Why are service dogs needed in the police and army, why is play the most optimal type of training, and why is a shepherd dog better than a bull terrier? We went to the canine service to get answers to these questions.
Police service dog training
Police service dogs today are used in a number of ways. Four-legged animals are used in the patrol service (PPS); many animals are involved in ensuring safety in transport and in organizing public events. Dogs are also irreplaceable assistants to forensic experts.
Dogs in PPS outfit are qualified by departmental orders and instructions as special equipment. A trained dog is able to smell drugs or explosives and point to a person with such a dangerous cargo. A service dog will help a police officer detain an offender who poses a threat to others. We are talking primarily about armed criminals or persons behaving inappropriately and aggressively.
In addition, a dog near a police officer has a psychological impact on others. According to the head of the department for the training of canine specialists and training service dogs Zonal Center of the Canine Service (ZTSKS) of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for the city of Moscow Ilya Firsov, rare person will refuse to comply with the lawful demands of a police officer and will aggressively object to him if the guard has a service dog on a leash.
By the way, one of the main goals of training service dogs for patrol service is to minimize possible harm to a person. A well-trained and physically strong shepherd dog can cause very serious injuries when detained, so the main requirement for the dog is to immediately follow the command “let go!”
The main task of dogs in transport police units and internal troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs is to search and detect drugs and explosives. We are already accustomed to dog handlers with shepherd dogs or spaniels walking through the waiting rooms of train stations and airport lobbies. While the counselor is immersed in his thoughts, the dog works hard, searching for the characteristic aroma of TNT or marijuana in thousands of unfamiliar odors. Security at football and hockey matches, concerts and rallies always remains behind the scenes: shortly before the start of spectators, dog handlers with dogs inspect the stands of stadiums, auditoriums and other premises - are there any explosive devices?
A dog’s keen sense of smell is also indispensable in the forensic departments of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Sometimes four-legged animals help solve crimes that seemed completely unheard of. Science has proven: the probability that a dog will make a mistake in the smell is one in one hundred million, says Denis Velikiy, an employee of the forensic center of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs. The behavior of a dog during an odorological examination (for example, if it is necessary to establish that a crime weapon belongs to a specific person) can become irrefutable evidence in court.
Peculiarities of breeds at work
The Russian police use about a dozen dog breeds. Some are capable of performing the entire range of service and investigative activities, while other breeds are used only in certain areas of work. The German Shepherd is recognized as the main and universal police breed in Russia today. It is effective both with the police squad, and in the operational-investigative group at the crime scene, and in search units.
One of the main advantages of the breed is its stable nervous system. This is a physically strong dog with fairly developed intelligence. The closest relative of the “Germans”, the East European Shepherd, which is also widely used in the police, has similar qualities. Another breed of shepherd dog, the Belgian, is also gaining popularity. Its main advantages are high speed and an “explosive” throw, which leaves the attacker no chance of escape.
Rottweilers are used a little less frequently by the police. Moderately aggressive and brave, these dogs are in demand both in patrol and search work.
Other breeds suitable for law enforcement are less common in the Russian police. Thus, Giant Schnauzers and Black Terriers are excellent guards, but they are expensive to maintain. Dobermans, who served as the police of Tsarist Russia, are not used today due to the selective deterioration of the breed in our country.
You can count the canine units with representatives of fighting dog breeds on one hand. A bull terrier's death grip when detaining a criminal is not required; at the same time, these dogs react too aggressively to their relatives, which does not add points to them.
Regarding breeds not intended for detention, such as Labradors and spaniels, the opinions of dog handlers vary. Some experts believe that both breeds are equally suitable for search work, others tend to give preference to spaniels, pointing out that Labradors are conflict-prone and that they are distracted by extraneous stimuli.
It's hard to study...
The physiology of dogs dictates the most effective age for training - from one to three years. Each animal is assigned to its own counselor and sent for training. It takes about six months to train a service dog. During this time, a general training course is completed and dogs are trained in specialized disciplines (search for explosives and drugs).
To train dogs, the canine service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs mainly uses a combination of two methods - taste rewards and games. The first helps to establish contact between the counselor and the young dog, as well as its rapid learning. The second method, which fulfills the animal’s natural need for play and puts the least amount of strain on the dog’s nervous system, instills in it an active desire to do work. With its help, search dogs are especially well trained.
In addition, the game method of training is used when training dogs for detention. A young dog’s toy is attached to the “defendant” (that’s the name given to a trainer in a tight suit portraying a criminal), and the animal must rip it off. The teenage puppy is then allowed to take the protective sleeve away from the handler and pat it. After this, the dog is taught to bite the sleeve of the fleeing person. At all stages, training is based on the innate hunting instinct of a predator.
The author of these lines experienced first-hand what it’s like to be detained police shepherd. The detention, fortunately a training one, was carried out at the ZTSKS training site. The role of the predator was played by a one-year-old, coal-black male German Shepherd named Egor. I put on a protective suit. To ensure that the journalist was protected from injury, police dog handlers provided Lenta.ru with the thickest padded trousers and the same jacket, which completely impede movement.
Having pulled on all this armor with difficulty and moving like an obese penguin, I go out to the starting point. Egor watches my every move with animal joy and, barking furiously, breaks from the leash. “The main thing is don’t open up. The dog grabs the part of the body that is closest to it. If Yegor jumps on you, hide your face, he will then grab your chest or shoulder. But it’s better if you put your hand forward,” the dog handler Alexey gives the final instructions, hands me a pistol with a light-noise charge and runs away to the side. “Shout louder, attract the dog’s attention,” Alexey advises from the side. Why, the dog is already all focused on me.
The command “Face!” sounds, Egor overtakes me in three leaps and tightly clings to my sleeve. I press the trigger of the pistol... Surprisingly, the police dog didn’t even notice the shot that almost made me deaf. Three seconds of struggle, and the “intruder” is defeated - I stumble in my oak suit and fall to the ground, and Egor continues to shake my hand. The only thought that flashed during these moments was how painful it would be without a protective sleeve!
After training in compliance with the rules of training, the dog gains the ability to detain an armed criminal without fear of shots or blows. It is worth noting that training on the site, when dogs literally “tear to pieces” the trainer in protective clothing, has little in common with real application toothy “special means”. As mentioned above, after a bite, a service dog must release the victim on the first command. “Tearing apart” for educational purposes is used to satisfy the instincts of animals and give them emotional release.
The use of service dogs in the police continues to be relevant in law enforcement agencies around the world. However, this is just one side dog work in security forces. Rescuers, military, drug police - that's far from full list professions in which a service dog plays an important role. And we will tell you about this later.
