Bomb dogs

[Washingtonian]

Anyone here have an explosives sniffing dog? If so, what kind of training did you go through, and what kind of ongoing training do you have?

[Night_Cop]

I am now a handler for a bomb dog/patrol dog! I went thru a two week school recently just to learn how the dog works and how it responds to the odors. I also learned about leash control for the dog and other stuff. I am fairly new to the bomb dog thing and still have about a month more of training on the patrol side. If you have any specific questions, shoot em my way and I will gladly answer them if I can!

[TorontoK9]

I start my EDD Course at the end of the month. It is 8 weeks in duration and run at Toronto International Airport. I have an 18 month old male Black Lab, he will be trained on Explosives only. I also have a 7yr old GSD that is my Patrol Dog.

[Washingtonian]

Any of you know of any good websites for explosives K9s?

[mainedawg]

Department of Defence working dog site
Lackland Airforce base k-9 training
military.com, check Military police unit sites and forums. Talk with them on the best sites.

[ARSNK9]

Cannot help you with the bomb dog question but I do have an accellerent canine. Fixing to retire the first one and starting school in 2 weeks for canine #2. Classes last 6 weeks.

[SgtScott31]

Our airport has one of the best EOD K9 teams in the country. They are the only team to pass the FAA/TSA evals 100% 3 yrs running. I have to say, from what I observed, it is one of the hardest, if not the hardest, testing evaluations in the country. The dogs have to find many different scents in many different areas (including significant heights, etc).

All of our K9 officers go to Lackland for 3 mos to train and get assigned a dog. They train almost every day and are tested every week by our K9 Sergeant.

I would put our EOD K9s against any other teams in the country.

Yes, I'm braggin. I tried to get on once, but since my promotion, basically knocked myself out of the loop.

[k9cobo]

Washington,

If you have some specific questions feel free to email me. I'm not really comfortable posting any detailed training methods on an unsecured website.
You will probably get discouraged because of the sensitive nature of bomb training with dogs and the lack of passing on useful training techniques in an on line envronment. Obedience, search work for people or evidence and criminal apprehension work can be openly discussed.
I know several bomb dog trainers in your area, from Metro to Capital and Park Service trainers. If I can not answer some questions for you I can put you in touch with some local people who can, but again, you must be a legitimate L.E. handler.

To Night-Cop, I certainly hope you are going to get more than 2 weeks of bomb dog training. There's an old saying, " dead dogs can find bombs " .

k9cobo

[mainedawg]

In resent years I have been hearing more on Police Departments cross training thier dogs. This is fine if done with the right ideals. Doing the training in-house and not by a school is helping save money for departments. I was told of a department that was cross training thier dope dog on bombs. If you know anything about alerts,you don't want a dog mistaking his alerts. I'm only saying this due you wanting to train bomb dogs. Never listen to that type of cross training. School is everything.

What k9cabo stated was good. dead dogs do find bombs.k9cabo' you get a get an "A" from me on that one.

I have stated in the past that I went to three different schools at Lackland Airforce Base and was very well trained. A bad start at training will make K-9 a real beach.

[SgtScott31]

My opinion is that EOD dogs should not be trained on anything other than EOD.

[bloodhound]

I am sorry that A.T.F. canine Mikey passed away today while on duty.I feel bad for the dogs handler losing dog.

[k9cobo]

My opinion is that EOD dogs should not be trained on anything other than EOD.

As an "old school" trainer, I couldn't agree with you more. I hate it when the financial advantage of a dual purpose, patrol - bomb dog, is the only reasoning for training this method. Yes, you may find a few very nice and proficient teams that do this but unfortunately most of the ones I see are average or less. The average patrol dog may not get you killed but lets use some common sense here with a bomb dog.

Cobo

[Night_Cop]

Washington,

To Night-Cop, I certainly hope you are going to get more than 2 weeks of bomb dog training. There's an old saying, " dead dogs can find bombs " .

k9cobo

I had a total of six weeks of training with the dog. We trained on the Bomb detection nightly as well as the Patrol work. I had 2 years previous experience with a narcotic dog so Im not really sure why all the concern for "only 2 weeks". And, how do dead dogs find bombs? Never heard that one before! :confused:

[SgtScott31]

I had a total of six weeks of training with the dog. We trained on the Bomb detection nightly as well as the Patrol work. I had 2 years previous experience with a narcotic dog so Im not really sure why all the concern for "only 2 weeks". And, how do dead dogs find bombs? Never heard that one before! :confused:

I would put every EOD dog through a TSA/FAA K9 evaluation. Those that passed would be good through my eyes. It's hard for me to believe that EOD K9's that only go through their departmental training would be near as good, unless they worked along side those that come out of Lackland AFB.