Seminars
It has been many years since the training of K-9s to detect narcotics was completely unheard of. Obviously, the dogs' inherent senses haven't changed over the generations. What has changed is the ability to develop sound training approaches that result in highly specialized use of the K-9’s acute sense of smell and ability to discriminate between odors. The success in improving an existing ability rests on the quality of training. With these thoughts in mind it becomes evident that careful considerations must be given to each aspect of training before actually undertaking it.
In short, a trial an error approach is not a substitute for sound logic. The first steps in quality training are to firmly establish a strong foundation and final objectives-in this case searching people. Each phase of training must be carefully developed so as to achieve a desired level of proficiency that will enhance progression in a logically sequential manner.
What is required will vary with each dog. Some dogs will make a much faster progression in certain areas of training. Although the quality of the end product should be equal, the methods and techniques used to attain that goal will no doubt vary from one dog to another. The K -9 training environment should be as closely related as possible to the actual area in which he or she will later be employed. By doing this, the dog will gradually become adjusted to influencing distractions which may later be encountered during actual employment. The training must be as closely related to realistic situations and conditions as possible. In other words, if the final goal is for the K-9 to find narcotics on people, then concentration must be directed towards teaching them to search people.
T.N.S. K-9 Services is a consulting and training company that caters to the correctional environment. Those of us who work or have worked in a correctional setting realize that K-9 work in a jail or prison setting is not the same as those K-9 units that perform their duties on the streets of our cities.
Let’s take narcotic detection work as an example. The K-9 units working on a narcotic detail on the streets are more often than not looking to seize drugs in large quantities. When we have a large amount of narcotics, the odor of that narcotic creates a larger scent cone which makes it easier for the K-9 to zero in on the location of the contraband.
The opposite scenario usually exists in a correctional setting. Inside of our facilities, the dogs are required to locate much smaller amounts of narcotics that are also packaged much differently then narcotics being sold on the streets. The contraband is also hidden in different places including inside of the human body. In the jails visitors, inmates and employees will smuggle narcotics in their shoes, clothing, packages, mail and on many occasions, secreted inside different body cavities. This method is not only utilized by visitors but also by inmates on work details that may take them outside of the facility. All of this makes it harder for the dogs to zero in on the location of the contraband but not impossible. The training methods must be tailored differently than normal police K-9 work to meet the needs of the correctional setting and we provide that training and service.
T.N.S. offers the following services to the correctional community:
Basic Narcotic Detection Seminar
This is a two day seminar which consists of the following:
- Choosing the right dog for narcotic detection work.
- Dog behavior including drives, how weather affects the dog’s ability to search, why the health of your dog is important is detection work, etc.
- The scenting of dogs to the odor of narcotics-how this is done and the steps you need to know in order to make the dog proficient in locating the source of the narcotic.
- Conducting searches-this includes the searches of rooms, cars, inmate housing areas/cells, warehouse and the patterns utilized to conduct these searches.
Advanced Narcotic Detection Seminar
This is also a two day seminar consisting of:
- People searches-how to search people with a passive alert canine including getting the dog to check hands pockets, shoes, etc and the pattern involved in these types of searches.
- Field searches-this includes recreation yards and large areas where you may have inmate work details which are a source of introducing contraband.
- Passive vs. Aggressive alert detection methods.
Note: In order to conduct the advanced seminar, the dogs must at least be scented on whatever narcotic(s) your Department is concentrating on.
We also can provide both trained and untrained Labradors, German Shepherds and Malinois. Training can also be provided for the detection of contraband cell phones which have become a major problem in many facilities.
