Fundamental functions needed by Police Dogs
Police dogs require certain fundamental training. The following list will show these functions with a brief explanation of each:
The dog is trained to respond immediately to the handler's commands.
The dog is conditioned to complete numerous physical exercises, usually within an obstacle course.
The dog is trained to detect the scent of crushed vegetation on the ground and follow the track to the source. Most dogs will attack when the source is found.
The dog is trained to detect the scent of human odor inside of a building and locate the source. Most dogs will attack when the source is found.
The dog is trained to detect the human scent in an open area and locate the source. Most dogs will attack when the source is found.
The dog is trained to attack and hold the suspect until commanded by the handler to release.
The dog being trained is introduced to a certain smell and is commanded to search around in a particular area for that scent. Some dogs sit or lay by the article and some will retrieve and bring it to the handler.
The dog is trained to recognize odors such as narcotics, explosives, tobacco and even cadavers.
The dog is trained to respond to any aggression directed toward its handler.
The dog is trained to stay with a certain piece of property and is given a perimeter. If anyone steps within that perimeter, the dog will attack until the perpetrator is outside that perimeter.
Search and rescue
The dog is trained to track human scent until the source is found. An alert will be given, but the dog will not attack because their find is usually not a suspect, but rather a lost person. Dogs are trained to track human scent throughout a variety of environments. This is ideal for law enforcement and security companies. Dogs are trained to locate and follow possible tracks to their source or ending point. This is ideal for break-ins, locating lost people, like children or the elderly. Dogs are also trained to locate articles on tracks that may be vital pieces of evidence. Some of the items covered in training are scent patterns, wind, weather, psychology of fleeing subjects and terrain.