P1 First Person: Working with a K-9 team

By Dave Lottman
Triple Nine Tactical LLC

If you’re like most officers you look at a K-9 as just another tool at the department’s disposal. This was the same mindset that I had prior to becoming a K-9 handler. I was under the same misconception that a lot of patrol officers have and that is it is just a dog and they are expendable.

Yes, since I have been partnered with a K-9 and trained with him I have come to realize that I was wrong. I believe that a well trained K-9 team is a very effective tool for any department to have. Think about all the tools you have on your belt. My partner can be deployed several times and recalled. Not too much on your belt can do that? One of the concepts that make a good team is the officers that they work with. Yes, that’s right a K-9 team can be greatly affected by the patrol officers they work with.

Think about all the K-9 teams that you have seen in action. Think about the good ones that you’ve seen and the ones that you walked away saying, that dog should not be working. Why is it that some K-9 teams do well and others seem to fall short? Hopefully after reading this you will have a better understanding of why this is, which will help both you and the K-9 team work together better.

There are several factors to consider as to why a K-9 does well some of the time or not at all. I have found that six areas directly affect the success or failure of a team. They are as follows.

1) The K-9
2) Training
3) Experience
4) Their attitude
5) Conditions
6) Personnel

The first is the K-9 themselves. In some cases the K-9 that is on the job, should have never been working. This area falls directly on the person that located and evaluated it. They are not always right, or they are looking to make money. With a better trainer some K-9’s can become better, some cannot be helped. This can also be said about the handler themselves. Some handlers should not be partnered with a K-9.

This brings up the next area, which is the training. Most trainers are in law enforcement or were at one time in law enforcement. They have an understanding of what goes into making a good working K-9 and as such train them for the streets. This can also be said about the training of the handler both initial and continuing training. If a handler is not trained properly this will affect the success or failure that they have. A poorly trained handler can hinder the K-9 in its job. Good initial and continuing training is vital to their success.

Experience of the team also plays a huge part in their success. A handler who has had other partners or years of handling under their belt does better than those that do not. Some of the reasons are the handler is more relaxed, which in turn makes his partner more relaxed to work. Another is the handler has a greater understanding of his partner as far as the K-9 strength and weaknesses. Rookie handlers do not posses this, which hampers their success. They will in time with work and good training become that successful team.

The conditions that a K-9 is faced with will also have a direct effect on the outcome. For example, a good track can be hampered by weather, contamination, and surface. Bad guys transporting drugs know the K-9 is out there and have taken steps to hinder the search. The K-9 has to work through these obstacles to be successful. We do not have control over the conditions presented. We do however try and assist the K-9 through them.

The last area is the officers that a team works with. If the patrol officer has an understanding of what it takes to help the team, this increases the success and failure. Some, not all officers have issues with the team, whether it is against the officer themselves or their belief of the need for a K-9. In order to assist the team, communicate with the handler; find out what he needs from you on tracks, searches, calls etc...

These are some of the things that I have found help me; hopefully this helps both the patrol officer and the team. For tracking officers chase the suspect as much as you want, I hope you catch them. If at some point you stop or lose sight I want as much information as you can give me and give me at least ten feet of only the suspect’s scent. I need to know where you last seen the suspect, clothes, what they might have been carrying etc… Next direct other units to set up a perimeter in that area and keep units and civilians away from my ten feet. I prefer the officer that was chasing to go with me, but will take any extra officer. NEVER let your team track without a back up officer and give them room to work.

Vehicle searches it is debated whether occupants should be removed from the vehicle everyone has their opinion. When I search a vehicle for narcotics I want them out of the vehicle. The guys that I work with are very good at interdiction; it’s a good bet that the occupants or the vehicle they stop has narcotics. I don’t want to be shot from an unknown weapon in the vehicle. I get them out and have the officer watch them for safety. I also make the determination on case by case weather to put my K-9 inside the vehicle. If you do a lot of interdiction stops and have a K-9 at your disposal, talk to the handler and find out how he wants the vehicle. Examples would be doors shut, car off, but the key turned so the heater fan is blowing. This allows odors from the interior to be pushed out through the door seams.

Building and area searches communication is a must for safety. On the searches the K-9 is totally working on his own off lead or a long lead, so ask where the handler wants you. The K-9 is searching for human odor, so watch where you stand in relation to fans or wind direction. This is so the K-9 is not wind scenting your odor.

When it comes to bites and apprehensions listen to the handler. Accidental bites do happen to the both the officer and to the handler. Handlers do very well at controlling their K-9, but when working so closely accidents do happen.

I hope these tips have helped. They are not gospel and I am always open to any tips others have, so pass them on. K-9s are great to have. Learn how the K-9 you work with operates; listen to what the handler has to say. Handlers, teach the guys you work with how you work and be open to what they have to say. Remember, a K-9 is for everyone on your department.

Dave Lottman has more than 26 years of law enforcement experience and is currently a K-9 Deputy holding instructor certificates for domestic violence, crisis intervention, self defense, and chemical munitions. Lottman is also co-owner of Triple Nine Tactical, a company designed to assist law enforcement in training, equipment, and consulting. Any questions or comments can be directed to Dave at tripleninetactical2@yahoo.com.