This brings up a interesting point. Depending on the dog and the exercises in the trial, I'm not always sure this is a good way to judge a police service dog. I am NOT again NOT against trials, competition, or those who do it. I was only pointing out that some of them by design do not show true test of the dogs’ STREET ability. One handler I am working with now ran into this exact problem. He competed in a VERY well know K-9 trial in CA, and did well...5th overall. He called his Chief and was on cloud 9. He then came to the seminar I was one of the instructors for in LA. I along with another instructor found some major nerve problems with the dog. He was in no way a dog that should remain working the street. So how did he come in 5th overall? The trial was just exercises the dog has done over and over and become habituated, thus no stress. The major problem is now the handler has to go back to the Chief and explain why he needs a new dog. The Chief, after some discussion has figured out the difference between trial and reality. I only worry that there are numerous dogs out there that are the same way. I'm not knocking dogs who do well in trial, or the trials themselves, but scores and trophies do not a police dog make. JMO

No argument going on, good to hear there are those going above and beyond in the military and doing the bldg searches off leash. Like I said its up to the individual bases, but we do have our guidelines here, but all we do here is the initial training. The individual bases and kennel masters dictate the policies of the k9 teams.

The two military teams were invited to attend shortly before the competition. Neither had ever competed in any competition prior to this. I agree with you totally on competitions. I know that at Lackland they are trained on leash to teach pattern to the dog but once they leave school the deployment is no different than any other agency, the situation dictates how the team is deployed.

, but scores and trophies do not a police dog make. JMO
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I dont think anyone here thinks any orchestrated competition is a good evaluation of a dog. That is why we still have to evaluate sport titled dogs. I was simply saying that I was impressed with the Military dog teams that I saw. I certify dogs,so I get to see some "working" police dogs with lousy obedience,lousy outs etc.

I recently attended a K-9 competition where there were several MWD Teams entered. For the most part the performance was scary. Dogs that would not indicate on a person in a box until the handler appraoched to support the dog, dogs not allowed off lead since the base commander didn't want them off lead (nor should they be off lead since they were severely lacking in drive and skills). Head down slow obedience was the norm. I also see the maintaininace training at a local base where I train next door to the MWD kennel frequently. Poorly understood work. Sorry to say it but true. As a professional instructor of PSD handlers I have had contact with many past MWD handlers turned civilian polce, many are students. They haven't had the foundations for deveopling and handling a functional PSD from their experiences in the MWD program. I too have heard about change, and change for the better. There has been a change of the guard so to speak in the MWD program. I hope that they stay fresh and seek competent advice from police handlers/instructors with experience to help them in the "real life" issues as they make changes in the program. Practical police expereince is still lacking in the system.
A minor demonstration of such is the sport behavior of performing a side transport in the MWD patrol dog standards that has recently been instituted. Interesting that in the last few years the Germans and Dutch have removed such behaviors from their programs as being unrealistic deployment concepts, a change that was recommneded in the International Congress on PSD's. Not a huge thing but one that sends a red flag up that sport behavior is creeping into the standards a sign that practical experience is lacking.

Hi Kevin,
On that exact point, don't you feel that most of the national, USPCA, NAWPDA etc have NUMEROUS aspects that are totally unrealistic? I have yet to meet one handler, who has "outed" their dog from a real live bite, asked the guy to put up their hands, step away from the dog and then go do a pat-down. Heck, I don't know too many live bite suspects who stayed standing or that compliant to follow such orders. I know you are a judge for several PSD certs, so why do we keep doing this? If the certs are not based in reality, how can we ever expect inexperienced handlers or departments from training this way? JMO...

Well,
I have told my dog to release a suspect and told the suspect to "stay still and not move" in real life, more than once. That is proper safety and canine technique. I also work with numerous others who have done the same.
But, you are right, very few certifications are based on good realistic scenarios. The newest derivation of the PSP-1 from Northrhine-Westfalia is a compilation of scenarios and seems to come the closest to a practical examination. Here in the U.S. most of the certification are the result of comprimise among a group of K-9 Instructors. They tend to ahve their own agendas which include everything from ego to simply wanting a simply cert for the piss poor dogs that make up either their sales or to appeal to the membership for easy simple guaranteed certification process. An organization can't be too progressive or their membership will go find something easier.

Hi Kevin,
I will agree on the "don't move" part but I was only attempting to point out in most certs the situation is so sterile that it is totally unrealistic. I'm glad we agree, and that the reasons you give are VERY valid. Wouldn't you think that most good handlers would want a realistic, tactical cert? We wrote one here a year or so ago, but never implemented it. It was "too hard" for some folks who read it. All the teams that train here liked it and dogs would pass. Some of the local "organizational" powers that be hated it.
I'd love to see what the new PSP cert you spoke of is like. I had heard there was a good deal of muzzle work in the PSP now. Is this so? I'd love a copy of the cert if you have one. You can email me private: malingator@home.com
THANKS

I would like one to if you have it please.

Well,
Here is the PSP-1. It comes to us through the police dog school in Stukkenbrock germany. Please don't hold me resposnsible for any translation errors since I didn't translate it.
http://www.k9services.com/PSP-1.html

PSP in translation means police search dog regulations