Countless years, we have all watched certain T.V. shows and movies which have shown a police officer with his most trusted friend and companion, which is a canine. I am sure most dog lovers have watched the movie ‘Turner and Hooch’ starring Tom Hanks as Detective Turner and Beasley the Dog as Hooch. The synopsis of this movie is that Turner’s friend was murdered by a thug and his dog, Hooch was the sole witness to that incident. So turner brings him home in order to solve the case with his help and the dog shows its scent and face recognition capabilities to catch the criminal. Likewise, the K9 : P. I. series stars James Belushi and his partner Jerry Lee, the dog, who assists him in sniffing up drugs. Although Tin-Tin is not in the police, his dog Snowy assists him in all his adventures. Even Dogmatix, Obelix’s pet in the comic series Asterix protects his master and his friends now and again from miscreants. All such movies, comics and cartoons show us, although in a comical way, that our very beloved pet dogs are a very important part of protecting us. Dogs have become an integral part of the criminal justice system over the past centuries. Starting from chasing and catching a criminal to locating drugs and bombs, dogs play a big part in our everyday security. In India, the Chhatisgarh police has recently planned to train street dogs along with pedigree dogs to assist them on Naxal based operations. Talks about training street dogs in all cities for security purposes are going on.

No one is sure exactly when humans domesticated dogs, but one thing is for certain, dogs and humans have been working side by side for years. Even before the B.C. era came into being, dogs were kept as pets and protectors. They fought wars side by side humans and were trained to be guards in service to Egyptians, Greeks, and Persians. They were even used during both the World Wars. Whether the dog is trained in guide work, search and rescue, bomb detection, or narcotics detection, modern training methods have made the application and institution of these four-legged crime fighters more reliable throughout their time of service. A Police Officer encounters both dangerous and potentially fatal situations on a regular basis and apart from having firearms, they are equipped with less lethal tools. Police service dogs fall under that category. Suspects are more likely to surrender in the presence of a dog due to the psychological effects of the dog being present. Military personnel and law enforcement officers alike utilize canines as companions and partners in the field due to their strength and attributes of loyalty and courage, which complement that of his handler. These dogs stay with their handlers like pets. They are properly cared for and trained before they are taken into the field.

K9s begin training at a very young age, in most cases at about six weeks old. The training starts with learning a task as simple as retrieving a tennis ball and as the ball comes toward him he is told “Get your dope,” associating that phrase with play time. As the dog moves up in age and maturity, the tennis ball or towel is then scented with the smell of drugs or explosives but the same phrase is used to reinforce the “play drive.” As the dog continues in his training the “toy” is hidden out of sight and the dog is brought in to “find his dope” at this time he will begin sniffing for his toy. After a successful alert the dog is praised by his handler and rewarded with play time. Bite work is very important to agencies so the K9 can assist in apprehending a fleeing suspect and so that he may also protect the handler. The dog is trained very young to bite only the things he is told to.

I think it is an incredible experience to have not only a partner on the job, but also a companion in the home because a K-9 officer does not only have the responsibility of controlling their dog in the field, but also when they go back home after work. The dog becomes a part of their family now and forever. K-9 partners frequently work nights and weekends, and they have to be ready to respond to emergency situations with little or no notice. Even when the dog eventually retires, which is usually after eight to ten years of duty, it still remains a part of the family of its handler.

Common dog breeds like German Shepherds, Doberman Pinschers, Beagle, Labradors, Golden Retrievers, Pitbulls etc., that we keep as pets in our homes, make good police dogs because they are big in size, strong, good runners, have a thick coats that can protect them from harsh weather conditions and they have a lot of heart—these dogs wants to be of help. Though tired or even hurt, they will keep going. Speaking at a personal level, I have a Doberman who is a darling. But even if I am out for a midnight stroll with her, no one dares to come near me or pass a comment at me. She may not have been trained as a service dog, but she is born with the intent to protect her owner.