Training service dogs in the army
The Central School, having switched to peacetime staff, underwent a large reduction, which occurred in all subsequent years. It was clear that the school could not remain within the previous state, because for the army in post-war period They mainly need dogs for guard duty. At the same time as regular troubles, the question of relocating the school outside of Moscow constantly arose.
After the reductions, the school was left with two sergeant training battalions, an advanced training course for officers, a training course for junior lieutenants - platoon commanders (one company), a scientific department, a breeding nursery, a combat dog nursery and other support services. This also made it possible to carry out significant work in the scientific department and breeding dogs. The command of the school, its head, Major General Medvedev G.P., realizing that the need for guard dogs in the army will increase every year, the question arises of maintaining service dog breeding clubs and creating new ones. The number of service breed dogs in the country has decreased. The central school donated 70 heads of adult dogs, exported from Eastern Europe and Germany, to the clubs. The school's breeding kennel regularly handed over puppies to dog lovers for raising. In 1947-1949. More than a thousand puppies were given to lovers free of charge. At the same time, thanks to the work carried out, the school’s nursery was later replenished with breeding stock of dogs good quality official and hunting breeds. This made it possible to obtain more puppies of good quality and transfer them to clubs for further reproduction of dogs locally.
In 1948, the breeding and scientific department, the laboratory of genetics and reflexology began to implement what had already been started by Professor N.A. Ilyin. in 1930, work on interbreeding dogs, German shepherds with huskies (the resulting mestizos were called “laikoids”). Airedale terriers were crossed with the Russian hound, the mestizos were called “brown hound”. The work carried out was not yet the beginning of breeding a new breed.
In 1949, the nursery under the management of the head, Lieutenant Colonel Nikolai Fedorovich Kalinin, veterinarian Grishin and livestock specialist Warrant Officer Vladimir Pavlovich Sheinin began work on breeding new breeds “black terrier”, “Moscow Watchdog”, “Moscow Diver”, “Moscow Great Dane”. Preparatory work for interbreeding dogs was carried out by the nursery a little earlier, in 1950-1952. directions in this work were determined. The need to develop new breeds was caused by the fact that in the post-war period, guard dogs became the main use of dogs in the army, and previous experience of their use in military units confirmed that in areas with low temperatures in winter, many breeds of service dogs used for guard duty not adapted to harsh conditions. The German Shepherd, as the most common universal service dog, is used in areas where the temperature drops to -20 degrees, the dog's stay on duty is reduced to 6 hours and it must be replaced by another.
The central school began work on breeding new breeds. The main task was to create dogs that meet the requirements of a guard dog: tall, physically strong, vicious, with good coat, powerful, and tolerates low temperatures well. Based on the requirements for a guard dog, even during the period of the formation of the breed groups “Black Terrier”, “Moscow Watchdog”, “Moscow Diver”, dogs of breeds that were carriers of the qualities necessary for a guard dog were crossed with each other. The obtained and raised puppies of the first and second generation were tested in work and the best specimens were selected for further work.
In subsequent years, the school continued to operate within the limits of the state-provided training for officers, non-commissioned officers, counselors and guard dogs. The general atmosphere in the school staff was working. However, Medvedev is content with the question of moving the school outside of Moscow. long time managed to get around. The school remained in Moscow until 1960. The school command was well aware that any relocation of the school would have a negative impact on the work of the school; this was confirmed in 1960. With the move of the school from Moscow, even to the Moscow region, the school lost experienced senior officers who had served a specified period of time in the army, and some of the junior officers who had 12-15 years of service resigned, not wanting to move with their families, and the requirements in this regard for these The officers from the high command were categorical, everything had to start all over again.
On August 23, 1955, the school was removed from the subordination of the SA Engineering Troops Directorate and transferred to the subordination of the head of the personnel and service department of the General Staff of the Ground Forces. The school's annual target for training personnel was 1,170 people, trained guard dogs - 2,000 heads. Each counselor, trained at the school, went to his unit with two guard dogs. Since about 1963, due to the difficulty of preparing dogs, they began to send one dog at a time with counselors. The breeding kennel continues to work on improving the breed groups of dogs “Black Terrier”, “Moscow Watchdog”, “Moscow Diver”. All puppies born and raised in the nursery undergo training in the educational departments of the school. The best specimens in appearance, of the most desirable type, are used for further work. They have not yet been released outside the nursery into the hands of hobbyists.
For the first time, dogs of breed groups bred in the kennel of the Central School were shown to the general public in Moscow in 1955 at the 19th Moscow City Dog Show of Service Breeds. The appearance of black terriers in the rings in 1955, and then in 1957 at the All-Union Dog Show and Exhibition held at VDNKh in Moscow, where the breeding kennel of the Central School “Red Star” presented 43 black terriers. Numerous spectators and dog breeders saw dogs of a new breed in the rings, although the black terrier breed would be approved much later. At demonstration performances, black terriers performed very well. What he saw at the exhibition aroused interest in these dogs. Fans began to buy puppies not only from Moscow, but also from other cities, and the number of black terriers grew rapidly. Some service dog breeding clubs in Moscow, Leningrad, Chelyabinsk, Nizhny Tagil and other cities began to breed black terriers at home.
1959 almost became the last year in the existence of the school and nursery. The General Staff prepared a draft directive on the transfer of the Central School to the Moscow Military District. The future fate of the school did not bode well, because... she would have turned out to be an ordinary district one. Fortunately, the finished draft document was not completed and implemented, thanks to the Deputy Chief of the General Staff, Army General Ivanov. However, the Central School was awaiting a new blow, which had been brewing for the last 10 years, that is, to remove it from Moscow. If in 1951 it was only possible to make room, now dog breeders had to leave Moscow. By decision of the high command, the school had to leave for the Urals, which would mean its complete liquidation as a special unit. Quite by chance, General Staff employees suggested to General Medvedev that there was a reserve airfield in the Dmitrovsky district in the Moscow region during the war. After the war, there was a school for training junior specialists of airborne troops (it was disbanded in 1959), Medvedev managed to soften the blow, and the headquarters gave its consent to the relocation to the Dmitrov region.
In 1960, two training companies for training guard dog leaders, located in camp tents, because the abandoned buildings of the previous part were so dilapidated that they could not even meet the initial needs. Combat and special training, at the same time, work is underway to repair two wooden barracks and equip dog walks. The school did not stop training personnel and training dogs. Two companies for training sergeants and a company for training counselors remained in Moscow. The Ministry of Defense also threw in the work; by its order, in response to the appeal of the All-Russian Society of the Blind to provide assistance in the creation of a republican school for training guide dogs for the blind, a guide dog school was created at the Central School of Military Dog Breeding and on its territory, its head for many years was Nikolai Egorovich Orekhov. In 1965, the school for the blind settled at the station. Kupavna, Moscow region.
