Spaniels used in the police

[Roslyn McConnell]

I have a question, how do they stop the dogs getting addicted to the drugs?

I'm sure police dogs have a brilliant life and I fully support the work they do but I vaguely remember watching an American documentary on sniffer dogs and one of them got addicted to cocaine and had to go through  a rehab at the end of his career before he got re homed. Is this true?

[emilyjw]

From what I've read they are rewarded through praise and treats. I would say it's the same with a gundog seeking out rabbits/pheasants etc... they aren't doing it for the item itself, but as part of a game and to get the reward from the owner/ handler...

[september]

The dogs just see it as a game! a 'find it game' they don't touch the drugs!! they are trained to sniff it out and then back off and bark!

We watched a police dog display and they also brought out 2 puppies that they had just got and were not trained, they had brought them along for a bit of socialising.  One was an alsation and the other a 6 month golden working cocker! It was gorgeous and full of beans! really friendly wth all the people in the crowd!! They said they had got it from a rescue as its owner could not cope with it and they were going to train it as a sniffer dog for leeds bradford airport!

I think rescuse look out for dogs that might be suitable!

I have the ;send in the dogs' programme series linked on my sky+!

[Jan/Billy]

They are trained by toys. The dog is searching for the drug ( or whatever) and it's reward for finding the drug is that they get given their toy. It will be a specific toy that the dog has been trained to play with, so the dog has to be "toy mad" so be a good sniffer dog. Sometimes with sniffer dogs if you look closely you can see the police officers belt has a tennis ball holder.

If you ever watch "nothing to declare" on Sky living, they use dogs all the time to sniff out suitcases & parcels/mail and as soon as the dog sits ( they are trained to Sit when they sniff the drugs) then the officer gives the dog the toy and the dog is absolutely chuffed to bits  

[Jan/Billy]

there's a programme on Tuesday on ITV at 8pm about working dogs - lots of working cockers were in the trail for it 

http://a2mediagroup.com/?c=176&a=23661

oohh thanks for that Helen, I'd have missed it otherwise. I love stuff like this! I loved the "mounted branch" that was on a few weeks ago about police horses & how they are used, it was superb!  

[mac]

hi it differs from force to force some forces have a well established breeding programme like the met ,  other forces tend to buy all the pups from litter from a good breeder if the pup is licensed to sniff drugs explosives etc the breeder is payed a fee.  if the dog fails it is given back to the breeder or the force sell the pup on to pet homes.  the fee is then given direct to the breeder from the new owner.
German Shepard's come from all over gift dogs breeding programmes the pound.  though now lots of forces use the malinouis which is bread for police work.  all dogs have a reward training system they will find something for a ball they indicate by sitting next to the said item like drugs etc then they get a tennis ball .  when they retire they are re homed as pets or kept by their handler. 
fuse  and his litter were bread for this on paper excellent in practice not one of the litter made the grade and were all re homed.  he is so cute and my first spaniel .  i love him so much........ to be fair he likes the house and home comforts he s not to fussed on living in a kennel x

[Jane S]

I've merged the recent comments about Send In The Dogs with the thread already running on a
Anything Goes, in case anyone is wondering where their post has gone

http://www.cockersonline.co.uk/discuss/index.php?topic=46156.0