• Train beyond certification level. Instead of training to the
level called for in your certifying organization’s by-laws,
train beyond that level by incorporating those standards into
your scenario-based exercises. Challenge those you train
with to challenge you, and work through problems together,
if necessary. Training is not a competition — everyone
should go home at the end of the day feeling that they have
accomplished something.
• Push yourself. This is a reiteration of the
previous thought, but bears repeating. Set
goals for things you would like to see yourself
and your K- 9 partner attain and work toward
reaching them. You may not accomplish your
objectives in a day, but by working on an
achievable goal, you will undoubtedly enhance your proficiency in some way even
before you reach that goal.
• Don’t accept mediocrity. If you choose to
demand excellence (as we all should), do
not settle for less than excellence. Keep in
mind that although it is not likely that your
dog will save your life, his performance
likely will give you a few seconds to save
your own in a critical incident. I hold the strong opinion
that there should be no “getting ready” for an upcoming
certification. Any K- 9 team should be certification-ready at
all times. If one can identify a K- 9 team that is short of
certification readiness, chances are good that it is a team
that has failed to demand excellence and has accepted
mediocre per-
formance as its
standard.
• Don’t let your
ego get in the way.
K- 9 is no place
for people who
have big egos and
brittle feelings. I
tell my students,
“Sorry if I some-
times come across
a little rough
while I’m trying
to make your dog win, but he’s way more important than
your feelings. You’re a cop, you’ll be OK.” The point is this:
if you’re the type of person who needs to get patted on the
butt and told everything is wonderful in order to attain
gratification, it’s probably best to seek another line of work.
We have a rule in our group when we’re training: rank,
seniority, and experience get checked at the door when the
team is working. It is incumbent upon all
present to point out any deficiencies in a
team’s performance that might hinder them
or get them hurt.
Challenge
those you train
with to challenge
you, and
work through
problems
together.
■ Left: Trust your
dog’s indication —
you’ve invested a lot
of time in training
him. Opposite,
above: The more
scenarios you train
for, the better. Don’t
simply train the
ones you and your
K- 9 excel in.
