NCJ Number
58258
Date Published
Unknown
Length
61 pages
Annotation
THIS MANUAL, FROM THE CANINE BRANCH OF THE WASHINGTON, D.C. POLICE DEPARTMENT, PROVIDES GUIDANCE TO HANDLERS ON THE PROPER TRAINING OF POLICE DOGS AND THE MAINTENANCE OF THE DOGS' HEALTH.
Abstract
EACH STAGE OF A DOG'S TRAINING MUST BE CONDUCTED THOROUGHLY SO THAT IT BECOMES AN INSTINCTIVE, INVISIBLE, BUT UNBREAKABLE LINK BETWEEN THE HANDLER AND THE DOG. INITIALLY, THIS LINK WILL BE VISIBLE IN THE LEAD (LEASH); LATER, AFFECTIONS AND CONFIDENCE WILL TAKE THE LEAD'S PLACE. AT ALL TIMES, THE HANDLER MUST REMEMBER TO REWARD GOOD WORK, HUMOR A MISUNDERSTANDING, AND PUNISH DISOBEDIENCE IMMEDIATELY. PROCEDURES FOR TAKING A DOG OUT OF THE KENNEL, USING WORDS OF COMMAND, AND WALKING TO HEEL ON LEAD ARE DESCRIBED. AFTER TRAINING, THE YEARLY COST OF MAINTAINING EACH DOG RUNS FROM $300 TO $500. TO JUSTIFY THESE COSTS, EMPHASIS IS PLACED ON THE HANDLER'S RESPONSIBILITY FOR GOOD GROOMING AND INSPECTION OF THE DOG FOR HIS HEALTH. INFORMATION IS PROVIDED CONCERNING THE DOG'S MOUTH, SKIN AND HAIR COAT, FEET, EYES, NOSE, EARS, LIMBS, BODY FUNCTIONS, TEMPERATURE, GENITAL AND ANAL REGION, AND ATTITUDE. COMMON DISEASES OF DOGS SUCH AS RABIES, PARASITIC INFESTATIONS, AND LEPTOSPIROSIS ARE ALSO NOTED. A GOOD AGILITY COURSE FOR A DOG SHOULD INCLUDE EXERCISES IN SCALING A WALL, LADDER CLIMB AND CATWALK, BROAD JUMP, AND TUNNEL OR PIPE EXERCISES. IN ADDITION, THE DOG'S SENSE OF SMELL, AS IT AIDS HIM IN TRACKING NARCOTICS AND EXPLOSIVES, IS DESCRIBED, WITH THE PROPER TRAINING METHODS TO BE EMPLOYED BY HANDLERS IN TEACHING POLICE DOGS TO TRACK. THE COMPONENTS OF A CANINE COMMUNITY RELATIONS PROGRAM ARE NOTED TO GIVE THE PUBLIC A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE TRAINED CANINE. ILLUSTRATIONS ARE INCLUDED, AND THE RESULTS OF A QUESTIONNAIRE, SENT TO 240 POLICE DEPARTMENTS AT VARIOUS LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT, POINT OUT THE COSTS AND USE OF POLICE DOGS IN THESE DEPARTMENTS. (WJR)