Tammy Gagne - Police Dogs

Most police dogs are male, but female dogs also make great K-9 partners. Deputy Jeff VanHoos and Jaro are a K-9 team from Sangamon County, Illinois. In 2009 Jaro won first place at a U.S. Police Canine Association field trials event. She was the first female dog to earn the honor.

To be part of a K-9 police team, a dog must be smart, friendly, and curious. It is also important for a police dog to be . The human officer must be able to count on his or her canine partner to follow commands.

Once a dog has received basic obedience training, it can begin police training. This training usually begins when the dog is about 2 years old. The dogs human partner is usually involved in the training process. It is important that the dog follows its partners commands.

During training, dogs go with their handlers to . Most police officers rarely fire their weapons. But when police use their guns, their K-9 partners must remain calm. A dog that is scared by gunfire cannot serve as a police dog.

During training a handler teaches a dog to climb over high structures and crawl through small spaces. The dog also learns to jump through open windows. All K-9 officers must learn to track suspects or missing persons. Many police dogs are also taught how to sniff for bombs, drugs, or guns.

About half the dogs that go through training become police dogs. During training it quickly becomes clear when a dog is not right for police work. Dogs that are too shy, too excited, or easily distracted are dropped from the police dog program. Though they may not be right for police work, dogs that fail training usually make wonderful pets.

FACT

A police dog can search a vehicle in about three minutes.

One dog that learned very quickly is Chase, a German shepherd from Connecticut. Chase was partnered with Officer Mauro Piroli in North Branford, Connecticut. After Chase joined the police force, his training continued. He was first trained in tracking, officer protection, and building searches. Then he moved on to narcotics training, which lasted about nine weeks.

During narcotics training, Chase and Piroli trained together eight hours a day, five days a week. They learned how to find illegal drugs.

Officer Mauro Piroli and Chase

Training a police dog isnt just time consuming. It is costly. Police departments invest in special equipment for K-9 programs.

For example, Pirolis vehicle is specially designed. The vehicle has a remote system. The system lets Piroli open a door from up to 1,000 feet (305 meters) away. If he is not near the vehicle but needs Chases help, Piroli just presses a button to open the door. Chase can jump out of the vehicle and hurry to help his partner.