I recently had the opportunity to observe some police canine training locally where about 20 handlers were working on some complex detection exercises. There were quite a few handlers waiting their turn to work the detection exercises. Apparently, some of the dogs and handlers were getting anxious about what was ahead, but everyone [...]

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For Jason Purgason, few dogs are bad dogs. They just haven’t been well trained.
Purgason, a certified K-9 and SWAT instructor who was the first law enforcement dog handler in Rockingham County, says most every dog can be a friend and companion, while special breeds can perform specialized jobs for law enforcement.
So why are some dogs [...]

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Great dog teams fail because the dog is expected to do something that he has not previously been conditioned to do in training. With that said, you should never expect your dog to perform a task well if he has never been trained to do so.
This is often seen in detection work. For example, a [...]

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I recently had a client in Charlotte, North Carolina who called about a dilemma with her terrier. She stated that the dog was great around the house, for the most part, but was having issues when company arrived and when she took the dog outside. She explained that whenever someone knocked or rang the doorbell [...]

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It’s 3:21 a.m. and you arrive on-scene with your dog. It’s muggy and damp outside and they have a 45 minute head start. The eyewitness tells you that they were last seen heading south past the tree line. You harness your partner and prepare to track. Your dog gives you every indication that they headed [...]

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Jake really loves his work. He throws himself into it with a ferocity and single-minded determination that is impressive to watch. And he doesn’t ask for very much in return – just a scratch on the head and a biscuit from his partner, Sgt. Jeff Sharpe of the Alexander County Sheriff’s Office.
Jake is a 2-year-old [...]

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A lot of great things come in twos; twins, grandmothers, and even flip-flops. There are also a lot of great things that come in threes, fours and other multiples. However, obedience commands are not one of them. Repeating obedience commands to your dog sends the wrong message and can quickly erode good behavior.
For example, you [...]

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I recently had the pleasure of working with a couple in Davidson, North Carolina who wanted some training for a dog that they had rescued. They stated that the dog was found abandoned and they took it in, not knowing her history. The dog, Jessie, was a beautiful boxer/mix and was, I believe, 7-8 months [...]

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An old adage holds that “Those who do not learn from history are bound to repeat it.” I find that this unfortunately is the case among too many police dog handlers. This “history” that I refer to is case law that applies to the police working dog team. Canine case law deals with many issues, [...]

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Highland Canine Training, LLC will be holding another FREE dog behavior seminar on March 15, 2010 at 6 p.m. at Troutman Elementary School (Media Center) located at 220 S. Main Street, Troutman, NC 28166.
This seminar is a great opportunity for dog owners, veterinarians, rescue volunteers, petsitters, groomers and others to learn about canine communication, [...]

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