Any Security Dog Handlers Here?

[Jeff Jones]

I certainly don't want him going into this with a badly trained dog and he was told his dog itself needs no sort of accreditation?! eek1.gif

That is correct, there is no individual accreditation for security dog's.

Where about in NSW are you located, I might be able to recommend someone.

Edited February 23, 2010 by Jeff Jones

[moosmum]

We are in the central west atm,but will be relocating,possibly just north of Newcastle.Hopefully with in a year.

The dog he hopes to use is terrific,but has only been a family dog and we would want her well prepared and assessed for such a role before she ever goes out into that situation.If she will have problems there is another he can raise and train specificaly for the job.

[Longcoat]

I certainly don't want him going into this with a badly trained dog and he was told his dog itself needs no sort of accreditation?! eek1.gif

That is correct, there is no individual accreditation for security dog's.

Where about in NSW are you located, I might be able to recommend someone.

Having no accreditation for security dogs presents a problem where I have met several security officers in SA and one in NSW with untrained pet GSD's on the job for visual deterrent

[Jeff Jones]

We are in the central west atm,but will be relocating,possibly just north of Newcastle.Hopefully with in a year.

The dog he hopes to use is terrific,but has only been a family dog and we would want her well prepared and assessed for such a role before she ever goes out into that situation.If she will have problems there is another he can raise and train specificaly for the job.

I do not know of anyone in Newcastle. I would suggest the person travels out to see K9 Force for a honest opinion of the dog's suitability.

I certainly don't want him going into this with a badly trained dog and he was told his dog itself needs no sort of accreditation?! eek1.gif

That is correct, there is no individual accreditation for security dog's.

Where about in NSW are you located, I might be able to recommend someone.

Having no accreditation for security dogs presents a problem where I have met several security officers in SA and one in NSW with untrained pet GSD's on the job for visual deterrent

I agree and have been recommending for quite sometime that the NSW Security Industry Registry implements changes so individual dog's need to seek accreditation prior to working.

[Longcoat]

We are in the central west atm,but will be relocating,possibly just north of Newcastle.Hopefully with in a year.

The dog he hopes to use is terrific,but has only been a family dog and we would want her well prepared and assessed for such a role before she ever goes out into that situation.If she will have problems there is another he can raise and train specificaly for the job.

I do not know of anyone in Newcastle. I would suggest the person travels out to see K9 Force for a honest opinion of the dog's suitability.

I certainly don't want him going into this with a badly trained dog and he was told his dog itself needs no sort of accreditation?! eek1.gif

That is correct, there is no individual accreditation for security dog's.

Where about in NSW are you located, I might be able to recommend someone.

Having no accreditation for security dogs presents a problem where I have met several security officers in SA and one in NSW with untrained pet GSD's on the job for visual deterrent

I agree and have been recommending for quite sometime that the NSW Security Industry Registry implements changes so individual dog's need to seek accreditation prior to working.

I believe in SA, the security officer must hold a dog handlers certificate and any dog can then accompany them on patrol.

[Jeff Jones]

I believe in SA, the security officer must hold a dog handlers certificate and any dog can then accompany them on patrol.

As far as I know it is the same all over Australia.

[moosmum]

Yes,If my son takes himself and his dog off to K9 force for a good assessment and any advise re; training for both of them we will feel much more confident.If its felt either of them need more work we can figure out where they go from there according to advise.

The training provided seems pretty inadequet to me,but sounds pretty standard.

[Longcoat]

I believe in SA, the security officer must hold a dog handlers certificate and any dog can then accompany them on patrol.

As far as I know it is the same all over Australia.

That system lends itself to many problems using untrained and unaccredited pet dogs in security not only for officer/dog but also the bloodlines of these dogs being passed on as potential security lines without the lines being properly established. Big difference between an accredited security dog and merely taking your dog to work???.

[moosmum]

Longcoat,you would hope so wouldn't you?

Sounds like a lot of room for improvement right there.

we will be making sure they are both well equipt for the job but i reckon there must be a lot of young people starting out with little support who feel they are trained and ready as can be after the basic courses and who knows what sort of dogs they may be using.

[Longcoat]

Longcoat,you would hope so wouldn't you?