The Black Russian Terrier (RBT) was created in Russia in the late 40s - early 50s. XX century through complex reproductive crossing of a number of breeds, including the Giant Schnauzer, Airedale Terrier, Rottweiler and Newfoundland. The original breed was the Giant Schnauzer. The breed was bred at a military dog breeding school near Moscow on the basis of the Red Star breeding kennel. The purpose of creating the breed was the desire to obtain a large, brave, strong, controllable dog with a pronounced protective instinct, suitable for performing various types of service, easily adapting to various climatic conditions. The breed was recognized by the FCI in 1984.
On October 7, 1965, the Central Order of the Red Star school of military dog breeding was renamed the 4th Central Order of the Red Star school of junior guard service specialists, the military unit was assigned the number 32516. The staff of the school, approved by the General Staff, remained for many years and did not change until 1987. However, minor changes were made: certain new officer positions, positions of warrant officers, conscripts, and civilian personnel. There was a gradual expansion of staff. By 1980, the Central School had a fairly good training base and living conditions for officers and their families, and for unit personnel. For 15 years from 1960 to 1975. only the school's breeding nursery remained in Moscow (Kuskovo station), since the construction of the nursery for its location was not completed (its equipment was completed in October 1978). Remaining in the place where it was created in 1925 in Moscow, the nursery continued to work, maintaining contact with service dog breeding clubs, exchanging experience in breeding work, the nursery transfers puppies of breeds of interest to the clubs. Eleven breeds of dogs were bred in the kennel. In 1970, a nursery in the GDR purchased 9 heads of young dogs: 3 St. Bernards, 2 Rottweilers, 2 Giant Schnauzers, 2 Newfoundlands. Saint Bernards and Newfoundlands were used to work on breeding "Moscow Watchdogs" and "divers". Only once was a litter of St. Bernards obtained in its pure form. Giant Schnauzers and Rottweilers were bred in their pure form.
With the move to the territory of military unit 32516 (Dmitrovsky district), the breeding kennel continues to breed pure German shepherds, Caucasian, South Russian, Central Asian shepherds, Rottweilers, Giant Schnauzers, Laikas, and also continues to improve the breed groups “black terrier”, “Moscow watchdog" and "diver".
In 1985, by Order No. 40 of December 12, 1985, the Main Directorate for Nature Conservation, Reserves, Forestry and Hunting approved the standard for the Moscow Watchdog breed, bred by the Krasnaya Zvezda breeding nursery. By order of the Chairman of the USSR Service Dog Breeding Federation, Lieutenant General Sergeev, the Moscow city and regional service dog breeding clubs registered the “Moscow Watchdog” breed. The breed group “diver”, which did not become widespread among amateurs and did not have a sufficient number of dogs to register it as a breed, and soon, by decision of the Federation of Service Dog Breeding, the diver was excluded from service breeds.
In 1980, in connection with military operations in Afghanistan, the need to train dogs for mine detection service once again arose. The unit’s specialists studied archival data from the period of the Great Patriotic War, available instructions for training mine-detecting dogs. The first group - 10 crews of the mine-detecting service (trainers with dogs) were trained at the school and sent to Afghanistan. The group was headed by the school dog handler officer, Captain A. Bibikov.
On the spot, the dogs showed high results in searching for mine explosive devices, and the command of the 40th Army located in Afghanistan requested as many mine detection service (MRS) specialists as possible.
The school did a lot of work on the selection and training of both trainers and mine-detecting dogs. High requirements were presented to the health and endurance of dogs, because they had to work in hot climates, often high in the mountains.
In the laboratory, together with the veterinary service of the unit, a “Memo to the leader of a mine-detecting dog” was developed, which described in an accessible form the actions of the leader in unforeseen situations, first aid to the injured dog.
For the first time, experiments were carried out to determine the dog’s abilities in searching for mines and to increase their performance using non-medicinal means. Together with Moscow Higher Technical University named after. Bauman developed a needle applicator, which improved the quality and speed of searching for a mine-detecting dog. This same needle applicator has been used to treat cuts and paralysis in dogs.
Since the effectiveness of MRS calculations largely depends on how correctly and quickly the trainer evaluates the dog’s actions during the search for mines and reacts to them, it became necessary to select MRS calculations based on their compatibility. Such work was carried out at the school by a team of researchers from the Moscow Higher Technical School. Bauman, headed by A. Ulogov and a group of canine specialists led by the head of the laboratory of reflexology and genetics, veterinarian Plotvinova L.R.
The veterinary service team and the school command published the textbooks “Basics of Service Dog Breeding”, “Basics of Training Military Dogs”, and revised the “Manual on the Training and Use of Military Dogs”; a set of posters on service dog breeding was developed, where sections of dog anatomy, physiology, the main signs of dog disease, the basics of feeding, keeping, saving dogs and using them for various types of services are presented in a visual form. These posters are still used in units where dogs are in service.
In 1988, the 4th Central Order of the Red Star training school for junior specialists in service dog breeding was transferred to the subordination of the Organizational Directorate of the General Staff of the Ground Forces to the military service department.
In 1994, the training school for junior specialists in service dog breeding was transformed into the 470th Methodological and Cynological Center for Service Dog Breeding of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.
The transfer of the Central School to the battalion system in 1987 and its transformation in 1994 into the methodological and cynological center for service dog breeding of the RF Armed Forces and the creation of a methodological department provided for by the new staff of the school opens up good prospects for the command of the school to restore the lost traditions of a highly organized training center for the training of qualified service personnel. dog breeding, a methodological center for improving the training of service dogs for various services, developing new types of applications in the army and the national economy.
The contribution of the Central School of Military Dog Breeding in the field of canine science in the country is quite significant. The country has its own domestic school for training service dogs, based on Scientific research domestic scientists and specialists in the field of cynology.
The scientific world was shocked by the experiments of the head of the school, Major General Medvedev. Grigory Panteleimonovich was involved in organ transplantation in dogs. Now thanks to him scientific work Hearts and kidneys are already being successfully transplanted into people. And before, he experimented on hopelessly sick animals. Canine scientists are also responsible for the invention of the first gas mask for dogs.
Currently
Training service dogs today
In the early 1990s, the unique school almost ceased to exist - there was nothing to feed the animals. It got to the point that the officers shared their rations with the dogs.
The dog handlers managed to get by somehow for almost 10 years. Until 2002, the English research center Walsemme Center concluded an agreement with the Russian army for the full logistics of the school and nursery. And in return, he received the opportunity to develop food for animals in the service of Her Majesty’s military.
