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some who consistently provide dogs that possess inadequate traits to fulfll the function in which they are sold. Quality is more important than quantity. Cost should not be the main factor when selecting a trainer. Prices should be fair, but should you sacrifce quality for the sole purpose of saving money, what you save now you may pay for later. ever want to work without. Steve Dunham has been a law enforcement K9 handler since 1998. He is the owner of Police Dog Services LLC and currently serves as the Vice President of the Ohio Law Enforcement K9 Association (OLEKA). He can be reached at steve@policedogservices.com. Photos courtesy of Amy Burlile. LaO Post your comments on this story by visiting www.lawandordermag.com Adequate Supervision and Support Selecting a K9 Supervisor may be as important to long term success as selecting the right handler. They have to believe in the program, support and promote the program. Supervisors should be involved with their handlers and make regular appearances during K9 maintenance training. A K9 supervisor should be aware of his / her team���s strengths and weaknesses, ensuring the team has what they need and is making adequate progress. K9 supervisors should attend training workshops and also stay current on issues that will affect the unit. A ���hands-on��� approach to K9 team supervision can reduce liability and increase productivity. Like learning a foreign language, a dog���s training is perishable. If skills are not practiced regularly, they will diminish. With all teams, handlers are going to make mistakes that will cause undesired results in K9 behavior. When addressed early, most of these mistakes are minor setbacks and can be fxed without much diffculty. However, if these problems are not addressed, they can develop into bigger long term problems. Due to a lack of experience, new handlers may not initially recognize these problems and not know how to correctly remedy them. New handlers should attend weekly maintenance training with a trainer and experienced handlers. Teams should also be encouraged to attend workshops and advanced training on a regular basis. If you follow these guidelines, you should experience the benefts of a successful K9 program, a program that will be an asset your agency will not Click on EInfo at - www.lawandordermag.com reader service #20 www.lawandordermag.com 71