Dog training expert weighs in on charges facing Saskatoon police officers

A Saskatchewan dog trainer said dogs can make a big difference in police work, but should never cause further damange.

Barry Gay is the owner of Buena Vista Kennels in Grasswood and runs his own dog training program, which is similar to the police dog training program.

In Saskatoon, two police officers have been recently charged with aggravated assault in two unrelated instances that both involved police dogs.

Both officers belong to the canine unit and will be seen at Saskatoon Provincial Court on Wednesday.

“I think that if a dog is used, it should be used to stop someone from escaping or to stop someone from committing a crime or harming somebody else,” Gay said.

“Once someone’s stopped, the (dogs) absolutely should not be used.”

Gay said he understands that being in a police officer’s position can be very difficult and frustrating.

“A lot of (police officers) call it a catch and release program. They work their butts off to catch somebody, take them in and they’re released again, again and again,” Gay said.

However, in one of the recent alleged cases, Gay says the officers shouldn’t have allowed the police dogs to create real damage.

“They did the job, they caught him and that should have been the end of it. He should not have been bitten at all.”

Gay explained that in his training program, dogs are trained to play a German sport called “Schutzhund.” It takes roughly two years for dogs to train.

“If we tell the dog to let go and they don’t, we fail,” Gay said.

“If they’re sent for a bite, they make the bite, and then the judge raises his hand and we say to the dog, ‘Out!’ or ‘Let go!’ and the dog has to let go immediately.”

Gay says that it’s essentially the same in the police force as dogs are trained through a 16-week training program. Dogs continue to receive training throughout their careers to make sure they are kept to the highest standard.