Krasnaya Zvezda is currently developing food that can fully provide food for animals working in extreme situations, everything you need - calories, vitamins and microelements
On a fine, but very cold February day (below -20°C outside), we went on a fascinating excursion to the 470th Canine Center for Service Dog Breeding and the Krasnaya Zvezda Kennel, military unit 32516, and got acquainted with four-legged pets and their mentors with the help of a press club MO Renat Dunyashov
Elena Anosova
Dogs are unique animals. For many centuries, they are infinitely faithful and devoted to humans, occupying different niches in our lives. Some accompany on the hunt, others become faithful companions or protectors. For example, police dogs saved more than one human life and help in solving crimes. What tasks do service dogs perform and why are they hired? What breeds of dogs are most often used as reliable assistants in human activities?
In theory, a dog of any breed with proper training, socialization, systematic training can become a service dog, show its maximum potential and be useful to a person.
It is believed that the natural ability of a dog to track its prey by smell (footprints) began to be used in solving crimes, searching and apprehending criminals, starting in 1896. The Austrian investigator Hans Gross convinced the world that our smaller brothers are ideal for investigative work. Thus, in the city of Hildesheim, for the first time, 12 dogs were selected, who completed a special training course and later successfully worked in the police.
The first to use his pet bull terrier in stopping a gang was Scottish policeman Malcolm Gillepsie in 1816. His faithful dog scared the horses on which the criminals were escaping and thanks to which the bandits were neutralized and taken to the police station.
Important! In Russia, dogs were first used in police services in St. Petersburg in 1906. And already in 1909, on June 21, a professional holiday was officially approved - the Day of the canine units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Today it is difficult to imagine the work of intelligence services without the participation of different breeds of dogs. Four-legged friends are used in the police, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the search, border services, and military affairs.
Among dog professions we can distinguish:
- Saperov. They look for explosives and explosive devices by smell.
- Rescuers. Rescue dogs are used in the emergency services of the Ministry of Emergency Situations. They take part in fires. They work on wrecks and in places of natural disasters. They help find people under the rubble. When completing tasks, a bell is tied to the animal's collar. In this way, the dog handler will be able to find the dog, because the dog may accidentally fall into the ruins.
- Border guards. All border services use dogs. They help in the fight against smugglers and prevent illegal crossing of state borders.
- Bloodhound. Dogs, thanks to their well-developed sense of smell, help intelligence services not only in searching for people and detaining criminals “on the trail,” but also in identifying smuggled caches of narcotic or other dangerous substances. Sniffer dogs work in the police and border services.
- Guards, escorts. They work as security guards at sensitive, important strategic sites.
Faithful four-legged friends significantly facilitate the work of special structures, faithfully performing their difficult service.
In the structures of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the canine service uses specially trained dogs for:
- establishing the route of criminals;
- protection of important objects;
- examination of territories, terrain, premises, vehicles to search for items that were lost or related to crimes committed;
- odor recognition based on an object given to the dog, seized from detained criminals;
- security of public events;
- search for corpses, people, weapons, drugs;
- to pursue persons who have committed crimes or missing people “hot on their heels.”
Different breeds of dogs are specially trained and used for different jobs.
TOP 5 best dog breeds for police service
Each structure favors different dog breeds. Here are the TOP 5 best dog breeds for police service according to dog handlers and specialists:
- . This breed has unique working qualities, high intelligence, and a balanced disposition. Shepherds learn quickly. They are smart, quick-witted, courageous, hardy, unpretentious in care and maintenance and adapt to various conditions without problems. These are loyal, noble dogs who have saved more than one human life and successfully cope with tasks of varying complexity. Thanks to many years of selection, this breed has significantly improved its working and service qualities. That is why Germans are used not only in the police, but also in other structures.
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- Rottweilers. This breed, despite its average size, has endurance and physical strength. Rottweilers are brave, energetic, courageous dogs with well-developed guarding and fighting qualities. They work in the police, security services, and patrol state borders. They help in detaining and immobilizing criminals.
- Belgian Tervuren. Representatives of this breed are quite large in size and have long, thick hair. Outwardly, the dog somewhat resembles a wolf, which instills fear in people. But in general, these are hardy, brave and rather good-natured dogs. They are excellent bloodhounds and guards.
- . Dobermans have high intelligence, a sharp mind, and natural dexterity. They are highly trainable and can learn new tricks and commands throughout their lives. Dogs are hardy and brave. They have an athletic, but very graceful physique, excellent speed and physical characteristics. They help in searching and prosecuting criminals.
- . Despite its friendly disposition and somewhat phlegmatic character, this breed successfully works in the police. Labradors are highly trainable. They are inquisitive, smart, selfless, respond adequately to stimuli and can independently make decisions in a given situation. Excellent at finding explosives narcotic drugs. You could say that these dogs are the eyes and ears of the police.
The police also employ representatives of hunting breeds, such as: English hound, German shorthaired pointer, . Thanks to their excellent sense of smell, they find narcotic and other substances faster than other dogs.
Likes are also suitable for the police and work in other services. and are used as assistants in rescue services and the Ministry of Emergency Situations.
Features of training police dogs
Security, guard, and police dogs must have a keen sense of smell, developed hearing, and fearlessness.
The dog must come to the defense of the person at any time on command.
Training a four-legged law enforcement officer takes on average from 6 months to a year. Dogs can begin training from four to six months and up to three years of age. The duration of one lesson is 2-2.5 hours. Trainings are held in different places. This is necessary so that the dog does not get confused in an unfamiliar area or environment.
Dog trainers themselves build a training program based on the natural and breed inclinations of the dog. The first training takes place in the form of a game, so that the process captivates and interests the dog. For each correctly executed command or task, the dog receives a reward.
The training uses the so-called contrast and mechanical training methods. In the first weeks, the dog should establish a rapport with its trainer. Only by trusting the person will the dog strictly follow commands and show obedience. Therefore, until the dog gets used to the handler, mechanical training methods are not used. They use the method of encouragement (voice, food motivation).
The mechanical method (physical impact) is used only for adult dogs who have completed the basic training course. Helps develop the dog's protective skills. At the same time, the dog handler should not shout or use violence towards his ward. Otherwise, the dog will begin to show causeless aggression towards people.
- Imitative method training is used to train large groups of dogs. Dogs are pack animals and are often guided by the actions of their fellow dogs. This technique uses experienced dogs and novice dogs.
- Contrast training method. A dog trained using this method does not associate obedience skills with treats or physical impact. That is, he will follow commands without expecting any reward.
- Combined program. For example, a dog can take part in detaining criminals and searching for drugs, weapons, and explosives.
Important! In the first two to three weeks, service dogs develop their own specialization in the process of training and education. Qualified dog handlers and experienced trainers work with the dogs. One trainer or several dog handlers can be assigned to the dog.
The specifics of training police dogs depend on the area in which the four-legged guard will be used. So, when training police dogs Special attention is focused on following commands and chasing with live bait.
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The dog must, on command, chase, stop the “criminal”, whose role is played by a dog handler in a protective suit, and, upon order, retreat after his arrest.
