In the program of foreign training – the MARCH- type algorithm for service dogs, the controversial issue of euthanasia and the skills of searching for a human body under water and by biomolecular substances. Swedish dog handlers came to Karlsborg 300-400 km away to share valuable experience with Ukrainian police colleagues.
Serhiy Hayduk, the head of the canine cycle of the Zhytomyr Police Academy, recently returned from a foreign business trip to the Kingdom of Sweden, where he underwent two-week training as part of a Ukrainian group of specialists.
– In general, this is my sixth trip abroad as a professional dog trainer. Before that, there were special courses in Moldova, Kyrgyzstan, the Czech Republic, Germany and the USA. Of course, each of these trainings was important and gave many benefits. However, the Swedish experience turned out to be the most powerful. And first of all, considering the quality of training of dog handlers and their dogs in wartime conditions, – says Serhii Hayduk.
The knowledge gained in Sweden is extremely useful for Ukrainian dog handlers in wartime conditions
Training for Ukrainian police dog handlers was organized in the city of Karsborg on the basis of the training center of the police and military army of the Kingdom of Sweden. The program consisted of two large blocks: provision of first aid to people and service dogs and methods of searching for human bodies in difficult non-standard conditions.
– We know about the method of stopping massive bleeding in an injured person using the MARCH algorithm. And during the training, Swedish colleagues shared the skills and experience of such a scheme in adapting to animals. For the Swedes, a service dog is not just a special vehicle, it is a full-fledged combat unit. Therefore, saving the life of your four-legged partner is the task of a dog trainer. Such knowledge is extremely useful for Ukrainian dog handlers who work in the zone of risk and danger – continues the head of the cycle of canine studies of the Zhytomyr Police Academy.
Training participants practiced the acquired skills of first aid for animals on a special modern dog mannequin equipped with the necessary simulation tools. Moreover, these exercises took place in different conditions: outdoors in bad weather and indoors, individually and as part of a team.
Separately, Swedish canine experts spoke about the practice of euthanasia of service dogs while performing tasks. It is used as an extreme case, when it is impossible to help the animal, and leaving it wounded only postpones the inevitable death.
In the second part of the training, dog experts exchanged their experience of training search dogs.
– Our standards and methods are very similar. The Swedes approach the selection of service dogs very carefully and test the promising abilities of the animals. Also, foreign colleagues have the opportunity to combine the natural skills of dogs with technical means. For example, with the help of special equipment (such as scanners, drones, etc.) and with the involvement of specialists from other fields, service dogs are able to detect the remains of human bodies, in particular, deep in the ground or under water, under snow cover or under debris from destruction. There is also work done on finding bodies by biomolecular substances, – comments Serhiy Hayduk.
After completing the program of theoretical and practical classes, Ukrainian cynologists successfully passed the appropriate tests and received a documentary certificate of this.
So they returned to Ukraine with a significant amount of knowledge and skills, which will definitely be implemented in the practical training of police dog handlers for the police.
Zhytomyr Police Academy
