Royal Canadian Mounted Police Police Dog Service Training Centre 1
2 Introduction RCMP Police Dog Service Training Centre Pup Selection and Testing
3 RCMP The RCMP was established on May 23, 1873 Today, there are over 26,000 employees across Canada The RCMP has 4 regions, 14 divisions and over 750 detachments across Canada The mandate of the RCMP is the enforcement of Federal and Provincial statutes, including crimes against persons and property, illicit drugs, combating terrorism and border integrity. The RCMP has been involved in peacekeeping for over 12 years and has successfully completed more than 25 missions.
4 Police Dog Service Training Centre Police Dog Service established in 1935
5 Location Innisfail, Alberta, Canada
6 Police Dog Service Training Centre 22 Staff members 8 Whelping Units 58 Outdoor Kennels 21 Indoor Kennels 4 Quarantine Units
7 Police Dog Service Training Centre Core Functions Breeding Program Dog Acquisition Training Yearly Validation
8 Organizational Chart OIC PDSTC Program Manager Senior Trainer NCO i/c Pre-train and Acquisition Trainers Pre-train Section Breeding Program
9 RCMP Dog Teams 135 General Duty Police Dog Teams Across Canada 22 Single Profile Teams Narcotics Explosives
Multi-Purpose Police Dog Training 10
11 Breeding Police Dog Service Training Centre Familiarization Imprinting Developmental Process General Duty Team Training Training
12 Breeding Program Program initiated in 1999 A need for quality working dogs Formal funding obtained in 2005
13 Breeding Stock 28 Studs 21 Broods
14 Breeding Stock Selection Genotype Targeting working line genetics Phenotype Performance and structure Outcross
15 Imprinting Program Pups are raised by Police Officers (Imprinters) Dogs are imprinted in tracking, bite work and they are socialized and familiarized in a variety of environments Currently have 60-70 pups in the imprinting program Dogs are raised as police dogs not as pets
16 Selection Issues Imprinting Program Insufficient numbers of Imprinters Imprinter ability
17 Four Testing Periods Pup Selection Seven weeks Four months Eight months One year
18 Seven Week Test Modified Volhard test POLICE DOG SERVICE PUPPY EVALUATION SHEET PUPPY DAM AND SIRE DOB: TESTED AT WEEKS TESTER DATE Very Strong Pups Very Weak Pups Average Pups Utilized to cull very weak pups. SOCIAL ATTRACTION (30 sec.) 0 came readily, tail up, jumped, bit at hand 1 came readily, tail up, jumped, licked 2 came readily, tail down, came crouched 3 came readily, tail tucked, stressed 4 came hesitantly 5 delayed come, good final response 6 came readily but avoided, went by 7 did not come at all, froze, ran other way FOLLOWING (30 sec.) 0 followed readily, got underfoot 1 followed readily, relaxed tail 2 followed hesitantly 3 followed with delay 4 no follow, went away RESTRAINT DOMINANCE (30 sec.) 0 struggled 1 accepted, struggled 2 accepted, struggled, reaccepted 3 no struggle, passive 4 struggled fiercely, flailed, bit SOCIAL DOMINANCE (30 sec.) 0 jumped, pawed, licked 1 jumped, pawed, bit 2 squirmed, affectionate response 3 accepted totally, didn t move 4 left, stayed away ELEVATION DOMINANCE (30 sec.) 0 struggled, settled 1 struggled 2 no struggle 3 struggled fiercely, bit, growled NOISE TEST REACTION 0 curious 1 cautious 2 disinterested 4 startled/fear RETRIEVING - Object used: bag/keys Other 0 picks up objects and returns it to tester 1 picks up objects and takes it away 2 pounces on object 3 sniffs object, no pick up 4 no interest in object RAG 0 excellent pursuit - full mouth bite 1 excellent pursuit - frontal bite/good rebite 2 excellent pursuit - frontal bite/no rebite 3 average pursuit - full mouth bite 4 average pursuit - frontal bite/good rebite 5 average pursuit - frontal bite/no rebite 6 poor pursuit - frontal bite/good rebite 7 poor pursuit - poor/no bite ELEVATION 0 at ease/freely ranging 2 hesitant/ranging with encouragement 4 concerned/tail tucked/hugging wall 6 belly to ground/not willing to move ENERGY 0 excellent 1 good 2 fair 3 poor
19 Seven Week Results October 2009 April 2010 Culled Administration reasons 17 Culled Poor test results 1 Culled Medical 2 Imprinting Program 34 Service Dogs 20 Broods 4
20 Seven Week Test Percentages Working / Brood Dogs From total pups tested 44% From pups entering Imprinting Program 57% Working dogs include dogs sold to other agencies as working dogs.
21 Imprinting Pup Evaluations Four, eight and twelve months Seven week test does not accurately enough predict working potential Measures character of dog and working performance
22 Evaluation Categories Confidence and ball drive Tracking Aggression Defence Prey Building Familiarization
23 Four Month Evaluation Purpose assess pup provide training strategy
24 Four Month Results Culled Poor test results 1 Culled Medical 0 Dogs remaining in Imprinting 33 Service Dogs 20 Broods 4 Percentage Working / Brood 72%
25 Eight Month Evaluation First significant test for: Confidence Ball Drive Tracking Criminal Apprehension Many issues that arise can be corrected
26 Eight Month Results Culled Poor test results 4 Culled Medical 0 Dogs remaining in Imprinting 29 Service Dogs 20 Broods 4 Percentage Working / Brood 82%
27 Twelve Month Evaluation Final Test to determine suitability Major short comings result in cull Repairable issues - to pretrain
28 Twelve Month Results Culled Poor test results 2 Culled Medical 3 Dogs remaining in Imprinting 23 Service Dogs 20 Broods 4 Percentage Working / Brood 100%
29 RCMP vs. Sold as Working Following 12 Month Evaluation RCMP Service / Brood 19 Other Agencies working 5 Born pups becoming RCMP Service Dogs 35% RCMP & Other Working 44%
30 Twelve Month Accuracy Dogs entering RCMP training 22 Dogs removed 3 Percentage removed 14% Percentage RCMP 86% 100% of dogs passing 12 month evaluation became working or brood dog.
31 Conclusion - Tests Seven week Four month Eight month Twelve month identify poor pups only confirms seven week test performance issues - major issues cull - final evaluation - only minor issues remaining
Cpl. Scott Chapman Breeding Program Manager Police Dog Service Training Centre scott.t.chapman@rcmp-grc.gc.ca 403-227-3346 www.policedogs.ca