The bond between a police dog and handler runs deep. Saskatoon Police Constable Kai Noesgaard says being in the canine unit is everything he hoped it would be. Once you understand the way they think and behave, you can really appreciate the job. He and his partner Loki are one of the nine canine teams with the SPS.
Constable Noesgaard spoke at a Saskatchewan SPCA conference which focused on the human-animal bond, and he demonstrated how in tune the pair are, with Loki following his every word and movement. He says the dogs are extremely driven.
The dogs live at home with their partners. Some live inside, but most have a run and heated dog house outside. Noesgaard explains that the rules for a pet are different than for a working dog. For instance, you wouldn’t want your pet to climb on a counter or dig into the garbage, but those tasks may be asked of a police dog.
Training begins before the Police Service gets the dogs and then the dog and handler have 16 weeks of training together. The SPS dogs are trained mostly for patrol duties, including tracking people and evidence and apprehending suspects. Some are specially trained in explosives or narcotics.