- Search dogs are trained to search for objects and people by smell. The dog must, based on one thing or object, determine who this thing belongs to.
- To search for narcotic drugs during training, they use the animal’s favorite toy, inside which a drug simulator is disguised - a harmless, non-addictive substance.
- Well-socialized dogs of a good-natured disposition are selected for the rescue service. Sanguine dogs are ideal for working in areas of rubble and wrecks. Four-legged rescuers must respond adequately to stimuli and be able to make decisions in emergency situations.
Important! When searching for narcotic substances, the dog begins to dig in the ground, raises a voice, or behaves restlessly. When explosives are detected, in order to avoid serious consequences, the dog simply marks the location without making a voice.
TOP 5 most famous police dogs and their stories
Dogs have saved more than one human life. Some dogs, famous for their exploits and achievements, have gone down in history. Here is the ranking of the TOP 5 most famous dogs police officers and their stories.
German Shepherd named Gecke
This is the first dog to prove itself in police service. The dog brought from Germany to work in the police department did not immediately become famous. Having gone with the agent to the crime scene, the dog was unable to identify anyone among a large crowd of people, but upon returning to the police station, Gekse immediately rushed at one of the group of suspects. And this was just one of the many crimes that were solved with the help of this dog.
German Shepherd Leo
The unique dog went down in history as a drug-detective dog. During his nine years of service, thanks to Leo, more than three hundred people were arrested who were trying to transport drugs across the border. The German found more than 17 kg of cocaine, 29 kg of heroin, and more than a ton of marijuana. The total cost of the intoxicating arsenal amounted to tens of billions of dollars.
After completing his service, the dog was awarded a state pension and was given shelter at a hotel for older working dogs. For searching for drugs and detaining smugglers, Leo received an honorable place in the Guinness Book of Records.
Golden Retriever Trepp
During his years of service with the Florida Police Department, Retriever Trepp detained more than 100 dangerous criminals and found drugs worth more than 63 billion. dollars.
At demonstrations, the dog found 11 instead of 10 bags of drugs.
Malinois Diesel
Belgian shepherd Diesel served for 5 years in the French unit of the French police unit RAID and became the first dog to die in the line of duty.
Diesel, together with a group of police officers, took part in a special operation in the suburb of Saint-Denis to search for, capture and eliminate Islamic terrorists who carried out terrorist attacks in Paris.
Unfortunately, one year short of his well-deserved retirement, the dog died while inspecting the top floor of one of the buildings during the explosion of a suicide vest. The dog saved its owner at the cost of his life. The Paris police leadership awarded Diesel an honorary award for his courage.
In December 2015, the British Charitable organization The PDSA awarded the dead sheepdog the Mary Dickin Medal, Britain's highest honour.
Doberman Club
The Doberman Pinscher named Tref is a detective police legend. Brave dog served in the police Tsarist Russia and during his service he helped police officers solve more than 1,500 crimes.
To stop robberies, crimes, and other atrocities, one news about the visit of Club and his owner Dmitriev to one city or another was enough. The criminals left their homes in fear so that the smart dog would not get on their trail.
In 1911, the abilities of a unique bloodhound were used in the fight against terrorists in Bryansk. In addition, the dog was involved in capturing spies, as well as a group of bandits who attacked Lenin’s car.
On August 19, 1943, on the Polotsk-Drissa stretch, right in front of the approaching Nazi train, a powerful explosion was heard. 10 enemy carriages were destroyed and the railway track was disabled. The fearless saboteur who detonated the explosive device served in the 14th assault engineer brigade. The shepherd dog Dina took a course in tank destruction at the Central School of Military Dog Breeding of the Red Army, and then received the profession of a saboteur under the guidance of the commander of a platoon of trainers, senior lieutenant of the 37th engineering battalion of mine detectors, Dina Volkats. Then, on the Polotsk-Drissa section, Dina's dog jumped onto the rails in front of the approaching train, threw off a pack of shells, pulled the pin with his teeth and managed to run into the forest before the explosion occurred. Sabotage against the train is far from the only feat of the shepherd dog, which valiantly served alongside Soviet soldiers. Twice she participated in demining Polotsk, including the discovery of a surprise mine that was hidden in a mattress in a hospital building abandoned by the occupiers.
In 1946, a beautiful dog starred in the Soviet film White Fang, based on the novel by Jack London. Few people knew that he had a difficult and very heroic fate for an ordinary German Shepherd. Dzhulbars spent a whole year at war. From September 1944 to August 1945 He served in the 14th Assault Engineer Brigade and discovered 7,486 mines and more than 150 shells in Austria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Romania. Dzhulbars cleared mines from historical buildings in Budapest, Vienna, Prague, and discovered mines on the grave of Taras Shevchenko in Kanev and in St. Vladimir's Cathedral in Kyiv. A true warrior, Dzhulbars was awarded the medal “For Military Merit” on March 21, 1945, and on June 24, 1945 he took part in the Victory Parade on Red Square. The wounded dog with bandaged paws could not move independently, so he was carried in a special tray, which Joseph Stalin ordered to be made from his own jacket. The commander of the unique 37th carried the dog separate battalion demining Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Mazover.
These are just a few examples of shepherd dogs that performed valiant service during the Great Patriotic War. The Shepherd is the most common of all dog breeds serving humans. More precisely, this is a whole category of breeds, including the German Shepherd, the Scottish Collie Shepherd, the Caucasian Shepherd, and many other breeds, just listing which would be quite impressive. Today, shepherd dogs are pets, reliable defenders of their owners’ houses and apartments, and most importantly, service dogs, which neither the army, nor the police, nor the border service can do without.
Of course, the most common working breed among shepherds is the German shepherd. The roots of this breed go back to ancient times. Some historians trace the origins of the German Shepherd to dogs of the Bronze Age. Zoologists who studied their remains revealed the similarity of Bronze Age dogs with the small Indian wolf, which is considered the most likely ancient ancestor of the German shepherd. In the Middle Ages, the Hofowart dog became widespread in Central Europe, which was used to guard homes, and later its main task became the protection of sheep flocks. That’s why the dog was called a sheep dog, that is, a shepherd dog.
