|
|
Archive for the ‘K.N.P.V.’ Category
Monday, December 20th, 2010
 The Koninklijke Nederlandse Politiehond Vereniging (KNPV), or translated in English as the Royal Dutch Police Dog Association was founded in 1907 in the Netherlands. This organization was originally formed as NPV and the K was not added until February 28, 1912. When looking at the KNPV logo, many will wonder where the K is, but it is actually represented by the crown above the crest. KNPV was created because there was not a organization whose goal was to organize training of police dogs or to spread the knowledge of this training. This organization conducts police dog trials and then offers certificates that are coveted and respected around the world. These tests require a dog of great character, physical strength, agility and stamina.
The Dutch Shepherd is one of the many dog breeds used in KNPV. Normally most of the dogs that get the title for the KNPV is the breed of the Belgian Malinois. However, there are other breeds that are chosen as well. For example, there is 1% of German Shepherds chosen and 3% of Dutch Shepherds chosen. This year however most of the trials in all parts of Holland there was a higher percent of Dutch Shepherds that received the KNPV certificate. The major different between Dutch shepherd and the Belgian Malinois is there distinctive brindle coloring. They have a coloring that is predominately brindle. Hollanders selectively choose Dutch Shepherds as a breed that they take a lot of pride in. The fact that more have been title this year then any other year is a great thing for these Hollanders.They have genetically strong bred nerves, which is very valuable. They are social, affectionate and loyal yet very guarded toward strangers. Also they make great Family executive protection dogs. These characteristics help to make the Dutch Shepherd a great guard dog and protection dog.
Tags: Belgian Malinois, CCK9, Dutch Shepherd, German Shepherd, K.N.P.V., Protection Dogs
Posted in Belgian Malinois, CCK9, Dutch Shepherd, German Shepherd, K.N.P.V., Protection Dogs | No Comments »
Monday, November 29th, 2010
 Many would agree with the statement that man’s best friend has always been known as a loyal and loving companion. Dogs have always had the natural tendency to protect their owner, that is why for years they have been trained to become trustworthy protection/guard dogs. These dogs are intensively trained to constantly be there looking out for your family and ensuring their safety. The dogs know that their owner will protect them from harm and in return do the same for them. Often great guard dogs are born and not just trained to become one. Certain breeds are simply meant to be protection dogs, such as the Belgian Malinois, because they are born with a solid temperament and the natural instinct to protect. To create a dog into an excellent protection dog, constant training needs to be started from when the dog is very young. Many techniques and different types of equipment is used during the training of these dogs. For example, The German Poachers Coat is a piece of equipment that is used in the training to make a ordinary dog into a phenomenal protection dog.
The German Poachers Coat is a 3/ 4 length bite coat that is worn by a decoy during a defense exercise. It is an old fashioned design, which is made to permit easy movement. This coat is also used in leg transfer training as well. In training we primarily use three types of bite suits, the French Ring, KNPV bites, and the German Poachers Coat. We do not use any sleeve tugs or towels in our training, instead we use interchangeable sleeves. We use these because they allow you to use different metals, which keeps the dog challenged during training. All of our protection dogs are trained in defense meager starting from a young age, we do not train our dogs in pray. This is why it takes a very special dog with strong nerves to do the type of training to ultimately become a protection dog. The decoy (helper) must be very experienced to withstand the compression of a strong dog on the poachers coat. Our dogs are trained not only to bite the legs, but to initially target the weapon hand. When a strong dog engages, the decoy will feel the pressure but not the pinch. The German Poachers Coat is a very valuable piece of equipment when it comes to training a strong, civil, functional protection dog.
Tags: Belgian Malinois, CCK9, German poachers coat, Protection Dogs, Training
Posted in Belgian Malinois, CCK9, K.N.P.V., Protection Dogs, Training | No Comments »
Friday, November 12th, 2010
 Starting in the early 1900’s Koninklijke Nederlandse Politiehond Vereniging (K.N.P.V.), translated as “Royal Dutch Police Dog Sport”, was created to test the breeding potential of working dogs to ensure their bloodlines remained strong. This program has provided trained working dogs to police, military, and rescue organizations. Certificates that are offered in this organization are among the most coveted and respected in world. Dogs that undergo this training are demanded of great character, physical strength agility and stamina. There are many different exercises and training programs that the dogs go through in K.N.P.V.. Points are given in each each part of the K.N.P.V., each part of it consists of different exercises with over 50 exercises in all. An example of one of these training exercises is the bicycle exercise.
The K.N.P.V. bicycle exercise is an essential exercise that evaluates the dog on how it will handle an assailant fleeing on a bicycle. The exercise reviews the dog in five different areas; waiting & obeying command, way of pursuit, way of stopping, out, non biting and guarding. Each area starts out with a decoy (playing an assailant) fleeing on a bicycle, each area of this exercise has a max score of 5 points. The handler will give the dog a command while the decoy is fleeing on the bicycle and in one of the areas of the exercise the dog must bite the decoy in an attempt to stop him. Early in K.N.P.V. this part of the exercises the dogs were trained to bite the decoy on an arm or upper body but after some time they had to change the bite location to the legs because too many decoys were being injured falling off of the bicycles. The total points scored in the complete K.N.P.V. bicycle exercise is 30 points out of the complete 440 points for a perfect K.N.P.V. score.
