K-9 training is a very comprehensive training program that covers the basic obedience from the sit command to the hand signals to the more complex commands.
A dog that will undergo the training program has to be enrolled in a dog training school to be handled by the experts in dog training.
The method or combination of methods in training K-9 is determined depending on the dog being trained.
The study on their character and behavior determines the type of training that the dog will undergo.
The commonly used methods in dog training schools are inducement (treats, food), positive reinforcement (praise, completion), and compulsion (through the use of equipment or corrections).
The dogs under the K-9 training program will undergo the following trainings: obedience or controllability, agility or confidence course, article search or evidence recovery, box search or suspect search in a building, tracking and scouting, bite work in prey and defense, criminal apprehension and protection and control, and tactical deployment.
The training in obedience has very short learning sessions but with many rewards depending on what drives and motivates the dogs.
Treats such as food and dog training aids, such as kongs, or balls are used to induce them.
As the dog becomes accustomed to the task at hand and conditioned to the exercise and behavior we want, the learning session can be lengthened.
Give frequent rewards and start using tools to sharpen the exercise.
The agility training is done in the same manner as the obedience training.
Inducement is also the method used to surpass whatever obstacle the dog is needed to surpass.
If the rewards will make the training faster to make the dog more accustomed to the exercise, then the treats should be given after every successful execution of the task.
This will condition the dog to the behavior that we want him to obtain.
The simplest method to use in the article or evidence recovery training is through a retrieval drill.
This exercise, the prey drive and fetch, is a very rewarding training to the dog; they can be easily accustomed with this training since it is in their nature to drive and fetch.
This method is done where the dog is allowed to search and find the suspect, bite his sleeve, chew and shake, fight, and kill the prey of his drive, which is the sleeve in this case.
If you are playing as the suspect, there are three important reasons why you should give up the sleeve to the dog: ·The dog is allowed to naturally fulfill the drive so they can be conditioned to the situation.
·The dog will be conditioned to the proper bite that he has to deliver.
·The dog will be conditioned to bite every time whenever needed with no fear of any negative corrective measures.
Some of the K-9 trainings that they need to undergo are already inherent in them so further development of these abilities will condition them to the behavior you want them to acquire.
In closing, we are simply attributing human characteristics to dogs or animals so the focus of the training should be on the behavior of the animal.
All relationships are built on understanding and even though they are just animals they can apply to you the same treatment that you use to them.
Training them should not mean that they need to experience pain to be able to learn and serve you.