K9 Supervisors Manual: Dynamics in Developing and Managing Police K9 Units

Understand, oversee, and develop a police-dog program that excels

Learn:

• The five fundamental factors for running a successful unit, and why some K9 units fail
• How to mitigate liability issues
• How to select the right dogs and handlers
• How to handle budgets and deal with police-dog vendors
• Current training trends and how to develop a positive K9 unit culture

K9 units are on the front line for every dangerous and in-progress call, and it’s up to the unit manager to ensure officers have the best possible dogs, equipment, and training for them to do their job and help mitigate the related risk.

Robert Eden, a retired 28-year police veteran with extensive experience as a K9 handler and trainer, provides police departments with a template for the successful development and supervision of police-service dog operations. It provides a wealth of information for supervisors who have limited or no experience with police dogs, as well as new ideas and expert recommendations for those with an extensive K9 background.

Robert S. Eden is a retired 28 year police veteran. Working with the Delta Police Department in British Columbia, Canada, Robert became a member of the dog section in 1983 and was appointed to the B.C. Police Commission's committee to create minimum police dog training standards for law enforcement agencies in the province. In 1991 he created and developed the International Police K9 Conference, a training seminar that was neither politically oriented nor specific to any particular style of training. Robert continues to consult worldwide on police K9 operations.