Working Dog Training by Interu International

The Difference between a Single-Purpose and Dual-Purpose Specialty Dog

Single-purpose dogs are those that are used to perform only one task. In the police department, such dogs are usually used as patrol dogs. They generally either provide protection against intruders or keep a working place secure.

At Interu our customers typically require dual-purpose working dogs.

On the other hand, dual-purpose dogs are those that are trained to perform several tasks together. They can find a victim or culprit, detect chemicals based on their odor, fight with the suspects, and do many other tasks. 

What Work do Military Working Dogs do?

Military working dogs are trained to aid their units to perform different military related tasks. Using military dogs in warfare is not a new concept.

They have been used in many wars (Vietnam war, Korean war, etc.) through history.

The most common tasks they perform in modern warfare includes guarding a military base, making an area secure by tracking, explosives detection, search and rescue SAR, patrol and attack missions.

Military dogs have proved their value and have been recognized for executing important missions.

How do we Train Military Working Dogs and Handler?

Interu’s Military dogs are trained for specific skills like scent work or specialty training or protection training. Working dogs are typically trained for one specialty unless they are trained as a dual-purpose dog.

The Interu International military working dog training program is a proprietary course that integrates dog and handler training to ensure successful long-term results.

After learning essential skills they are assigned to a handler that has been trained to understand and compliment the dog’s training.

This proprietary training method ensures more consistent long-term success. 

Contact Interu International today to buy a well-trained Specialty Military Working Dog.

What Breed are Military Working Dogs?

The most common dog breed that are preferred as military dogs are the Belgian Malinois.

The Belgian Malinois breed is preferred because they are outstanding in performance relative to:

·        Intelligence,

·        Drive,

·        Loyalty,

·        Athletic and Tenacious

Do Military Dogs have a Rank?

All military dogs are considered non-commissioned officers (NCOs).

They have a rank that is usually one rank higher than the rank of their handlers.

Service Dogs: A Brief Overview

A service dog is well-trained to assist people who have certain disabilities to live an independent life.

They may have mental disability, physical or sensory disability.

These dogs have the right to go with their owners in public places so they can assist their owners..

What are the Key Characteristics of a Great Service Dog?

A trained service dog has an important role so they must be able to avoid getting distracted and help their owners when they need their help the most.

They know their responsibility well and behave properly even if they are in a public place.

To be effective a Working dog must trust and respect their handlers.

Too often trainers and handlers physically and mentally abused the dog so bad that it shuts down – stops learning and has low effectiveness.

Essentially the trainer or handler has not been trained themselves.

Our intent is not to bash trainers or handlers but to influence key stakeholders into recognizing the common practice of physically and mentally abusing a dog does not produce an effective asset.

They listen to their commands and do what they are asked to do. Another important characteristic of a great service dog is that they have good health conditions and avoid becoming a part of a dirty environment.

This way they make sure that their handler gets the best environment that is safe for his health.

What are the Top 3 Dog Breeds That Make the Best Service Dogs?

Dog breeds that respond to training well and quickly learn to behave in a public place are usually preferred to be trained as service dogs.

The most common dog breeds that are used as service dogs include:

• Labradors,
• Golden Retrievers,
• German Shepherds.

Service Dogs for the Disabled

This kind of service dog is trained to assist a disabled person to perform daily life activities independently.

They help them sit, move, stand, etc. without getting hurt in any way.

The Capabilities of a Trained Service Dog 

A well-trained service dog performs its role in the family well.

Their overall role is to bring ease to the lives of their handlers and provide them assistance to become more independent and confident in daily tasks.

Based on the type of service dog, they are trained to perform different duties.

The most common duties they can perform are below:

• They can turn a light switch on or off, ring a doorbell, and press a button that sets an alarm on.
• They are trained to open or close the doors to make way for their handler.
• Service dogs can bring items to their handlers when they are asked to. They can also carry items for their sake.
• They can assist a disabled person to walk, stand, or sit properly.
• If their handler is blind, they will help them walk without getting hit by an obstacle.
• If their handler is deaf, they will hear voices and let their handlers know what those voices mean.
• Similarly, if a person has diabetes or epilepsy, they can detect when the sugar level of a diabetic person gets abnormal and help their epileptic patient handle an attack carefully.

