Basic Handlers Course

What is this course for?

Entry Level Police Service Dog Training Class

Goals Of The Course

To provide 240 hours of intensive training for law enforcement personnel in the handling, deployment, and care of a police service dog. Upon successful completion, graduates will be able to operationally handle a police service dog as an assistant to law enforcement and the general public.

Upon graduation, students receive a certificate. The dogs receive an internationally recognized title, APSD 1.

This is a community college course with 5 college credits. (CA residents only)

I. Theoretic Instruction

• History of the species canine
• Chronological history of dogs in police service
• Canine behavior
• How the dogs learn
• Training objectives and techniques
• Theory and techniques to enhance agitator/helper skills
• Instruction in types and proper utilization of training equipment
• Health care and feeding the dogs
• Current case law and legal parameters involved in the use of a police service dog
• Preparation for court appearances
• Preparing and maintaining training records

II. Practical Instruction

• Safety during training
• Understanding the police service dog’s abilities
• Understanding the police service dogs learning process
• “Guard & Bark” training done properly
  • Enhance alerts
  • Develop confrontational behavior
  • Accelerate transitional training
• Reading, understanding, and proper reaction to dog alerts
  • Evidence search
  • Area search
  • Directed search
  • Building search
• Proper use of all training equipment
• Proper handling of surveillance, searches, arrests and transporting of suspects
• Working with other police officers
• Understanding the handler’s responsibility to ensure all deployments are done within your agency’s policy and procedures manual

All training is from a comprehensive written standard and is tested in the courts.