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LIVING WITH A DOG MIGHT NOT ALWAYS PROVIDE WITH FUN TIMES

Everyone has heard the infamous saying: “DOGS ARE A MAN’S BEST FRIEND”, but what one may often forget is that unlike your human pals, dogs MUST BE TAMED. It is one of those facts that one may choose to avoid or conveniently ignore. But what one forgets is that, treating a dog like a family member will lead to more problems for oneself. There might be several reasons for one to get a pet like a dog- isolation in family or be it that lost feeling of being loved, getting one for someone’s birthday, anniversary or separation. A newly built family- one with a baby requires for a tamed dog so as to make sure that the baby is safe from the dog and the dog keeps the baby safe from unwanted activities or people. Which is why one primary reason for getting a pet-especially a dog could be for enhancing the security level in one’s house. One must therefore make sure that the arrival of this special member serves that very vital purpose, fruitfully. Hence comes the important task of TRAINING ONE’s DOG.

GETTING STARTED:

It isn’t very difficult of a task to do when one actually comes down to it. A bit of research, and solicited advice from owners of trained dogs could be the start to this journey that one wants to embark upon.

1. IDENTIFICATION:-

Firstly one must identify their needs in accordance to which the dog has to be trained; for example: if one requires the dog for safety of the house, or for safety of their family members or for both. Generally, one gets a dog for both of these reasons which is why one must chose a dog that suits the personality of being ferocious enough against unwanted bodies yet be friendly with all known entities. A dog like a Labrador, Golden Retriever, German shepherd, Dobermans, and Bulldogs tend to serve such a task efficiently. Such dogs compliments their master’s needs and wants. Labradors are known to the Police bodies for having a very good smelling ability to track down useful evidences as well as serve the needs of blind persons by acting like an eye for the disabled. For the isolated ones who lack enough family members, dogs help fill the void by being the bundle of joy that they are from the very time that they are pups till the very end, they complement their own old age that may extend up to 15 years with one’s human old age.

2. TRAINING YOURSELVES:

Secondly, one must take into consideration the very important fact that one must be able to devote decent period of time to be able to train their dogs. Dogs require patience and hard work. Just like how much time we take to retain information, dogs tend to take little or more time with respect to their own mental and physical capabilities. Thus, one should be considerate enough to work with dogs so as to reap the benefits with time. Taking out even 15-20 minutes every day could work wonders for one. Thirdly, using the correct “dog slang” in the form of commands is very significant.Terms like STAY, HEEL, or even a simple term like NO must be taught decorously. For instance, when one tries to make the dog give them a handshake or a hi-five, they must teach the dog the very same by making use of their paws so as to be able to make them to do same, correctly. The process may require one to make the dog use his paw a million of time before he gets it right, but like mentioned earlier, one must carry patience with themselves to be able to train their dogs to perfection. When it comes down to hardcore training of even that of a pup- one must be able to teach their dogs to not over chew or bite into valuables of the house. A problem that almost all users face is that half of their furniture or their food gets stolen, destroyed, dismantled or eaten by their faithful pets which must be stopped from the very beginning. Which is where LEASH TRAINING also comes in handy. One must not be scared of putting their dogs on leash or in a cage for it allows the dogs to realize on their own their wrong doings. Showing the dogs what they have done wrong by consistently saying NO to their wrong doings is the correct way of handling such situations and not by giving them a treat after scolding them. For dogs to urinate or take a dump around the whole house might be the start of their potty training which allows for them to realize that they do not live in a park, or a street. For them to be able to answer the nature’s call at the right place becomes essential for the masters lifestyle. One might also consider joining a facility so as to interact with others on a regular basis in order to share each others experiences, troubles and hardships when training their respective dogs. For those who do not stay much at their homes, or work outside frequently it becomes imperative to carry out such training themselves so that they are not completely unaware of what they might face with their pets.

3. TEACHING THEM THE HARD WAY:

One of the most important stages of training comes when one trains their pets to welcomes guests, so that instead of terrifying the guests away by barking continuously or howling at a very high decibel, they act in the proper diligent manner that could help build their impressions in front of the guests. One must even try to make sure that the dogs are given the most suitable of places to live in so that they don’t interfere in their master’s comfortable bedding and chew the pillows and blankets away. Building shelter for their living is a part of this beautiful process that if one volunteers to take up could result in being nurturing as well as educational for many. Thus one must love thy dogs, assure to keep them safe for they will give what you give them and would treat you in the very same way of how one treats them. Happy Dog Training!

