I was fortunate to attend several sessions of working dog training with the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office Canine Services Unit. During these times I observed different types of canines being used for
different purposes. The different breeds used by the Sheriff’s Office are Belgian Malinois, German Shepherd, black Labrador Retriever, and Golden Retriever. The canines are used for a variety of things
including searching, detection, and apprehension. Searching includes searching for people inside of structures and outside in the open. Detection includes narcotics, electronic devices, explosives,
accelerants, and objects. The apprehension aspect is just that, the canine is trained to bite and hold a suspect on command and to release upon command. This is used in limited circumstance, when the
danger to the deputy makes it unsafe to attempt to physically restrain a suspect who is wanted for a violent criminal offense.

I was able to watch first hand while canines and their handlers conducted building searches for a hidden suspect, detected narcotics and electronic devices, and while they conducted outdoor tracks for
suspects who had fled. I was amazed at the level of obedience that the dogs displayed throughout each of these experiences. The dogs were absolutely under the control of the handler and reacted to the
verbal commands without hesitation. Equally amazing was the effort that was put forth in the training environment, which I learned is set up to replicate actual encounters in the real world.

The handlers were friendly and welcoming and took the extra time to explain why they were doing certain things and why the dogs were exhibiting certain behaviors. With the assistance of my mentor, Lt.
Al Cannon, I feel that I have been able to gain a better understanding of how psychology impacts training, specifically through the use of both reinforcement and punishment. Although some in society question the effectiveness of positive punishment, witnessing the effects first hand lead me to believe that it is an effective and humane tool to elicit a desired behavior in situations that change rapidly.