By the beginning of the 18th century, shepherd dogs had already become widespread in Germany, but the center of their breeding remained Württemberg and Southwestern Thuringia. Württemberg and Thuringian Shepherds had certain differences. Thus, the dogs of Württemberg were larger, had thick black or red hair, and semi-erect or hanging ears. In character they were calmer than the smaller Thuringian Shepherd Dogs of the “wolf” color. But Thuringian Shepherds had erect ears, which was very popular among dog lovers. Both types of dogs crossed with each other, resulting in further development breeds
At the origins of the standard of the modern German Shepherd stood the cavalry officer Captain Max Emil Friedrich von Stephanitz, a graduate of the Berlin Veterinary School, who served in a cavalry regiment in a position related to the acquisition and training of horses. He took up dog breeding due to life circumstances - having married an actress of humble origin, von Stefanitz was forced to leave the service. In 1899, he acquired a dog in Karlsruhe named Hector von Lirkenhayn, who amazed him with its perfection. The retired captain “renamed” the dog Horand von Grafrath and entered him as number one in the created stud book of German shepherds. This is how the breed appeared, which is still considered the best service dog in the world. Captain von Stefanitz, as a former military man, considered it his duty to find and make maximum use of the qualities of the German Shepherd that are most useful for human activity. He quickly realized that a dog could not only guard flocks of sheep, but also carry out many other, more complex tasks.
Being an intelligent man, Max von Stefanitz paid the main attention not so much to the appearance and parameters when selecting shepherd dogs, but to the working qualities and intelligence of the breed. The most significant qualities of a German Shepherd are traditionally: high intelligence, good learning ability, unpretentiousness to living conditions and the ability to quickly adapt to new conditions, developed security abilities, lack of causeless aggression towards people and other dogs, energy and endurance. This combination of qualities made the German Shepherd a universal and irreplaceable service dog, which could easily be used for a variety of needs in both military and civil service.
Already in 1901, the German Shepherd began to be used for the needs of the police service. Wherein for a long time Dobermans remained the most common police dog in Germany. Dobermans were used throughout the first three decades of the 20th century in Russia, first by the Tsarist police and then by the Soviet police.
The First World War gave a huge impetus to the spread of the German Shepherd in military service. It was during the terrible war years that specialists from European armies came to the conclusion that the German Shepherd has no equal in its qualities among other dog breeds. The German Shepherd turned out to be a “all-rounder”, suitable for guard duty, for escorting, for delivering reports, and for performing sanitary duties. At first it received maximum distribution in German army, then german shepherds appeared in the armies of the Entente countries. Moreover, for obvious reasons, they tactfully tried not to advertise the German origin of the dog - in the French and then in the British armies it was renamed the Alsatian Shepherd.
In the Soviet Union, centralized breeding of service dogs began in 1924. It was then that the Central School of Dog Breeding of the Border Troops of the GPU and the Central School of Sniffer Dogs of the Criminal Investigation Department of the NKVD of the USSR began to import from Germany various breeds of service dogs that could be used for the needs of the police, border and internal troops. Among the imported breeds was the German Shepherd, although according to tradition, Soviet police officers then paid the main attention to the Doberman.
However, by the early 1940s, the NKVD of the USSR gradually abandoned the practice of using Dobermanns in the police, escort and border troops. This decision was due to two main reasons. Firstly, it was very difficult for short-haired Dobermans to carry out escort and guard duty in the harsh Russian climate, especially in the Urals, Siberia, and the European North, where most of the camps were located. Secondly, the nature of the breed also played an important role - the Doberman becomes attached to one owner, while in military service and in the police dogs often change owners, since the previous instructors and handlers of service dogs are demobilized or dismissed from service. It turned out that German shepherds were ideally suited for the needs of the troops and the police - they had longer hair, could withstand cold weather more easily, and most importantly, they were loyal to changing “owners.”
By the beginning of World War II, German Shepherds made up the majority of working dogs in almost all major armies of the world. Of course, they also prevailed in the Wehrmacht, where there were significantly more shepherd dogs than representatives of other breeds - Dobermans, Rottweilers, Giant Schnauzers. The first German shepherd to die in combat during World War II was a dog named Bobby, who served as a signalman in the French army. In March 1940, he carried a report across the front line and was shot by German machine guns. Already at night, French soldiers, risking their own lives, took the body of the dog from the battlefield and buried it.
On the fronts of the Great Patriotic War, German shepherds also performed a variety of tasks - they took part in demining objects and carrying out sabotage actions, rescued the wounded from the battlefield, and guarded locations. military units, escorted prisoners of war, delivered reports. But, besides German shepherds, shepherds of other breeds also fought. Scottish Shepherd Collies are considered to be quite gentle and obedient dogs. But they also found a place in the war. A collie named Dick actually went through the entire war. He was called up for service in August 1941. 
The meek dog had every chance of becoming either a signalman or an orderly, but Dick began to be trained in mine detection. He was assigned to the 2nd separate special service regiment "Keletsky", in which he traveled the roads of the Great Patriotic War until the very end of the war. Dick discovered more than 12 thousand mines. Literally an hour before the explosion, Dick managed to find a land mine weighing 2.5 tons with a clock mechanism, laid in the foundation of the Pavlovsk Palace. If it weren't for the simple Scottish Collie, then the palace would fly into the air. After the victory, the dog Dick returned home to his owner and, although he had numerous battle wounds, he repeatedly participated in dog shows, lived to a ripe old age and was buried, as befits a real soldier, with military honors.
In 1946, a modification of the German Shepherd, bred in the USSR, received the name East European Shepherd. This proposal was made by General Grigory Panteleimonovich Medvedev, perhaps the only “canine general” in the world who made a huge contribution to the development of Soviet service dog breeding. The East European Shepherd was bred from the early 1930s on the basis of those German shepherds that already lived in the Soviet Union, and the change in name was dictated primarily by political factors.
At the same time, the import of German shepherds to the USSR continued after the war. East European Shepherds are quite different from the traditional Western German Shepherd standard. However, these differences do not in any way affect the performance qualities of the breed. Together with German shepherds, East European shepherds throughout the second half of the twentieth century served in the Soviet and then Russian army, in the internal and border troops, in customs, in the police, in security services and rescue services, and were used for the needs National economy. They remain in demand to this day.
Nowadays, the Belgian Malinois is gaining popularity in police services around the world, which has proven itself well in the search for narcotic substances. It is interesting that in the German police force, Belgian Shepherds have recently almost replaced German Shepherds. For example, in the police force of the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia, there are only 26 German shepherds for 281 Belgian Shepherds. What is the reason for this change in priorities? Police dog handlers claim that the Belgian Shepherd is the optimal combination of price and quality.
German Shepherds fit for service today are very expensive, they are quickly snapped up by the most respectable buyers - from representatives of the Bundeswehr to foreign emissaries from the American army. The Belgian Shepherd is no less courageous and obedient, very smart, but costs less. Famous for the Belgian Shepherd Leo. The dog served for nine years at the customs post at Amsterdam Airport in the Netherlands, discovering 3 tons of hashish, 1 ton of marijuana, 28 kilograms of heroin and 18 kilograms of cocaine over the years of service and participating in the arrests of about 300 drug dealers.
