. Right now we train odor work (bombs/narcotics and tracking) one week and bite work ( buiding searches, area searches and straight apprehension work) the following week. If we see a problem with one of the dogs during the apprehension training we adjust our training to correct. I Personally like to have my partner in a muzzle on a regular basis as well as use the hidden sleeves in a very controlled situation (he is not equipment reliable unless its obvious). The bite suit is used quite often to keep our dogs from being sleeve happy and it teaches them that it is alright to bite anywhere they can. Our favorite type of training is real life scenarios where we perform car releases, pursuits that end in apprehension, dual decoy and two dogs on one decoy, the bite suit is a must here. We utilize the correct equipment needed when scenario training so its not like we specifically choose certain equipment just for the sake of using it. We have found that performing real life situations is as close to getting the dogs the experience they need without actually catching/biting people for real. Since we have been training this way, about 4 years now..we found that the dogs seem to learn the street game quicker because they are exposed to situations that they will likely see for real. Hope this helps.........Howard

It sounds like you have a squared away program Howard. I was curious what is the breakdown of time you spend between the hidden sleeve, the bite suit, and the muzzle.

I ran into an officer the other week who is having equipment fixation issues with his dog who has been on the street for about 3 years. When we got into what his training set up is I found out that he did 90% of his bite work with a jute bite bar sleeve.

My own opinion was that the sleeve should have been left in the trunk the day he got home from basic training with the dog. I think the extensive use of the jute sleeve conditions the dog to be fixated on equipment. I am convinced that many dogs arn't truly scenting man on tracks and on searches, that they are scenting jute... and the bite suit if used extensivly, because of the equipment fixation.

Anyhow... then the question came up how much time should be spent between the hidden sleeve, the bite suit, and the muzzle on a dog that has no bite issues to correct. My reply, hmmmmm..... good question!

Matthew,
I agree that the sleeve shouldnt be used for the majority of the training when the dog has successfully completed its initial school. The only time we really use the sleeve more is when our yearly certification is coming due and the evaluators will only be seeing the use of the sleeve. There is no doubt that the dog has associated the odor of equipment with the decoy when training in open areas or buildings when they have to use their nose exclusively. We like to conduct searches on a regular basis where the helper has no equipment with him at all. Obviously this can be dangerous so it is imperitive that there is no way that the dog can get to the helper for a real bite. Ive noticed an increase in my partners search drive when he is only allowed a bite on an irregular basis. and the fact that he is aggressively searching for human odor alone gives me peace of mind and confidence. Using unknown helpers to the dog is also done as much as possible. Basically what Im getting at is that a well rounded training regimen with a lot of variables coupled with the whole equipment arsenal makes doggy a good boy...Plus its fun...Howard

Originally posted by Ptlm. Matthew Grubb:
For all the police handlers/trainers:

During your bitework training sessions, what percentage of time are you spending between Bite Suit, Hidden Sleve, and Muzzle Training? Not taking into account problem solving issues as that is a specific usage. Just general training.

X+Y+Z= 100% Depends on the point in time in training, the goals of the training excercise, the character of the dog, and the work that is put in by the handler.
Too many variables to just add x,y,z

Kevin,
Well put. Sometimes I ramble on too much. I guess what I was trying to get at was to ask yourself what you want to achieve and then coordinate your training accordingly. That will dictate what equipment you use and how often....Howard

Matthew,

You stated:
"I am convinced that many dogs aren't truly scenting man on tracks and on searches, that they are scenting jute... and the bite suit if used extensivly, because of the equipment fixation."

I think this is very possible. To keep it so the dog has to track the helper, would it be sufficient to place the sleeve in a predetermined area and have the helper lay a track then go to the sleeve? That way the dog has to follow the helper scent, which will eventually lead to a bite?

I do this with my dog, and mybe I am incorrect in my logic, but it seems possible to me that the dog would follow the helper track directly to the sleeve and bite. The sleeve is placed in the predetermined area before the dog is ever brought out, that way the dog is unaware of any equipment. The helper agitates.....runs and lays the scent, then hides in the area of the sleeve (with the sleeve on of course)........the dog tracks the scent o' helper, and BAM......is my logic correct?

Drew,
I utilized that very same logic but in a slightly different situation. When my partner was somewhat of a rookie I sent him on an escaped prisoner from out of state. He was wearing shorts and a tank top. The dog hit him full speed in the back and knocked him down but failed to bite. This concerned me because he has had a few real bites with no problems. The best that I could determine was that he had never aggressed on anyone dressed in that manner and was unsure of what to do. Several sessions of muzzle fighting and runoffs to a pre hidden sleeve has fixed the problem (with the helper dressed in "summer clothes"). He has since proven on the street that he no longer has an issue with lots of exposed skin.

I knew this old brain of mind was working today.. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> . I didn't realize that clothing could make that much of a difference though....to some degree, yes, but summer clothes....v. winter clothes....v. no clothes......yikes.....

Drew,
I know this sounds whacked but I cant think of what else it might have been. To the best of my knowledge all his pror training was done by helpers in full gear/clothing. The only time he has been exposed to people dressed in minimal clothing since I have had him is when he is in low/no stress situations like at home or at demonstrations where he is forbidden to aggress ,unless absolutely neccessary. The initial problem solving stages indicated confusion on his part when commanded to engage a helper with minimal clothing. Muzzle work was also less than spectacular as opposed to regular formal training on fully clothed helpers. I may have been completely off the mark but he no longer hesitates or holds back now. Apologies for getting off the original subject, Matthew.........Howard