Hello:
DFrost, thanks for a nice succinct answer. I couldn't agree with you more. I wanted to ask you, and hopefully this is within the same line of this thread, I know that you were an instructor at Lackland awhile ago. Now being on the outside and training dogs for civilian police departments, how do you view the training techniques and the quality of dogs from when you started to now. Also do you think the the methods of training dogs in the military are similiar to those of a PSD. Also do you think the times reflect changes as well, both as techniques and equipment changes and we learn more about training through drives and less on compulsion, etc? The reason that I am asking is because our K9 coordinator was sent to Lackland to learn how to be handler about 25 or so years ago. From what I am told, he uses very similar techniques and our curriculam is based on their training (as it was about 25 years ago). Any and all information would be greatly appreciated.
Regards,
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Brandon

Brandon

My career in the Air Force canine program started in 1965. I think, for the purposes the dogs were used, we trained some of the best dogs and handlers that were available. As times changed, beginning in the 68 - 69 period, Patrol dogs and drug dogs were introduced. The original training for patrol dogs, for the Air Force was conducted by the Washington DC K9 Unit. That training came directly off the streets of Washington and the Air Force produced a pretty good dog and handler considering the large numbers that were being trained. At that time, the patrol dog school was 12 weeks long. Over the years because of budget constraints and different philosophies of training, I personally believe the quality of dog and handler started to diminish. Class lengths grew shorter, the emphisis shifted from jointly training dogs and student handlers, to just training handlers on trained dogs. The dogs were being trained by a permanently assigned group of trainers. I've really not been associated with the schoold at Lackland since my retirement from there in 1988. So I would not have current knowledge of what type of handlers and dogs they are currently producing.

DFrost

Thanks:
That does help quite a bit and also helps me understand his positioning on a number of things. I can see firsthand what you mean and the outcome of training new handlers on a set of pre-trained dogs in a sterile (school type) enviornment.
Regards,
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Brandon