To the buyer's dismay, the dog escaped the training field, attacking a female and an animal under her care.
Subsequently, the animal was thrown into a frenzy. The young female was in a state of shock and called her father to the scene of the incident. The dog was kicked, causing it to run off. The trainer tried his best to retrieve the K9, but it wouldn't return. In spite of obedience training, the dog was anything but.
On arrival, the girl's father was verbally attacked by the dog company's owner. He insisted on calling the police. When the Boys in Blue arrived, another demonstration was laid on for their benefit. As they weren't dog handlers and didn't realise the seriousness of the attack, the police officers on scene decided to take no further action.
After receiving a couple of hours' training, the new owner was informed that the animal concerned was already a trained security dog, taking two other handlers through their accreditation. This means that there are two dog handlers working somewhere in the country who have passed an accreditation with a so-called security dog and, on receiving their qualification, abandoned the dog and gone to work with another animal (possibly untrained).
Meantime, the supplier has received an accreditation for a Training Centre. Alas, the organisation did not stipulate the type of dog sold, or the type of training given, and follow-up checks aren't made.
This scenario serves to illustrate one of the main problems in the canine sector of the security industry – and it's by no means an isolated incident.
While we stand by and allow such working practices to continue, we only have ourselves to blame if if we're viewed with suspicion by the public the press, the Government and the rest of the private security industry. Nor can we rightfully complain when organisations such as the insurance brokers increase the insurance premiums for all dog handlers as a result of increasing numbers of incidents like this one. While we wait another 18 months or more until the Security Industry Authority reaches our sector, action must be taken NOW to improve standards and practices. Maybe then we can be recognised as professionals working in a truly professional industry.
That is why the NTIPDU has really been established – so that we can monitor the movement of professional dogs and handlers in the UK. This is an easy exercise for a professional K9 security organisation. It's only difficult for those people who do not work – or have not worked, over a period of time – within the security industry, and haven't the knowledge or experience.
Needless to say, in our 'test case' the buyer didn't purchase the second German Shepherd, and is now paying to have the chosen dog trained (if possible) to save it being put to sleep as a dangerous animal.
Incidentally, an NTIPDU instructor put this dog through a basic training course before being informed of what had transpired. It failed on all disciplines.
Source
SMT