K9 UNITS

HISTORY

The use of dogs in battle type scenarios dates back to the Greeks over 2,500 years ago.

The first police dogs were used in the United Kingdom in 1908

USES

Most dogs are used as patrol partners, apprehension assistants, trackers, and substance detectors

The typical breeds used are Labradors, German Shepherds, and Belgian Malinois

These breeds are used because of their strong prey drive This is there ability to

track, chase, and hold onto prey

USES CONT.

The breeds are usually all European. This is mainly because

American breeds are bred for conformation and not working ability

WHY USE DOGS??

Most dogs work on a toy-reward system or food-reward system

Dogs are trained by association Ex. Smell gas =

toy/food Some dogs can alert to

over 20 different substances

Dogs can pick up traces of substances that electronic devices cannot detect

Dogs sense of smell is so great they can detect a substance with less than a thousandth of a drop

Training

Facilities must obtain a liscense to train police dogs

Prices can range from $5,000 – $10,000 for a trained dog

Dogs usually obtain a Schutzhund title along with other training

Usually dogs that are sent to be sight dogs, and fail, become police dogs.

RICHMOND K9 UNIT

Your local police department has 2 K9 officers

They are trained as search and rescue and drug identification

Wito and Rexo along with James King and Travis Bowles

SO WHATS THE PROBLEM

Some think dogs are a form of police brutality

They are against the use of drug dogs at routine road stops