The dog and handler have to undergo rigorous training to learn how to effectively deal with the situations they may have to confront.

In Québec, no police force has its dogs trained by private institutions: the training is always given by a police force either in the province or elsewhere in Canada.

• Handler training
• Dog training
• Team training

HANDLER TRAINING

Each of the dog handlers in the unit must fulfil the following requirements:

• Have at least level II certification in dog raising/training from Certification Cyno-Professionnelle Canadienne Itée
• Have at least 4 years of seniority at the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM)
• Have passed every step in the selection process and training program
• Be a member of the Association des maîtres de chiens policiers du Québec and the Canadian Police Canine Association.

DOG TRAINING

All of the SPVM police dogs are trained by the SPVM’s Section formation de l’unité canine du SPVM. The training includes two major segments, first in a foster family and then with the dog handler.

Training in the foster family

The dogs begin their training as soon as they enter the Service when, at the age of 8 to 10 weeks, they are fostered to the family of an SPVM member.

These foster families are asked to develop the dog’s potential through play, socializing them and teaching them about different environments:

• noises
• stairs
• slippery surfaces
• dark places
• etc.

Around the age of 8 months, the dogs are tested to evaluate their potential:

• Evaluation of instinct for predation, play and combativeness
• Evaluation of familiarization and socialization
• Courage test

The dogs retained at this stage return to their respective foster families to gain maturity.

Training with the dog handler

Around the age of one-and-a-half, the dog is assigned to its new handler to begin its real training as a police dog.

The basic training for a general purpose dog last about 18 weeks. To this is added 5 weeks of specialization training, for detection of narcotics, firearms or explosives.

During the rigorous training, the dog is gradually taught to achieve the standards required in each of the disciplines:

• tracking
• outdoor search (all types)
• indoor search
• detection
• obedience
• desensitization to gunfire
• agility
• protection and apprehension of suspects
• desensitization to chemical gases

TEAM TRAINING

When the police dog is operational, it must participate with its handler in all the professional development programs required for the execution of its specialty.

Throughout the dog’s career, the team also carries out a daily training program to keep its skills and performance levels up to par.

The dog team must also undergo an annual assessment in each of the disciplines it has trained for. 

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