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Students Learn from Police Dogs in Action |
 SU West Palm Beach (Winter 2009) – The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Department Canine Unit provided an on-campus demonstration for Legal Studies and Criminal Justice students. The dogs are used to perform a variety of duties such as bomb and drug detection, capturing and holding perpetrators, and searching for missing persons.
While explaining that several breeds of dogs are suitable for police work, the officers brought a Bloodhound and German Shepherd Dog.
During the demonstration, the students saw how the German Shepherd Dog is adept at chasing and taking down perpetrators and learned how the Bloodhound is adept at tracking because when he puts his head down to pick up a scent, the folds of his skin, his ears, and his fur all help to capture the scent.
All of the dogs are taught their commands in German and develop a close relationship with their officer partners, with whom the dogs live from the time they are puppies. When the dogs retire from the police force, their partners may adopt/purchase the dog from the sheriff’s department for the token price of one dollar.
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