Expert: PaulKoinig - 12/3/2005

Question
Hello,

I think this site just got the better of me :-P. I had asked a question to you a while back but did not get the 'question reciept' so I decided to re ask the question because I think the origional got lost somewhere in cyberspace.

My name is Andrew Meier and I am a senior now at Park High. I've been interested inquite a while in persuing a career in law enforcment and have already enrolled in a college to get a degree. One of the things I've always found most interesting about police forces is the Canine unit. I've always loved dogs, and I'm simply amazed by what the police dogs can do. I'm very interested in specializing in that once I get my inital time down, but I just have a few questions for you on the subject of dogs.

Is there any way you can give me a outline of the training each dog must go through?

What percent of dogs that enroll in 'police training' (not sure what you would call it) end up 'making the cut'?

If when a dog and handler are training, and the dog for whatever reason can not complete the training, what happens to the dog? What happens to the handler? is he given another chance with another dog or is he just out of luck?

What is the average time a police dog will be on the force?


Thank you very much for your time, I look forward to hearing back from you.

Answer
Ok andrew I will do my best for you. First, the outline is too lenghty. We sponser a twelve week course for training! Second, 90 percent of the dogs pass as we screen all the dogs prior to selecting them. Third, if a dog washes out we try to find a replacemtent. Handler gets to stay. Life expectency for k9 work dogs is 5-7 yrs. Hope this helps. Paul