There is literally nothing written on the Tactical Dog and its training. I am not speaking about those words or thoughts placed in print by sport people who attempt to adapt foolish tricks for use in applications they do not understand. If we are honest we all can see the ill affects of these techniques in both the military and law enforcement at a much too wide of a scale. Denying and hiding the fact that dogs and handlers are not stable or trust worthy in stressful situations is not only childish it is unprofessional and should be unacceptable behavior.

In the latest K9 magazines the talk is about S.W.A.T or E.R.T trained K9s then the photos show a bite sleeve or a bite suit and we are seeing sport techniques with a new name. The same holds true for the photos showing the stack before entry. It is clear that the true Tactics are not known and that the "good ole sport boys" are playing catch-up with the new hype. It looks great in a magazine if you don't know what you're looking at. It loses when you read the training advice and most of all try to apply it on the street, or worse, in live theater.

Baden K9 and Tactical Schools offers both dogs and training in the reality of the Work. The only application for a bite sleeve here is to sit on while having lunch. It takes courage to stand up against poor training practices and ignorance, especially when these forms foolish training methods and non professional instructors have become written policy within an organization. Still it is rewarding to know that you have been responsible for not only implementing change but also in promoting progress by simply standing up and speaking out.

This is an excerpt from one of Guenthers many letters regarding the attitudes and preparations needed to produce true effective dogs and handlers.

We seek then not to follow these ones who must raise their voices in hopes of drowning out reason and good sense. We must also not permit those who would follow them without challenge. I ask you young one is a poor dog not a poor dog? What can be gained by training a poor dog? In this is not poor training, poor training? Can position or rank change these things? Fools gather in valleys and curse the rains, only the strong set upon high ground. We do not build a new house upon an old foundation would you agree with this? Let these ones continue to pull the strongest of the weak. It is their blindness that keeps them from seeing all weakness is weakness. These dogs of which we speak, and this training and discipline begins long before the womb. In these things we draw our waters from wells long lost to mortal vision and untouched by the hands of these ones.

To those who are training with less and hoping for more, you would be wise to read these words many times over. You just might learn something. Remember if you have to think once about something………don't think twice about it.

©Mike McConnery/Baden K9 Incorporated, 2/01/08

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