Caucasian Shepherds are also used in the police service, although their use is more specific - guarding and escorting detained criminals. Here the “Caucasians” have always been at their best, which is quite understandable - their impressive appearance and ferocious disposition in themselves have a good effect on the detainees.
Despite the fact that in the modern world, robots and various technical devices based on the advantages of artificial intelligence, the need for service dogs continues. And in first place among man’s four-legged friends are shepherd dogs, wonderful companions, security guards, police officers and guides.
Since ancient times, the dog has been domesticated by man. She became his faithful assistant - a guard, a shepherd, a watchman. Over time, the special qualities of these animals began to be used in public service.
Service dog breeding in Russia: history
In Russia, many dogs have always been bred, which were used for protection, as well as as a means of transportation in the northern regions. In the Caucasus and Central Asia Shepherd breeds were bred (South Russian Shepherd Dogs), which received awards at an exhibition in Paris.
In 1904, J. Bungard founded the sanitary dog service. It used German Shepherds.
In 1908, a society was created that promoted the use of dogs in guard and police services. This organization was small, consisting of about 300 high-ranking officials and police officers. Later, this society opened a nursery and a school for training police dog handlers.
In our country, Dog Handlers Day of the Ministry of Internal Affairs units has been celebrated since June 21, 1909. It was from this date that the history of service dog breeding began. The first Russian kennel dedicated to breeding and training detective police dogs opened in St. Petersburg. A school of trainers began operating at its base.
Quite quickly, the use of service dogs spread throughout the country - by December 1912, dogs began to be used to solve serious crimes in fifty Russian provinces.
After graduation civil war Service dog breeding continues to develop. New nurseries are being formed and dog handlers are being trained. In 1923, a course program for instructors was developed. In the same year, the school of detection dogs began its work. The animals were prepared for the criminal investigation of the NKVD.
At the end of August 1924, the famous nursery “Red Star” was created. Since 1928, the registration of service dogs in the All-Union Pedigree Book began. At the same time, courses for training experts in breeding and judicial work were opened.
The Doberman became the main service breed in Soviet Russia, but already at that time experts began to discuss the possibility of selecting domestic breeds, as well as purchasing purebred German shepherds abroad.
War years
In the very first days of the Great Patriotic War, almost all service dog breeding clubs in our country began to hand over their students to the army. The number of animals sent to help Soviet soldiers was in the thousands. At the same time, most clubs and nurseries managed to preserve breeding stock.
During this most difficult time for our country, dogs were used to form squads of mine detectors and tank destroyers. Often, dog handlers went to the front along with their pets. The war caused great damage to service dog breeding and many kennels and clubs began their work in the post-war years from scratch.
Development of service dog breeding today
Today, the prestige of the canine service in our country has increased significantly. Everyone who wants to become a dog handler goes through a rigorous selection process, not only among applicants for this position, but also among service dogs. A candidate dog handler must as soon as possible establish contact with the animal.
Today, 78 Russian regions have their own service dog breeding centers. They number: dog handlers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs - more than 7,000 people, dog handlers of the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs - more than 3,000 specialists.
Breeds
Nowadays, police dogs in Russia are about a dozen breeds. Some of them do a full range of service and investigative work, others are involved in certain areas of it.
The universal (and basic) police dogs are German Shepherds. These animals are also effective in working with the police department, have proven themselves in operational investigative work at crime scenes, and show excellent results in search units. The main advantage of the German Shepherd is its stable psyche. It is physically strong, with a high level
A close relative of the “Germans” – the East European Shepherd – has similar qualities. This dog is also widely used by the police today.
Belgian Shepherd
New, previously unused breeds are rapidly gaining popularity. Police dogs of the Belgian Shepherd breed are distinguished by their high speed and “explosive” throw, which leaves no chance for an attacker to avoid arrest.
Rottweilers are found much less frequently in the Ministry of Internal Affairs. These brave, moderately aggressive and intelligent animals successfully carry out patrol duty and are engaged in search work.
Some breeds that are suitable for law enforcement are less represented in our police force. For example, black terriers and giant schnauzers are excellent guard dogs, but their maintenance is too expensive. Dobermans, who served in the Tsarist police, are not used at all today, since experts note a significant selective deterioration of the breed in our country.
Why aren't fighting breeds used?
Experts say that canine units with representatives of fighting breeds can be counted on one hand. This has its own explanations: for example, when detaining a criminal, the death grip of a bull terrier is not required. And if you consider that these dogs react aggressively to other animals, it becomes clear that they will not become police dogs.
There are breeds about which experts continue to argue to this day. They have no way of identifying dogs that are not intended for detention. The main battles are caused by police dogs and Labrador retrievers. The opinions of dog handlers are divided. Some believe that both breeds are suitable as search engines, others give the palm to spaniels, noting the conflict-prone nature of Labradors and the fact that they are easily distracted from work by extraneous stimuli.
Use of dogs in the Ministry of Internal Affairs
Police dogs undoubtedly have a psychological impact on others. It is difficult to imagine a daredevil who will not comply with the demands of a police officer, or (even worse) will object to him, showing aggression, if there is a powerful Rottweiler or shepherd dog on a leash next to the guard.
Probably not everyone knows that training service dogs has the main goal of minimizing harm to humans. A well-trained and physically strong shepherd dog can cause very serious injuries when detained. That is why the main requirement for her in this situation is to instantly and unquestioningly execute the command “let go!”
In the internal troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and in transport units, police dogs are engaged in detecting explosives and drugs.
Bloodhound
In the forensic work of departments of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, one cannot do without a dog’s sensitive sense of smell. Sometimes a sniffer dog helps solve complex crimes that many employees thought were “unheard of.”
Dog handlers are confident that the bloodhound is an animal that has reached the top of its “career.” Not all representatives of various breeds are capable of engaging in such a noble cause. And those who, by definition, can cope with this work undergo a serious course of education and training, which does not stop until the end of the animal’s service.
A real sniffer dog must master the following skills:
- work on the trail;
- security of premises and individual items;
- search of a building or area;
- distrust of strangers;
- and guarding him until the arrival of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
During training, bloodhounds develop not only their sense of smell, but also their ability to sense the general condition of a person becomes more acute. Trainers say dogs sense fear. This often helps four-legged “law enforcement officers” solve the most complicated crimes.
It has been scientifically proven that the probability that a dog will make a mistake in the smell is one in one hundred million. The behavior of an animal during an odorological examination (for example, when it is necessary to determine whether the weapon of a crime belongs to a specific person) is irrefutable evidence in court.
To raise a good bloodhound, it is necessary to take into account the age of the animal. The dog must be no older than three years old, hardy, physically strong, have keen hearing and a unique sense of smell. The training of such animals lasts about six months in specialized schools.
Training
Police dogs are trained between the ages of one and three years. In the nursery, the animal is assigned to an instructor and sent for training. The training of a service dog lasts from six to eight months. During this time, the animal masters a general training course and training in special disciplines (search for drugs and explosives).
