Forum Discussion

lakeside013104's avatar
Oct 01, 2013

A working K-9 question

We will soon be retiring a working narcotic K-9 and hitting the road. To those of you who travel with a retired narcotic detection dog, have you encountered any issues with the K-9 “sniffing” the air while sitting around your campsite? I would rather avoid any “uncomfortable” issues with the K-9 while my family is present. Maybe I need NOT be concerned?

Thanks.

Lakeside

17 Replies

  • He will soon "retire" from his previous duties, but it may take him a while. It took me a couple of years, but now I can hear a siren and not give it another thought.


    This is exactly what I had hoped to hear from experienced folks.

    Thank you.

    Lakeside
  • lakeside013104 wrote:
    We will soon be retiring a working narcotic K-9 and hitting the road. To those of you who travel with a retired narcotic detection dog, have you encountered any issues with the K-9 “sniffing” the air while sitting around your campsite? I would rather avoid any “uncomfortable” issues with the K-9 while my family is present. Maybe I need NOT be concerned?

    Thanks.

    Lakeside


    Probably all of the paper money we have in our wallets are contaminated with narcotics. :B
  • We had no problems with detection with our K-9 when traveling (people "fleeing" was a greater problem - K-9 Orin was cross-trained). But, we did have a magnetic sign posted on our truck - "CAUTION POLICE K-9" - which had some people making wide paths away from our space.
  • Dog Folks wrote:

    No Problem. If he alerts, command "leave it." Eventually the dog will relax.


    He will soon "retire" from his previous duties, but it may take him a while. It took me a couple of years, but now I can hear a siren and not give it another thought.
  • lakeside013104 wrote:
    We will soon be retiring a working narcotic K-9 and hitting the road. To those of you who travel with a retired narcotic detection dog, have you encountered any issues with the K-9 “sniffing” the air while sitting around your campsite? I would rather avoid any “uncomfortable” issues with the K-9 while my family is present. Maybe I need NOT be concerned?

    Thanks.

    Lakeside


    No Problem. If he alerts, command "leave it." Eventually the dog will relax.
  • LOL... I find that question amusing only because of previous LE experience working with K-9 officers in years past. In today's society, it wouldn't surprise me if a K-9 responded to some grass in a camper next door. You sure couldn't blame the dog. However, you still hold the leash.