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Service cynology has fascinated me since I was a child // Humans of NATO Days

Ostrava Municipal Police officers and their canine partners are an integral part of the NATO Days in Ostrava & Czech Air Force Days. You could see Erika Szabová with her four-legged colleague GERIM among them. Erika has been serving with the Municipal Police since 1st September 2015. What is the most challenging part of being a police dog handler? Does the bite hurt despite the padded suit? And how do service dogs get along with their colleagues from mounted police? She revealed more than that in our interview.

How did you get to work as a cynologist/ dog handler in the Ostrava Municipal Police? Were dogs your interest before joining the police or did you want to join the police and help people in general?
Since childhood I have been fascinated by service cynology and what dogs can do for people. Working as a dog handler was a clear choice for me to deepen my knowledge of this field, to learn, gain experience, knowledge and information.

How do you choose "your" dog? Do you get one assigned to you, or can you agree within the group which one fits best?
At Ostrava Municipal Police, everyone chooses their own dog and everyone has different criteria to some extent. I personally take dogs from puppies, from working and healthy parents.

How much time per day do you spend with your dog? What does the dog do when not "on duty"?
Actually, all the time, including vacations. Even off duty, we go for training. When we're not training, we'll go to the mountains or we go camping.

Can you also teach the dog some fun tricks or does he have to concentrate on duty? How do you strengthen the relationship?
We definitely can and do teach them in a fun way. This is what strengthens the relationship and develops the dog holistically.

What is the best reward for your dog for completing a task?
Definitely a ball.

What is the biggest challenge for you when working with service dogs?
The biggest challenge is to prepare the dog to be a reliable and independent partner on duty and a loyal friend off duty.

What is your role in the cynology group and in training service dogs?
In the group we all try to help each other in training, as with the help of others you can better prepare your dog for the pitfalls associated with service. It is a team effort. 

Did you need special training for the role of the decoy? Despite the dog bite suit, a dog biting your hand will probably not be pleasant.
I've been through an examination for the role. The work of a decoy is demanding and responsible, you mustn't hurt or betray the dog. The important thing is to read his signals. And you're right, sometimes the bite hurts.

The Ostrava Municipal Police usually shows German Shepherds at NATO Days. Do you have any other breeds? How do you choose dogs?
We currently also have Belgian Shepherds. In the past we had two Rottweilers as well. But German Shepherds predominate. We choose according to what breed suits us and the nature of our service.

In the operational section of the Ostrava Municipal Police you meet fellow hipologists. Does this result in any specifics for training so that dogs and horses can be deployed in the same operation?
Since we are in the same building with our colleagues from hippology and the dogs and horses meet regularly, this is a great benefit for us. It is because of the joint training that our dogs do not react to the presence of horses during joint interventions.

What events outside of NATO Days can people attend to learn about the work of Ostrava Municipal Police and its dog handlers?
Mostly these are events organised by the Statutory City of Ostrava at children's days and events presenting the activities of the municipal police.