Sounds like a lot of room for improvement right there.

we will be making sure they are both well equipt for the job but i reckon there must be a lot of young people starting out with little support who feel they are trained and ready as can be after the basic courses and who knows what sort of dogs they may be using.

Some time ago, I naturally assumed that security dogs were all trained and accredited to work with a security officer and having an interest in working dogs myself, when the opportunity arises to speak with a security officer about his dog, you tend to engage in an interesting chat and was shocked to say the least learning that some of the dogs were their untrained pets, mostly GSD's or Rotties. Particularly, I saw a security officer with a GSD speaking with some young guy's messing around with a teller machine at our local shopping centre one night, and the dog was standing behind the officer, tail between it's legs peering around the officers legs. When the offending guys moved forward to go on their way, the dog pulled it's head back in like a fear response where the whole body language of the dog didn't look right in a security role.

I spoke with the officer out of interest about his dog when he told me that she was his family pet GSD and enjoys to go walking on patrol with him. The most alarming thing as many pet owners like to believe that their dog will protect them, this security officer told the same story with a dog that looked petrified to confrontation. Security work comes with some vulnerability for attack and to have an untrained dog assumed to provide protection qualities when required I thought was a dangerous assumption to rely upon in a security role.

On this basis where untrained and unverified dogs can be used in security, the breeders of these dogs often quote that their lines are suitable for security and have seen some of these lines tested in Schutzhund training where they have failed

the most basic character tests and are totally unsuitable for a security role, yet people have purchased these lines for security work from what are essentially unproven credientials.

Personally, I feel some caution seeing security officers with showline GSD's & Rotties knowing that good security prospects are not easily attainable in these types and when seeing working line GSD's or Belgian Malinios on duty I found when speaking with these officers, the dogs are carefully selected and trained and the calmness and confidence in the dog's body lanuage is competely different to the family pet.

Most importantly IMHO, entering K9 security, guidence from officers and companies that use proven working line dogs and specialised trainers are the people to provide the best advice.

[moosmum]

I agree some accreditation would go a long way to protecting every one involved in the industry.

It would hopfully help to educate people better in what to look for in the 1st place, and most definitely be good for those working hard to produce genuine working dogs.

I hope this changes

I'm happy to say after reading your post that my sons dog would not ever be found peering from behind his legs! She is a very confident and relaxed,placid type generaly,but will react instantly to any sudden movement towards any of us.She will also react if we get angry or anoyed at some one,or they get angry or anoyed at us, and has never reacted towards the wrong person or children.

she has never been known to show agression away from us unless its an intruder to our property.

We have a lot of confidence in her,but still want an expert opinion and believe that more job specific training should be needed.

Its sad to know that young man and his dog are realy very vulnerable and likely LESS safe working as security than just going for their walks for fun.

My sons ambition is to have his own security company and this area seems to be one where he could improve on the accepted levels.

I took it for granted there would be a lot more to it!

Edited February 25, 2010 by moosmum

[Longcoat]

I agree some accreditation would go a long way to protecting every one involved in the industry.

It would hopfully help to educate people better in what to look for in the 1st place, and most definitely be good for those working hard to produce genuine working dogs.

I hope this changes

I'm happy to say after reading your post that my sons dog would not ever be found peering from behind his legs! She is a very confident and relaxed,placid type generaly,but will react instantly to any sudden movement towards any of us.She will also react if we get angry or anoyed at some one,or they get angry or anoyed at us, and has never reacted towards the wrong person or children.

she has never been known to show agression away from us unless its an intruder to our property.

We have a lot of confidence in her,but still want an expert opinion and believe that more job specific training should be needed.

Its sad to know that young man and his dog are realy very vulnerable and likely LESS safe working as security than just going for their walks for fun.

My sons ambition is to have his own security company and this area seems to be one where he could improve on the accepted levels.

I took it for granted there would be a lot more to it!

I wish your son all the best in his ambition Specialised security dog trainers can easily test a dog's potential for the work and also train the dog properly if it is a good candidate. I am a firm believer that a security dog needs to be of the correct temperament and be trained for the work before the dog is on duty. Ultimately, I would love to in the future, see some proper working credentials required for security dogs.