There are many other duties that they can perform.

To perform their role properly, they must first get training from a certified trainer.

Therapy Dogs

Therapy dogs are very friendly, affectionate, and comforting in nature as they go with their owner from place to place and provide them comfort, attention, and love.

Such dogs are trained to ignore distractions and provide comfort to their owner so getting them trained takes more time and effort.

Our training helps the owner and dog establish trust and a lasting relationship.

Allergy Detection Dogs

Allergy detection dogs are trained to detect the presence of allergens in the environment.

They look for the food traces like traces of peanuts, cashew, etc., and let their owner know before they have contact with these anaphylaxis triggering traces.

People can bring allergy detection dogs to restaurants, schools, and all other places.

Such dogs bring a positive impact on the lives of those who are allergic to even the small traces of allergens.

They feel more confident rather than feel anxious while going outside with their service dog. 

A dog is selected to be trained as an allergy detection dog based on his intelligence, behavior, and willingness.

They are not specifically selected based on breed.

Autism Service Dogs

Autism service dogs are specially trained to help people with autism live a more social, engaging, active, and independent life.

They will assist a child in his school, give emotional support, and protect him from having unexpected accidents.

The parents of a child having autism will lead the dog when they are outside.

A belt will connect a child with the dog. The child will also have the dog's working harness in his hands.

So, if the dog senses that the kid is trying to run away, he would sit on the ground instantly to prevent an unforeseen accident from happening.

Diabetic Alert Dogs

As the name suggests, diabetic alert dogs are trained to assist people who suffer from diabetes.

There is a particular smell in the air when the blood sugar level of a person goes up (hyperglycemia) or below the normal level (hypoglycemia).

They detect this smell and let their owner know before the sugar level becomes riskier.

Upon their signal, the person will either take glucose or insulin to make the sugar level normal again.

They can also set alarms to let the family members know that the diabetic patient needs assistance.

When alone, they can also call a helpline with a special phone.

Guide Dogs

This type of assistant dogs supports blind and visually impaired people.

They are trained to help them walk safely and provide them protection from obstacles.

It is one of the most common types of working dogs and even dates back to the 16^th century.

Guide dogs are trained to obey their owner after assessing the environment.

If they find the command dangerous, they will disobey their owner. For instance, if there is an obstacle in the way, the guide dog will not move forward even if the owner tells him to move.

Labrador Retriever is the most common breed to be used as guide dogs. Other common breeds are Poodles and Labradors. 

Hearing Dogs

Hearing dogs are trained to assist people who are deaf or have hearing impairments.

They detect a signal like a doorbell, alarms, crying babies, or phones and alert their owner by touching them.

After alerting them, hearing dogs lead the way and take their owner towards the source of the noise.

These great companions bring joy and independence to the lives of people who have hearing impairments.

Dog breeds like Golden Retriever, Poodle, Cocker Spaniel, and Labrador are the most common breeds that are trained to detect certain sounds.

Mobility Assistance Dogs

This type of service dog helps its owners who have mobility issues become more independent and self-confident.

They assist their owners to do multiple tasks like moving the wheelchair, carrying an object, opening a closed door, ringing a bell, switching lights on or off, etc.

They are usually trained for people who have issues like spinal injury, joint pain, brain injury, balance issues, and muscular pain, etc.

Dogs breeds that are large enough to move objects or their owner’s wheelchair qualify to be trained as mobility assistance dogs.

They may also have a harness to assist their owner’s move.

Psychiatric Service Dogs

Psychiatric service dogs (PADs) are taught to help their handler perform daily activities like normal people.

Their handlers include people with mental issues such as anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), etc.

They stay alert and observe their owner’s symptoms from time to time. These dogs perform their role if they detect a negative signal.

Such dogs tell their owners who have depression or anxiety to take care of themselves regularly.

