You've probably heard the debate about the correct name for a dog doing police work. Whether there is someone who simply decides to show it off. Call them police service dogs, sniffer dogs, canines, or just K-9s.
That aside, you've probably seen a K-9 in action up close. But how much do you know about them? Well, let's sail together about their lifestyle, how they operate, and their interesting bond with their police handlers.
Although police service dogs can be frightened at times, they are friendly, very intelligent, and can detect human scents (both good and bad). They are trained to ensure your safety.
background
When the Rwanda National Police (RNP) was launched on June 16, 2000, one of the units that was much needed due to the level of crime at the time was the Canine Unit, which was established later that year.
“Given the history of our country, the crime situation after the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, and the incredible work of sniffer dogs in detecting crime, it was necessary at that time to establish a dog unit under the Criminal Investigation Department. It started with just two sniffer dogs, “a drug-only dog and three trained police handlers,'' said Chief of Police (CSP) Faustin Kalimba, commander of the RNP canine brigade. he said.
The unit improved its capabilities, acquired more detectors, trained more handlers, and then strengthened the unit into brigades.
The brigade currently has the capability to detect drugs and explosives with various types of detectors deployed at border points, including airports, and at national and public events.
“Sniffer dogs have proven impossible to defeat when trying to hide drugs or explosives. One well-trained sniffer dog can destroy around 50 police officers in a very short time. That's what makes them special in the security profession, and that's inevitable, given their ability to get the job done,” Kalimba believes.
training
Before a new dog can join the canine family, it must go through a training phase.
The first step in intensive training is to identify each dog's drug or explosive expertise. The second step is obedience to prevent temperament and problem behaviors. If owners don't set rules and enforce them, dogs develop behavioral disorders.
“Dog obedience training therefore establishes respect for the owner and teaches the dog to listen and follow commands. In other words, obedience level is about keeping the dog happy and under control,” Kalimba says. said.
The third and final level is joint training with police handlers and is called familiarization and bonding.
“Officers and K9s now have strong bonds and are colleagues on every mission they are given. When it comes to missions, sniffer dogs only know one person, their handler, and that person is by their side. In any case, if the handler is reassigned, bond training with the new handler will be required again, which means that the boss (handler) will not be able to influence the dog when he is not there. There is a quality of love and respect.
“Our trained dogs can detect drugs such as cannabis, heroin and cocaine, which can help identify suspected traffickers as well as any explosives.”
dog award
It is scientifically proven that rewarding your dog for doing a certain task will influence him to do the same task again. It is important to understand what you like and what you like.
The dogs' trainer, Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Michael Twagiramungu, said the dogs were rewarded with a ball and praise for a job well done. The same habits and actions will allow the robot to respect you and do what you want over and over again.
Exhibit identification
“During an operation, if a sniffer dog senses that there is an illegal product in a particular area, its behavior changes dramatically: it increases its speed and force during the search, narrows the search area, leans on your legs, etc. , or sit next to your luggage.''
dog's way of life
Canines require special care. They have highly skilled professionals, including veterinarians, cooks, feeding, hygiene, and other specialists, who look after their overall health.
“We regularly check the dogs' health and feed them according to their weight. Great care is taken with the dogs' health and diet. The dogs eat once every 24 hours. They eat about 500 grams per dog,” said a canine doctor and police chief inspector. (CIP), Dr. Robert Mugabe.
The Dog Brigade has a clinic that treats dogs, but Mugabe said in rare cases of serious illness, dogs are referred to private veterinary hospitals for further treatment.
Dog hygiene is done regularly and dog shampoo is also used to wash the dog.
“They have their health and behavior checked every morning and undergo two hours of training every day,” Mugabe said.
Locking sniffer dogs in the same cage will lead to a bloody fight. Dogs are also given work leave.
“When pilots are given leave, they automatically get work leave,” Mugabe said.
retirement
Dogs have a retirement age just like police officers. Drug detection dogs retire after nine to 10 years of service, depending on the working environment. Explosives detectors work for 8 to 9 years.
Business development beyond borders
The detection unit is part of the Rwandan security forces in Cabo Delgado province in northern Mozambique, supporting security operations against the now weakened Islamic State-linked terrorist group Ansar al-Sunnah wal Jama'a.
“We get most of our detection dogs from overseas, especially the Netherlands and the UK. But we have also started a project to breed detection dogs here in Rwanda. We are strengthening our canine brigade to expand into different areas of the country, but we are also introducing dogs.''The new detection device will help detect people trapped underground or in debris during emergencies such as landslides and floods. It will help us detect bodies and bodies. It will also help us track down criminals such as thieves,” Kalimba said.
