the dogs are taught what’s necessary in their new environment to be an effective police dog. “We don’t try to change what they’ve already learned as far as voice commands,” Brown says. “They’ve usually had a year or so learning how to respond to situations in a European language, often Dutch or German, or East European, and we continue to use those commands. We do, though, add a couple of English words, like ‘come’ so that the dog learns that he’s to come to the officer either for correction or for reward.” K-9 officers constantly monitor their dog’s diet, water, break times, and weight. Their food is not full of fillers, like commercial dog food, but mostly a protein-packed all-meat diet because, after all, they’re athletes. The dogs are fed usually once a day, at end of the day, and all K-9 vehicles are air conditioned and left running constantly for the dogs’ comfort. The K-9 dogs ride in enclosed portions of the vehicles and have blankets or beds. Though its easy to picture German Shepherds like the famous Rin Tin Tin as the standard breed of police dog, successful K-9 unit can come from a variety of breeds. “Some of the dogs we purchase are Belgian Malinois, occasionally a German or Dutch Shepherd,” Brown says. “But we prefer the Malinois. Some dogs are bred for best features and traits, and they work just fine. However, all of the best dogs are bred in Europe where the best bloodlines are.” Although the police and sheriff ’s departments have funds available for purchasing a K-9 unit, the dogs are not cheap by any means. “Dogs can cost anywhere from $6,000 to $13,000, maybe even more depending on how far the dog has advanced through training and the related kennel costs, how much it cost to fly the dogs from Europe to the U.S., get them through customs and more,” Brown says. “All of which adds to the final price for the dog.” Mike Lee is a writer, photographer, artist, and poet. He lives in Hernando, Miss.
22 DeSoto