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If you are going to adopt a cat then you have to clear some things in your mind. Following are the most common misconceptions :-
1. CATS ARE LOW MAINTENANCE PETS :- We do not need our cat to take outside for walk unlike dogs but that doesn’t mean they are low maintenance pets whether it is financial requirements or in the amount of interaction. Their life span is usually 12 – 14 years so you can see how much commitment they needs. A cat owner, generally spends $800 – $1000 per year on the basics of cats – litter box, feeding, toys, grooming and vet care.
2. CATS TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES :- This is one of the most non sensical thing I have ever heard. Cats cannot even communicate with us so how can we expect them to take care of themselves. If they get sick, it is the owners’ responsibility to take care of them.
If you think you can left your cat for a long time, for instance, 12-14 hours then you shouldn’t be the cat owner, if you left them alone, they may get depressed or sick. If you own a cat then you have to spend some time with them and give love to them as they deserves it as much as dogs do.
3. DECLAWING IS LIKE TRIMMING NAILS :- Declawing is the most painful procedure experienced by the cats. They will feel defenceless infront of the others, just like if a person loses one of his toe, the pain he will suffered is just like after when we trim the cats’ nails. Alternatively, you can cover her claws by veterinarians.

4. CATS AND DOGS CAN’T LIVE TOGETHER :- This is not true, as I said in one of the previous articles, they both can live together but with proper training. Initially, it can take time but once they used to each other, they can become wonderful companions of each other. As both of them have hunting instincts and they are forced to chase their “prey”. But here, cat is the dog’s prey and he loves to frighten the cat but if you give proper training, you won’t believe they may become best friends.
5. CATS CAN LIVE ON A VEGAN DIET :- This is completely wrong as cats are natural hunters and carnivores, therefore, they have to rely on taurine which is an amino acid generally found in the meat . Other key nutrients of cats include – arachidonic acid, vitamin B12 abd vitamin A, if they do not get these nutrients then many diseases can occur like heart problems, liver problems, irritation etc.
The ideal food of cat, consists of high rich protein and fats, derived from the prey such as rabbits, birds, reptiles, mice etc.
6. THEY DO NOT NEED REGULAR CHECKUP :- We often heard that cays have nine lives and they do not need to go vet for regular checkup. This is entirely wrong, obviously he has one life and you have to take him to the vet in order to keep him healthier and happier. Even if your cat is not sick, you can take him for checkup as you all know that prevention is the best cure.
7. PREGNANT WOMEN SHOULD AVOID CATS :- This myth is not wholly true, expectant mothers can have cats but she must not touch the litter box as toxoplasmosis is a parasite and van cause serious deformities in the fetus and is spread through the litter and feces. Pregnant women should avoid the litter box and someone else should take the responsibility of cleaning out litter box. So there should be no problem if the pregnant women have cats as long as they do not touch litter box.
8. COW MILK IS GOOD FOR CATS :- Do not let your cat to drink cow’s milk as this myth is not true and drinking milk can give him diarrhea. Also they can develop another problem – obesity, which might be a big problem for you and your cat. So its better if you don’t give him cow’s milk and save it for yourself as it is good for you but not for your cat.
9. ITS OK TO HAVE BAD BREATH :- If your cat has bad breath then it is not normal and it might be a sign of dental problem so its better if you take him to vet. Also many people think cats do not need to brush which is wrong. Regularly brushing his teeth not only freshens his teeth but also helps in preventing from other oral problems.
10. CATS CAN’T BE TRAINED :- Most of the people believes that, unlike dogs, cats can’t be trained as they cannot respond to the methods of training but it is quite wrong, as cats can be trained. You can teach him to use a litter and scratching post, you can also teach him some new tricks. While training, you have to be positive as they might respond negatively during punishment.

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