How Police Dogs Work

Today, police forces in most major cities use police dogs to track criminals, sniff out illegal materials, search buildings, and do other jobs human police officers can't do as well as a dog can. Not only are there thousands of police dogs on the job on any given day, but there are also hundreds of police dogs who have given their lives to protect and serve.

Why do we bother using police dogs at all? For one thing, their sense of smell is almost 50 times more sensitive than a human's. A dog can sniff out criminals, drugs, weapons, and bombs in situations where a human officer would have to search every inch, a dangerous task. In one case, Breston, a Belgian Malinois who works with the Cheektowaga Police Department in Cheektowaga, NY (a suburb of Buffalo), easily sniffed out a shipment of marijuana in heat-sealed Mylar bags, inside plastic-lined crates sealed with foam sealant, inside a closed storage garage. With his sensitive nose and a search warrant, Breston kept $3,400,000 worth of drugs off the streets.

                            Officer Daniel Smith and his K-9 partner, Breston

Dogs come in an huge variety of shapes and sizes, and not every breed of dog is suited for police work. There probably aren't any police Lhasa apsos in the world. The majority of police dogs in the world are German shepherds, although Labrador retrievers and several other breeds (like Breston, a Belgian Malinois,) are sometimes used, depending on the specific tasks they will be needed for. The key attributes of a successful police dog are intelligence, aggression, strength, and sense of smell. Most police dogs are male, and are frequently left unneutered so that they maintain their natural aggression. This aggression must be kept in check with thorough and rigorous training.


Famous Police Dogs

A few police dogs become famous. The most legendary police dog of all is probably Rin Tin Tin, a trained German shepherd who was left behind by retreating German forces in 1918. An American sergeant took him to the United States, where he went on to star in 122 films and a TV series.
Another police dog became famous because she was unique. Mattie, a black Labrador retriever with the Connecticut State Police, was trained to sniff out evidence of arson. Mattie could pick her way through the charred, dangerous ruins of a fire and point out a few small drops of gasoline, despite all the strong smells of a recent fire and all the fire and police officials walking around the scene. Mattie could identify several different chemical accelerants. She was the first operational accelerant detection dogin the country, and possibly in the world, when she went on duty in 1986. Since then, the program has been very successful, with Dolph and Rosie following in Mattie's paw prints.

Therapy Dogs and Animal Assisted Therapy

Animal assisted therapy (AAT) is the use of certified therapy animals as a part of a therapeutic plan. The Delta Society describes animal assisted therapy as a "significant part of treatment for many people who are physically, socially, emotionally or cognitively challenged." Those in hospitals or nursing homes often benefit from AAT, especially children and the elderly. While animals such as horses and cats can make excellent therapy animals, dogs are by far the most common type. Perhaps this is because of the unique bond that canines and humans share. Therapy dogs truly make a difference in the lives of the people they meet.

How Therapy Dogs Make a Difference:
Animal assisted therapy teams consist of a certified therapy animal and a trained handler. Therapy teams visit hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living centers, children's homes and other similar facilities to help lift spirits and facilitate recovery. Therapy dogs visit with the sick and elderly, sometime simply sitting by the person's side and patiently being petted. AAT patients may walk therapy dogs, play with them, feed them or groom them. Some therapy dogs are trained to sit quietly and attentively while children read to them. Many therapy dogs have their own disabilities or limitations that serve as inspiration to humans with disabilities.

Qualities of an Ideal Therapy Dog:
Dogs of any breed, size or age may be eligible to become therapy dogs. However, not all dogs are cut out for the job. Therapy dog candidates must possess certain traits in order to qualify. Temperament is by far the most important factor. Before even entering a training program, the therapy dog candidate must be friendly and non-aggressive. The dog must get along remarkably well with children, men, women and other animals. The dog should also be confident, patient, calm, gentle and receptive to training. Socialization is essential for all puppies, but it is especially important for a dog to be considered for a therapy program.

Photo by William B. Plowman/Getty Images

AKC/Eukanuba National Championship Names Australian Shepherd Best in Show

This dog is a force to be, well, reckoned with. CH Propwash Reckon, a 2-year-old Australian Shepherd known affectionately as “Reckon,” beat out nearly 2,500 canine competitors for the coveted title of Best in Show at the 10th annual AKC/Eukanuba National Championship at the Long Beach Convention Center.

“We are proud to have Reckon join the family of Best in Show winners at the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship,” said Show Chairman Ron Menaker. “We had a record-breaking entry this year of highly competitive canine athletes in conformation, agility, obedience and the Eukanuba World Challenge. Congratulations to all the winners!”

Reckon won not only bragging rights at the championship but also the Eukanuba Celebration of Champions Trophy (which is designed to look like its winner), a check for $50.000 and a year’s supply of Eukanuba dog food. Reckon is owned by Leslie Frank and Judy Harrington of Kensington, N.H. Last year’s winner was Sadie, a Scottish Terrier.

Dog Bite Prevention

Did you know that 50 percent of all children in the United States will be bitten by a dog before their 12th birthday? Did you know that 800,000 bites a year are severe enough to require medical treatment, while 1 to 2 milion go unreported?

The vast majority of dog bites are from a dog known to the child—his or her own pet, a neighbor's or friend's. You can help prevent this from happening to your child. Please discuss with him or her the appropriate way to behave around dogs. The following activity will help you and your child understand the difference between safe and potentially dangerous interactions with dogs.


The following is a list of pledges that you can recite with your child:

1. I will not stare into a dog's eyes.

2. I will not tease dogs behind fences.

3. I will not go near dogs chained up in yards.

4. I will not touch a dog I see loose (off-leash) outside.

5. If I see a loose dog, I will tell an adult immediately.

6. I will not run and scream if a loose dog comes near me.

7. I will stand very still (like a tree), and will be very quiet if a dog comes near me.

8. I will not touch or play with a dog while he or she is eating.

9. I will not touch a dog when he or she is sleeping.

10. I will only pet a dog if I have received permission from the dog's owner.

11. Then I will ask permission of the dog by letting him sniff my closed hand.


(source: ASPCA)

How do I determine if my pet is overweight?

Your veterinarian can tell you if your pet is overweight during your pet’s regular wellness exam. Your veterinarian may take a sample of your pet’s blood for laboratory tests to determine if there is a medical reason for your pet’s increased weight. If your pet is older, his weight gain may be attributed to lower activity and metabolism levels. Another cause of weight gain is giving your pet too many treats.




At home, you can monitor your pet’s weight by feeling his ribs. Place your fingers on the side of his rib cage and press or rub gently. If you can easily feel your pet’s ribs, he is probably not overweight, but if you have to press against his sides to feel his ribs, he may be overweight. You should also be able to easily spot your pet’s "waist," that is, his body should become more slender as you look from the end of the ribs to the hindquarters.  Call The Poop Scoop Troop & More for daily dog walking at 973-626-0362.