As a member of the Security Dogs Swiss Club, it was my great fortune to attend a five day special training Seminar led by Rene Sagarra for Reno Police Dogs and their Handlers. I first met RPD K9 trainer Rich Schneider when he, and Security Officer, Matt Koval attended a Rene Sagarra Mondioring/Police Dog Seminar that I hosted in May 2002. They were impressed with the club team and Rene's system of training. Along with myself, they sponsored another Seminar with Rene in the fall of 2002 and we hope to continue having seminars with Rene.
Reno PD K-9s add a little Mondioring for their force
Fall of 2003 has brought some new training methods from Switzerland's Rene Sagarra as well as some new malinois to the Reno PD K9 unit. Attending the seminar, along with the new teams of Sean Paterson & Titan, Rob Von Diest & Tex, Tim Donohoe & Starky, were Mark Katre with malinois "Ocean" and Guy Cooper with GSD "Hugo".
The training started with Rene handling the new dogs and demonstrating some of the skills the dogs already had from their previous training. California Mondioringers, Kathy O'Brien & DYNAmite ot Vitosha, myself & O'Bre-on's YSHA Rose, and Juniece Thomson & her dutchie "Tendra", then showed some of our Mondioring exercises since Mondioring is an important cornerstone of Police/Security Dog training in Rene's system. Throughout the week, the handlers learned some of Rene's "anti-stress" system of dog handling. They worked on basic Mondioring exercises like heeling, food refusal, retrieve, jumps and the protection exercises of face attack with stick and/or accessories, flee attack with gunshot, defense of handler and beginning search work. In addition, the handlers were exposed to our style of tugwork for bite development and stress release (not just for rewards -stress release for HANDLERS:), group work with other k9 teams, civil work, how to make a baton, some French pronunciations of commands as well as beginning theory on how to "read" a dog.. Decoy work was also covered as well as "legs on" training. Along with RPD decoys, Matt Koval and Rich Schneider, new decoy Sean Paterson got some new experiences and new bruises as well. Of course it was also great fun to see Rene, the most experienced (and oldest;) decoy jumping in from time to time to demonstrate some problem solving, new techniques and how to "build up" a dogs strengths.
First, each dog and handler worked on basic obedience handling and a few simple mondioring exercises. Heeling was done with a LOOSE leash with only a slip collar. In Switzerland, prong and e-collar are forbidden and Rene never uses these tools. I have seen him achieve good results with many dogs without this unnecessary pain. In our club, when the dog understands it's job s/he is expected to do so on the FIRST command. If not, a second command is given with a correction at the SAME time as the second command. Commands are given in the same tone and same intensity. Consistency is a cornerstone of this training. When done properly, this teaches the dog that they must do their job on the first command.
In our Security Dogs Swiss Club, even the police, military and security dogs do some of the Mondioring exercises. It is the foundation for a stable and obedient worker and some of these handlers choose to do Mondio as sport in addition to their Police dog training. At first, the Reno handlers seemed skeptical of Mondioring exercises for "police dogs" but after watching some of our training and listening to Rene, I think that they saw value in training with distractions, toys, balls and other "stuff". Rich's field added a wonderful distraction of LIVE turkeys, chickens and other various birdees sometimes ON the field...All handlers were shown the simple method of food refusal that conditions the dog to turn his head when the food is offered. At the right moment, the handler gently glides his hand over the dogs nose to turn his head AWAY from the food, while giving the "down" ("couche") command. After a short time, most dogs were automatically turning their heads. The dogs also practiced their jumps, which I think is necessary for a police dog and is an excellent form of conditioning for ALL dogs.
The group work had all the teams on the field to practice controlling their dogs around other dogs and other distractions. They had to heel around each other and through and over environmental distractions as well as distractions from people on the field acting out aggression. Each additional day of practice had the level of distractions increased. Tug work was used for stress release and all the teams seemed to increase the dogs focus on them, the handlers, instead of the other dogs and distractions.
After just three days of training with Rene, myself and Ysha, and the PD K9
teams, did a demo for one of the Reno PD officials. Each team did a small portion
of the Mondio obedience and protection work and there was a bit of civil work
as well. I think he was very impressed with the new dogs and the improvements
in the handlers. All the teams looked good. I was especially proud that my tiny
(45 #s) female mali took down the decoy on the flee attack with gunshot, proof
that this type of pro active training can improve all dogs. If the Reno PD teams
can continue to practice these new ways, I am sure that they will become one
of the best K9 units in the US. We wish them the very best and are very thankful
that they have let us see and be a part of this very special training.
Rene can be contacted at rene.sagarra@mondioring.ch
His websites are www.mondioring.ch and http://security-dogs.ch/