Special Branch plans breeding of sniffer dogs

LAHORE:

The Lahore Special Branch has decided to acquire at least 10 breeding dogs to further boost and expand its canine centre.

Earlier, the Special Branch was focused on training K9 dogs for its squad. The canine centre of the Special Branch was established in 2010. It is claimed to be the only department having its canine centre after the Pakistan Army. Earlier, the centre would acquire puppies and train them for the purpose.

In August 2019, the centre had acquired at least 15 such dogs. The centre also started breeding sniffer dogs. In this regard, the department had asked for 10 breeding dogs.

The Special Branch would acquire only Labrador and German Shepherd dogs aged one to one and a half years old. The colour of the breeding dogs would be black or brown for Labrador and black and tan single coated for German Shepherded.

The hereditary record of the dogs will also be checked. The test for production capability will be also done.

Read more: Dog lovers brave cold for German Shepherd show

The dogs will be put into quarantine for at least 22 days if they had any symptoms of any disease.

Scope

Sniffer dogs are used for clearing route of VIPs besides searching for explosives and drugs.

Training

A dog trainer shared with The Express Tribune that the sense of smell of a dog is 1,000 to 10 million times more powerful and sensitive as compared a human beings. However, it varies in different breeds. A dog can be trained to detect a certain material and the training begins with a seven-month-old puppy.

The period of general training for a dog is two years. Later, a dog is evaluated to determine its skills in different areas, for example, explosives and narcotics detection and disaster response. After evaluation, the animal is engaged in specialised training.

He pointed out that dogs recognise their specific handler which plays an important role during search-and-sweep operations. He was of the view that if the handler is changed, it takes at least two months for another handler to become familiar with a dog.

“A trainer must learn to identify the dog’s moods, needs and problems. The handler is asked to monitor the dog’s responses during operations in the field,” he elaborated while explaining the process of training.

The trainer also highlighted that a trained dog usually does not make a mistake during detection.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 26^th, 2021.