Law Enforcement Dog Training

Canines have demonstrated feats of bravery under fire for hundreds of years at the sides of their masters, saving lives by often sacrificing their own. The selection process for law enforcement dogs begins with temperament tests. Any dog utilized for law enforcement detail must be comfortable, stable and outgoing in new environments. Confidence in new environments can be tested at any age, so even puppies can be evaluated for this trait.

  1. Patrol Dogs

    • The German Shepherd, often used for law enforcement, has a strong protective instinct and is extremely loyal to its handler.

      In the United States, the traditional law enforcement patrol dog is trained to track and restrain suspects by biting and holding them. The style of training and the natural temperament of the dog will determine how much force it applies while executing a suspect apprehension. An alternative training option in this day of abundant lawsuits is "find and bark" rather than "find and bite."

    Scent Specialty Dogs

    • Scent dogs specialize in tracking.

      Human law enforcement officials cannot duplicate the dog's scenting ability, which is the reason so many police departments employ dogs specializing in scent work. Bloodhounds set the tracking dog standard years ago but are not usually utilized for other law enforcement functions, such as evidence recovery. Other working or hunting breeds are trained to track and locate evidence and work more effectively off lead than bloodhounds. Scent specialty dogs are trained to track and locate evidence and can receive advanced training to become experts in fields such as air scent detection, search and rescue or cadaver search. A scent specialty dog is able concentrate on its specialty without needing to spend time apprehending suspects or providing protection.

    Detection Dogs

    • Detection dogs are especially useful for sniffing out narcotics.

      Dogs have natural detection ability and can be additionally trained to detect almost any substance, particularly narcotics, explosives and gases for law enforcement. Dogs trained for detection work must have a strong retrieving and hunting desire to be successful.

    Training

    • Obedience training begins with basic commands, such as "sit."

      Law enforcement departments employ or hire professional trainers who use positive reinforcement, compulsion and inducement techniques with dogs. A standard training will last approximately three months before a dog is sent out to the field. Beginning in the classroom, dogs receive training in obedience, agility, search and recovery, suspect search, tracking and scouting, bite work, apprehension, protection, control and tactical deployment.

    Obedience &Agility

    • Dogs are trained on agility courses to learn to overcome obstacles.

      Obedience training begins as short learning sessions with numerous rewards, based on the individual dog's drive and motivation. Dogs are encouraged to be successful with the use of food and toys as motivation. As the dogs become conditioned to the desired result, trainings will lengthen.

      Agility, or confidence training, follows the same length and reward schedule as obedience. During agility training, dogs are trained to overcome any obstacles set before him until he is conditioned to produce the desired behavior.

    Evidence Recovery &Suspect Search

    • Dog toys are used as prey during evidence recovery training.

      During evidence recovery, dogs are enticed by prey, typically the items that have become their favorite toys during previous training sessions. Evidence recovery reinforces the dog's natural prey drive, which can be easily conditioned.

      Again utilizing the prey drive, dogs will begin chasing suspects to and from a preset starting point. In the early stages of suspect search, dogs are encouraged with a high energy environment to bring out their natural, powerful drive. Dogs then search for suspects and apprehend them by biting, fighting, chewing and shaking. Dogs must not be allowed to bite deep and hard with no consequence, or they will continue this behavior. Because dogs are also trained in timing release, this training allows the dogs to fulfill their natural drive while becoming conditioned without compulsion.