BACK TO BASICS

Sgt.Denny Kunkel, APCA Master Trainer

     After many weeks of hard work, and a few bouts of frustration, you have finally graduated the basic training canine class with your new Police Service Dog.   You hit the streets running as a fine-tuned working canine team, performing at your “A” game, taking on each individual assignment with a newfound attitude of confidence.   Weeks, and months pass by, and although you have directed your dog’s in-service maintenance training to a higher level of tactical mind-set, you encounter situations where your dog begins to have less interest in complying with your first, or even second, verbal commands.   Especially during those on-duty incidents or training scenarios when control is the number one basis for the success of the deployment.  

     For instance, you are dispatched to an alarm call at a local business after the first responding officer discovers an open door.   You arrive at the scene and exit your cruiser with your Police Service Dog, tactically approaching the known entry point of the business while continually maintaining your cover advantage.   After numerous verbal or physical attempts, your dog finally “Downs” to your command at the edge of the open door, and you begin to verbally announce your presence to anyone who may be hiding inside the premises.   Following a number of announcements, you release your Police Service Dog into the building and he begins his search.   You strategically trail your dog throughout the premises employing every tactical precaution available, just as you practiced in training.   Your dog finally indicates the presence of human odor behind a closed door by exhibiting a behavioral change of verbal alerts and physically scratching at the door.   You are excited and ready; this is what you have been training for.   You call your Police Service Dog back to you in preparation of demanding that the suspect exit his place of hiding.   However, your dog proceeds to ignore your directive and continues lingering at the door.   Following numerous verbal commands, your dog hesitantly turns and advances toward your tactical location with obvious frustration.   As soon as you gain control of your dog, you instruct the suspect to slowly step from behind the closed door with his hands visible.   Next, you “Stay” your Police Service Dog and you tactically begin to approach the suspect in preparation of handcuffing, however your dog breaks your command and begins to slowly creep toward your location.   This movement creates a distraction for you, likewise compelling you to direct your attention off of the suspect to verbally re-instruct and physically re-position your dog.   You re-approach the suspect getting the handcuffs on one of his wrists.   However, once again your Police service Dog breaks his “Stay” position, but this time your dog makes unwarranted physical contact with the suspect.  

     Although hypothetical, this is only one of many scenarios that illustrate a very common problem that can develop through the result of training negligence, in both new and veteran canines alike, which can lead to civil liability, or worse, tragic consequences when it happens in real life.   Let’s face it; it is no secret that if you situate a number of canine handlers together in one room the majority will not be afraid to speak of their successful canine missions, however you will soon discover that it is human nature that few will discuss their failures.   Moreover, I have found that when canine maintenance training is concerned, the same mindset applies; many like to concentrate on areas of training that highlights their strong points and they avoid those areas that emphasize their weaknesses.   All too many times, handlers forget about routinely reinforcing the fundamentals after they graduate from basic training and then they want to advance to working tactical.   Yet, when the dog will not listen, the handler losses his temper and inappropriately overcorrects the animal, accomplishing nothing more than generating behavioral problems in the Police Service Dog.   It is totally understandable that facing this setback head-on can sometimes become a frustrating state of affairs for any canine team, particularly when the handler is not entirely sure of the action to undertake to correct the dilemma.   However, if one takes the time to look at the big picture they will discover that the truth of the matter for rectification consists of nothing more than readdressing and consistently practicing the fundamental foundation of what canine training involves; basic, “Keep It Simple,” obedience.   To clarify, let’s begin by defining the order of a “Pack Leader,” which is the generally recognized phrase that describes the relationship between the handler and his Police Service Dog.   This position involves a two-fold responsibility for the handler as a “Pack Leader.”   On one hand, the “Pack Leader” should act quite social with the canine member, however on the other hand; the “Pack Leader” should exert dominance when a command or correction is necessary.   In other words, the handler should act extremely friendly with his dog, just as a partner or equal, however when a command is given the dog should trust that it is required to respond immediately or die.   Don’t misunderstand this philosophy, no one is advocating that a handler should put to death his Police Service Dog for disobedience, however you must be knowledgeable of the fact that this is the canine’s way of thinking in his own natural habitat.   Keeping this in mind, once a dog understands a command it should be given only once.   Failure to comply with the first request should result in the handler taking prompt and firm enforcement action to correct the inappropriate behavior.   Additionally, when commands are given the handler should eliminate the tendency to give more than one command for the same action; likewise maintaining simplicity.   For instance, handlers have a tendency to issue consecutive commands such as “Down-Stay” in their attempt to have their dog remain in a prone position.   Psychologically, a Police Service Dog understands clearly and concisely the desired behavior, merely with a “Down” command.   “Down” means “Down” until the dog is commanded to display another behavior or released from control.   Accordingly, disobedience to the command should not be followed by an array of repeated commands or a “No” or anything else but an immediate unpleasant enforcement of the command.   For example, a Police Service Dog that understands the “Down” command and breaks his location as the handler walks away, should immediately receive an unpleasant enforcement back into the “Down” position without verbal communication.   Consequently, the Police Service Dog understands unmistakably that “Down” means “Down.”  

     Keep in mind, there is no hidden secret or gimmick available to keeping your Police Service Dog under constant control.   The only factor that is required is your desire to develop a habit of maintaining consistent and basic, “Keep It Simple,” obedience drills as a fundamental part of your training routine.   By continuing this habit, your dog will behave appropriately, maintaining total reliability under all conditions, from that neighborhood canine demonstration to that criminal apprehension when stress is at it’s highest.   For more information contact Dkunkel@NewHavenIN.org.

Reprinted (2007)