Police dog training is a very specialized form of dog training. The purpose is very specific and useful only under the most extreme situations and with the utmost control. Sport competitions for police trained dogs are held regularly and called Schutzhund. The sport of Schutzhund requires a great degree of dedication and owners who are committed to providing an atmosphere that allows for complete control at all times.
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History
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Schutzhund means "police dog" in German. The art of Schutzhund is designed to produce animals with a high drive for protection while in complete control of their owner. Trials for testing the abilities of protection/police dogs began in Germany in 1901 and continue today throughout the world.
Beginning
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Dogs must begin with the most highly developed obedience skills. Before any Schutzhund training is begun, dogs are taken through a complete obedience course that will take them to the highest levels of obedience. Along with the commands "sit", "down", "stay", and "heel", dogs are taught to retrieve, release on command, come, go out to a designated spot, and return when bidden. They are also taught to track on scent as well as on sight. Agility training and Schutzhund go hand in hand. Agility began as police/military exercises to attain fitness levels as well as obstacle abilities in protection dogs. Once a dog has become proficient at all levels of obedience and agility, it is ready to learn more complex and demanding protection work.
First-time owners should not attempt more serious training such as bite work without proper instruction from a qualified trainer. Such training is intricate and demands extreme precision to avoid injuries or uncontrolled habits.
Protection
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The most valuable aspects of a police dog is its ability to protect its partner in the call of duty as well as outrun a criminal and take him down faster than his human partner. Dogs are originally selected to begin training based on a well-developed prey drive and desire to catch and hold. This can be ascertained through testing even in the youngest puppy.
Equipment and Cost
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Several pieces of important equipment are used in police dog training. The first is a good slip collar, also known as a choke collar. The second is a strong leather or nylon leash (six feet long). Those are commonly found in any pet supply shop. The rest of the equipment used for Schutzhund, or police dog training, is bought through specialty supply stores dedicated to advanced obedience and Schutzhund training. These are tracking harnesses, bite sleeves, and full-body bite suits that allow 'dummy' assistants to be attacked without injury. Tracking harnesses run between $25 and $50 (as of 2009). Prices for bite suits average between $700 and $900, and sleeves average $80 to $100.
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