ASCT
DIVISION OF TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT
TRAINING PLAN AGENCY ASSISTANCE
RETRAINING PLAN
OFFICER PROTECTION/CRIMINAL
APPREHENSION
OBJECTIVE: This plan is designed to allow a law enforcement agency the capability
of problem solving apprehension issues where a K9 is wanted to show more aggression and activity during but apprehensions.
CAUSES: There are two possible causes of a
decrease in aggression of a police K9, after working the road for more than 6 months:
- The
K9 has suffered an injury that has triggered an uncomfortable sense, during bite situations, whether physical or mental –
thus triggering defensiveness.
- The K9 handler/agency has not developed a stable training plan during the period
that the K9 was on the road and has not increased the K9’s stability with aggression and confidence. At
minimum, a K9 – working the road – should have at least 2 apprehension training sessions per week, preferable
during tracking or building search training.
DRIVE FUNCTION/NEURONAL ACTION: A technical
view of what occurs when a previously trained, apprehension K9 has softened to a point of refusing a bite, or fleeing is as
follows:
1. The Amygdala (portion of limbic system controlling
fear and aggression) and the Septum (that portion controlling calmness) counter one another.
The neurons chains that process stimulus through sensory organs and memory will send lateral signals to both the Septum
and Amygdala. The septum will send its’ reaction to the Hypothalamus (that
portion which controls the action which is to be sent throughout the body) in attempts to induce a calm state through the
body (this would produce a blasé response from the K9). Meanwhile, the Amygdala would also send
a quick, electrical potentiation to the Hypothalamus in attempts to block the Septum and produce an ACTION throughout the
body (fight/flight) (Fear/Aggression).
2. If the
Amygdala wins the race, the K9 will react to a threat stimulus by the sensory neurons firing the fear neurons of the Amygdala.
Through recurrent lateral projections (a looping back of the electrical signal) the fear neurons
would turn on the aggression neurons (or remain in fear if the dog has never been imprinted to bite) and the dog would behave
boldly. Furthermore, the recurrent lateral projection is sent to the Hippocampus and is stored as memory
(do this…when this…happens). However, if the K9 has not been trained to minimum standards – the Hippocampus (that area controlling memory) will not have stored the aggressive response and when
the K9 is placed in potion to react, at a future date, the K9 will not have proper memory of the action and may not react
with aggression but rather only fear.
TRAINING PLAN: The plan MUST be followed
from start to finish. If any portion is missed, the plan must be regenerated from the beginning of Day
1.
ACTION FROM DECOY: If the K9 shows aggression,
the decoy will allow the bite or flee. If the K9 is defensive – the decoy should always flee and
then return with another (less threatening) approach.
HANDLER ACTION: The
handler MUST be encouraging to a point of exhaustion.
LEGEND:
SOT = SESSION OF TRAINING
SLEEVE:
1 = DECOY ALLOWS K9 TO REMOVE THE SLEEVE AND KEEP IT AS A REWARD
2 = DECOY ALLOWS THE
K9 TO PULL HIM BACK TO THE HANDLER/OUT OF ROOM, DOWN STAIRS/ETC.
3. = DECOY POSTS HIMSELF SOLIDLY FOR THE K9 TO BE OUTED
BY HANDLER.
THREAT LEVEL:
1 = DECOY IS PASSIVE – NO THREAT
2 = DECOY IS VERBALLY ASSAULTIVE TO K9 AND HANDLER (REALISTIC). THINK
LOUD, OBNOXIOUS, DEMANDING.
3 = DECOY IS PHYSICALLY THREATENING TO K9 AND HANDLER (REALISTIC). GIVES APPEARANCE
OF DOING SERIOUS HARM IS ENCOUNTERED.
4 = DECOY IS ARMED WITH A STRIKING TYPE OF WEAPON. USED FOR AGGITATION AND DURING
THE ENCOUNTER.
5 = DECOY IS ARMED WITH A FIREARM
– fires weapon at any point and multiple times / WARNING! NEVER USE IF K9 IS CLOSER THAN 15 YARDS!
PLAN:
The training sessions should be worked 10 sessions per week. Any missed sessions should end the
plan and the plan restarted at DOT.
The plan must not extend beyond 6 weeks. If following 6 weeks or
training – the K9 needs further improvement – the handler should repeat the plan more carefully.
BOARD AGGITATION CAN BE COMPLETED BY HAVING
THE DOG SECURED TO THE BUMPER OF THE PATROL K9 UNIT.
SOT LOCATION
HANDLER SLEEVE
THREAT REPS
1
Board Agitation back to wall
1
4
5
2
Board Agitation K9 secured alone
1
4
5
3
On lead chase Runs with K9
3
4
5
4
Board Agitation K9 secured alone
1
4
5
5
On lead chase Runs with K9
1
4
5
6
Outside vehicle has K9 on line
2
4
5
7
Outside vehicle has K9 on line
1
5
5
8
Board Agitation back to wall
3
3
5
9
Outside vehicle K9 off lead
3
4
5
10
Outside vehicle has k9 on lead
2
3
5
11
Vehicle exit/chase Releases k9
2
4
5
12
Vehicle exit/chase Releases k9
2
5
5
13
Vehicle exit/chase Releases k9
2
4
5
14
Vehicle exit/chase Releases k9
2
3
5
15
Outside vehicle K9 off lead
3
3
5
16
Board agitation K9 secured alone
1
3
5
17
Room/behind door K9/off lead
2
4
5
18
Room/behind door K9/off lead
2
5
5
19
On stairs
k9/on lead
1
5,4
5
20
Chase up stairs off lead
2
5,4
5
21
Closet
off lead
3
5
5
22
Closet
off lead
3
2
5
23
Closet
off lead
1
1
5
24
Felony Stop off lead
2
5
5
25
Felony Stop off lead
2
3
5
26
Vehicle exit/chase Releases k9
2
2
5
27
Vehicle exit/no chase Releases k9 3
1
5
28
Vehicle exit/no chase Releases k9 3
3
5
29
Board Agitation k9 secured alone
2
3
5
30
Room/behind door k9 off lead
2
1
5
SOT
REPEAT
31 – 40 SESSIONS 11 – 20
41 – 50
SESSIONS 6 – 15
51 – 60 SESSIONS 21 -
30
