All of our K9 teams train together approximately 30 hours per month for the entire time they are in-service. Additionally,
each handler has a responsibility to train together with his or her assigned K9 while on duty.
Our five-patrol/detection teams certify annually to standards set by the Colorado Police Canine Association
(CPCA). These standards (and ours) emphasize obedience first, then agility, article/evidence detection, criminal apprehension,
handler protection in addition to their detection specialty (drugs or explosives).
All dogs have an instinct to find prey for survival. Some breeds are better at finding prey with their noses. We
encourage our K-9s to locate the odor of narcotics and explosives off scent only. This is accomplished by using the
game of fetch to summon the K9’s natural retrieval drives. Narcotics and explosives are hidden in a toy and the toy is hidden
where the K-9 has to use their nose to detect the hiding spot. The K-9 associates the toy with the scent of the narcotic
or explosive. When the K-9 is deployed on a narcotic or explosive search, they believe they are looking for their toy hidden
in the suspect’s car, clothing, or personal effects.
Our Unit has recently added Decoy positions to our Unit. A
decoy, also known as a human chew toy, helps to build a dogs apprehension skills and to provide for
immense training for both the handler and the dog. By far this is the most physically demanding position within the Unit.