If they notice that their owner is getting anxious due to the presence of strangers around them, they start comforting them and become a barrier between the stranger and the person.

Seizure Alert Dogs

Seizure alert dogs aid patients who encounter seizures due to epilepsy. They can perform a variety of tasks to protect their owner.

For instance, they can lay beside their owner to comfort them during a seizure, call a helpline with a special phone, alert other family members, move their owner to a secure place, and protect the patient's body during a fall due to seizure, etc.

Keep in mind that not all alert dogs can perform all these activities.

Breeds like Golden Retriever and Labrador Retriever, which are more alert than others, are usually preferred to be trained as seizure alert dogs.

Like many other types of working dogs, these dogs are also allowed to go to different public places with their owners.

Search and Rescue Dogs

Amazingly, dogs can detect a millionth of a particle, and with search and rescue dog training, we can use this fantastic sense to find whatever we are looking for!

Search and Rescue (SAR) dog training is also a great way to improve obedience skills, strengthen the bond with your dog and have fun while providing physical and mental stimulation by playing hide & seek training games.

Search and rescue dog training most commonly uses "reward" & "praise" positive techniques to reinforce your dog's natural ability to key in and track a scent.

Scent Work for Dogs

We offer Interu International dog scent work training course to train the dog and sharpen its’ innate sense of smell and detect a variety of substances.

During this training, certain smells like the smell of explosives, drugs, etc. are imprinted in the dog’s mind.

So, whenever they detect them in the air or on objects, they will signal the detection.

Contact Interu International today to buy a well-trained Scent Work Trained dog.

Why is Scent Detection Training for Dogs Required?

Scent detection training protects people from injury while engaged in Law Enforcement or Military activities.

Scent detection dogs can detect certain substances including explosives, buried mines, illegal drugs and detect the human smell at a crime scene. 

Personal Protection Dogs for the Family

A Personal Protection Dog will protect the family from threats while traveling, at work or at home.

The dog will subdue the attacker or intruder until there is no longer a threat.

They will not only learn to protect the family but will also become a great companion.

We typically work with and recommend the Belgian Malinois as a personal protection dog for a family.

Contact Interu International today to buy a well-trained personal protection dog for your family.

Guard Dogs

Guard dogs are trained to subdue an intruder who they find threatening.

What you should keep in mind is that guard dogs can protect you from intruders, but they may not become good family pets.

Their training can take several months to complete.

American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen Program

The Collar Club provides a great opportunity for the dog parents to perform the American Kennel Club's Canine Good Citizen test.

This program makes sure your dog is well-trained and has the manners to behave properly.

Dogs who pass this test become a Certified Canine Good Citizen.

Contact us here for more information.

Utility Training

Utility training teaches a dog to understand commands given by their handler and act accordingly.

A utility dog is judged based on his performance by different judges.

There are many forms of utility training. Some are mentioned below.

Signal dictation is a form of utility training in which the dog understands signals without the use of words.

Similarly, in scent discrimination, instructions are given to the dog to detect certain scents.

Directed retrieve is another form of training in which the trainer gives signals with hands and the dog retrieves the directed object and brings it to the handler.

In motion examination, the working dog follows the trainer’s actions and performs actions as the owner does.

Another form of utility training is directed jumping in which the dog turns and jumps in a specified manner he was told to.

Hunting Dogs & Bird Dogs

Hunting dogs and bird dogs are trained to help their hunter owner find the bird and bring it back.

Breeds like retrievers, pointers, hounds, and setters are more preferred for this training.

With selective breeding, many breeds of dogs have been improved to perform more efficiently during hunting.

Pure and mixed breeds, both, are used during hunting.

Does Your Organization Require a Well-Trained Working Dog? Let Us Help!

Contact Interu International for Police K9 Training, Military Working Dog Training and equally important Handler training along with Service Dog Training for Veterans and the disabled.

Our training program, coordinates training of the dogs specific skills like scent work or specialty training with handler training to ensure the dog and handler work effectively as a unit.

We believe that training the Dog and Handler with the same corresponding techniques and principles is imperative.

Contact Interu International!