Bolivian police update their dog training methods

Within the framework of the European project to support the fight against drugs in Bolivia, a course was held for instructors of the International Centre for Canine Operations (CIOC K-9), in order to update the techniques and protocols of action and security in the training of dogs and training of canine guides.  

This course aimed to advance in different specialised areas. The updating of the protocols of action on the canine specimen is aimed at creating the guide-dog bond, a fundamental part in achieving success in the subsequent training and obedience of the dog to its guide. It also addresses the modernisation of protocols for the detection of controlled substances, foreign currency and explosives, with an emphasis on the comprehensive service provided by the CIOC K-9 Centre to the Special Forces for the Fight against Drug Trafficking (FELCN). 

To make this course sustainable, work is being done on the design and preparation of new training protocols in various areas (security and protection of people and buildings, search for buried people, and search for people in large areas or open spaces). In addition, manuals are being designed for the control, monitoring and evaluation of the canine guides who support the FELCN units and the rest of the Bolivian police.   

The international experts, instructors from the National Police and the Guardia Civil of Spain, offer a comprehensive vision of the work carried out by the security forces and bodies in the field of canines. This enriches the pedagogical content of the course, offering a multi-institutional vision. On the other hand, the course has allowed the international experts to learn first-hand how dog training is carried out in Bolivia in a specialised centre. In this way, learning takes place in both directions, improving the quality of teaching through an exchange of experiences in the field.