The canine service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs uses a combination of two methods - play and taste-reward. The second option allows you to establish close contact between the young dog and the instructor, thereby reducing the training time.
The first method fulfills the dog’s natural need to play and minimally loads the animal’s nervous system, fostering a desire to carry out the given task. This method is especially effective for search engines. In addition, this method is successfully used when training for detention.
The “figurator” is a trainer in a tight suit who pretends to be an intruder, attaches the dog’s favorite toy to the suit, and the animal must rip it off. After successfully completing the task, the teenage puppy is allowed to take the protective sleeve away from the trainer and pat him to his heart's content. Training is based on the animal's hunting instinct.
After completing a training course, the dog is able to detain a criminal without fear of blows or shots. You need to know that training on the site, in which the animals “tear to pieces” the instructor, has little in common with the actual use of the dog. We have already mentioned that after a bite the dog is obliged to release the offender on the first command. “Tearing apart” on the training ground is allowed to satisfy the animal’s instincts and gives it emotional release.
Sampling things by smell is easy and does not require much time and effort. This skill is necessary for scent-distinguishing dogs (sniffer dogs). Today, selective training techniques are also promising for training dogs for protective guard and search services. In this regard, almost every kennel of service dogs of the USSR Ministry of Internal Affairs used training in sampling for a treat, indicating the selected item with a pack.
However, this technique, which at one time significantly increased the effectiveness of work, has significant drawbacks - dogs contaminate the selected items with their own smell. Animals work effectively only on those things that have a strong and fresh smell.
The use of service dogs in law enforcement agencies around the world continues to be relevant. Whether she is working on a trail or looking for drugs, her help in solving crimes can hardly be overestimated. But it should be taken into account that dog professions are very diverse - they serve as rescuers in the Ministry of Emergency Situations, assistants to the military and drug police, show excellent results at customs, and guard important facilities.
Today it is difficult to imagine the work of special services without the participation of dogs. Bloodhounds search for explosives and drugs, missing people and criminals, and thus greatly help law enforcement officers in their case.
From a young age
There are more than a hundred search dogs in service with the police in the Kirov region. Mostly German Shepherds, there are also Belgian Malinois. They are distinguished by high intelligence and good search abilities. In addition, they quickly adapt to different conditions. Dogs of other breeds are brought in to solve special problems.
“Labradors and spaniels are commonly used for drug detection, weapons and explosives detection, and for tracking work,” says junior inspector, dog handler of the breeding group Vadim Ogorodnikov.
Four-legged police officers enter service at a young age, having gone through a serious selection process.
“The requirements for puppies are quite high. They must be socialized, respond adequately to shots and unfamiliar stimuli, easily navigate unfamiliar terrain, and so on. When choosing dogs for service, we are guided by the tasks that face us,” notes Head of the Canine Service Center of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs for the Kirov Region Andrey Sadakov.
At the Center, puppies undergo primary school training and prepare to fulfill the goals set for them, and their training continues almost throughout their lives.
Puppies undergo a strict selection process before entering service. Photo: AiF/Yulia Ivakina
“We teach all dogs commands during play. If the puppy is accustomed to play, then the training will go quickly, shares Vadim Ogorodnikov. - In just 3 months, animals acquire the necessary skills to work at the scene of an incident. The main task is to make the dogs eager to work - this takes time. To consolidate the skills they have learned, they must constantly practice and gain experience.”
“We usually conduct a general training course (GTC) for young dogs: we teach the commands “Come to me”, “Sit”, “Nearby”, “Lie down”. Then we teach them how to select an item, follow the trail, and search the area. For training to bear fruit, you need to work hard. Sometimes it takes a lifetime,” explains police dog handler of the PPSP department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia “Kotelnichsky” Marina Samodelkina.
The requirements for puppies are quite high. They must be socialized, respond adequately to gunfire and unfamiliar stimuli, and easily navigate unfamiliar terrain.
Service tandem
Each puppy admitted to the Center is assigned a dog handler. He takes charge of him: he looks after him, feeds him, trains him, and then goes out with his assistant to work. There are such specialists in the criminal investigation department, in the patrol service, in escort units, and in riot police. Training lessons take place both day and night, in different areas, so that the dog can go on a mission at any time of the day.
“Our service does not allow dog handlers to sit still. It happens that in a day they go to incidents 10 times and often go on business trips. Sometimes they are sent to “hot spots,” says Andrei Sadakov. - Our work is very intense, not everyone can withstand such a regime. However, we have golden employees! I can’t single out just one couple - they all work at a high level. Some specialists perform tasks as part of several departments.”
Service Dog Training | Photo gallery
The main thing is the mode
To ensure that search dogs are always in shape, dog handlers strictly monitor their diet, daily routine and health. Their diet is calculated down to calories and grams. Food is prepared only from natural products: meat, cereals and vegetables, sometimes offal and fish are given. The animals are given mush soup. Only one shepherd dog, who arrived in Kirov from far abroad, is never accustomed to “Russian cuisine” and eats exclusively dry food.
“The dogs live in enclosures; in the winter they are given straw for bedding, and the winter house door is protected from the wind by curtains. There are those who freeze, and there are also real Spartans who are not afraid of even 30-degree frost,” notes Dmitry Sandalov, dog handler and inspector of the service dog breeding and training department. “Some animals have clearly expressed character and temperament, others love all the people around them, while others perceive only their trainer.”
When a dog handler has raised a dog from puppyhood, it becomes his second self - he will not give it to anyone.
Service dogs live at a frantic pace and are able to withstand enormous loads. They are not pampered like pets, but, of course, they know what human loyalty and attention are.
“Our dogs undergo annual medical examinations. The center has its own veterinary service and a well-equipped veterinary center. This became possible thanks to federal program on the development of canine service. We have an ultrasound machine and cardiograph, an operating table and shadowless lamps and much more necessary for the treatment of dogs. The head of the veterinary service can perform serious operations on our four-legged assistants. Fortunately, they don’t get sick often,” shares Andrei Sadakov.
All dogs are different in character: some perceive only their trainer, while others love all the people around them. Photo: AiF/Yulia Ivakina
It's time to retire
Search dogs spend an average of 7-8 years of their lives in police service. Often the period is extended for another 2-3 years.
“By the age of 8, sniffer dogs usually exhaust their resources. When a dog reaches this age, a special commission evaluates whether its further use in service is possible. If not, we hand it over to the police officer who worked with her. When a dog handler has raised a dog from puppyhood, it becomes his second self - he will not give it to anyone. Most often, employees leave it with themselves or place it with relatives. Dogs “retire” and live in the family for as long as they are destined from above,” assures Sadakov.