Even though K.N.P.V. is a sporting title and not all of the exercises relate to a personal protection dog, there are a lot of exercises that do relate such as the bicycle exercise. If you were robbed or injured by an assailant and he tried fleeing on a bicycle your personal protection dog could possibly attack or stop the assailant.
Tags: K.N.P.V., Personal Protection Dog, Personal Protection Dogs, Sporting Dogs
Posted in K.N.P.V., Sporting Dogs | No Comments »
Thursday, September 30th, 2010
 We’ve all seen someone jump at the sound of a balloon popping, or the classic prank of bursting a paper bag next to an unwitting friend, but few people realise the importance of understanding our reactions to loud noises, and how working dogs might react to these noises. There are many people who have never heard the sound of a gunshot in their lives. They may understand what a gun is, and that it makes a loud noise, but hearing that sound for the first time is almost guaranteed to be a nerve-wracking experience. Now imagine how a canine might react, having no knowledge of what a gun is, or what it might sound like. The sound of gunfire immediately provokes fear and confusion in many animals. However, conditioning working dogs to remain focused during gunfire is something that hunters and police officers have been doing for centuries.
The sport of KNPV recognizes the need for a dog that can remain calm during gunfire, and includes exercises which are designed to test a dog’s reaction to gunfire. The most basic exercise is simply training the dog not to bark during while using firearms. The most natural reaction for a dog to have in response to loud noises is to bark. This makes training a dog not to bark during firearms exercises exceptionally difficult, but it’s certainly not impossible. However, good training is only one side of the equation. It is extremely important for a dog to have strong nerves, as it will make a calm and controlled reaction to frightening noises that much easier to achieve. It is for this reason that police protection dogs are specifically bred to have strong nerves.
It is commendable of KNPV to include exercises, such as not barking under gunfire, which test the needs of working police dogs. Of all dog sports, KNPV comes the closest to mimicking real life scenarios with its exercises. However, one should always remember that KNPV is just a sport. True protection dogs should be trained for protection work in the real world, not for sport.
Tags: Belgian Malinois, German Shepherd, K.N.P.V., police dogs, Protection Dogs, Sporting Dogs
Posted in K.N.P.V. | No Comments »
Thursday, July 22nd, 2010
 Koninklijke Nederlandse Politiehond Vereniging (KNPV) is a popular dog-sport based out of the Netherlands. The name literally means “Royal Dutch Police Dog Association”, and it was founded in the early 1900′s as a way of testing the ability of dogs for their suitability for breeding and work as a police dog. As with any sport, the rules and exercises are clearly defined to ensure fairness among competitors. After over a century, the rules and titles involved in KNPV have changed and grown considerably, but the basic concepts remain.
In KNPV, a team consisting of a dog and its handler compete to obtain varying levels of certification. Points are awarded or deducted based on performance in various exercises, and certificates are awarded to dogs who are able to obtain a high enough score. The most basic title in KNPV is known as Politiehond 1 (PH1). Competing dogs must first obtain this title before attempting any of the more challenging titles, and in Holland, a dog must have this title before it can work as a police dog. Obtaining this title involves completing exercises in obedience, scent work, water work, and protection. A score between 302 and 347 out of 440 possible points is enough for the dog be awarded Certificaat A, which lasts for one year. A score above 348 awards the dog a full PH1 certificate, and a score above 402 awards the dog a Certificaat Met Lof (certificate with honors).
After completing PH1, it is up to the handler to decide whether or not to continue training for a more advanced title. Possible titles are Politiehond 2 (PH2), Object Bewakinghond (ObjBW), Speurhond (SpH), and Reddingshond (RH). PH2 includes the same exercises as PH1, but at a more advanced level. ObjBW is considered a specialised Guard Dog title. It includes many of the same exercises as PH1, but does not include water work, and has a stronger focus on guarding. SpH is a very specialised title that focuses on complex tracking and scent work exercises. The exercises are judged harshly, and only about 20% of dogs attempting this title are able to obtain it each year. Finally, RH is a specialised title that focuses on search and rescue operations with exercises that simulate the rescuing of a drowning person, or a person trapped under rubble.
KNPV is both incredibly important in maintaining the quality of working breeds such as the German Shepherd or Belgian Malinois, as well as promoting standards for the training of police dogs, protection dogs, and guard dogs. However, as honorable as the sport is, one should always remember that KNPV is just a sport. A true protection dog should be trained for real world scenarios, and not for sport.
Tags: Guard Dog, K.N.P.V., PH1, Police Dog, Politiehond, Protection Dog
Posted in K.N.P.V. | No Comments »
Thursday, July 15th, 2010
 KNPV is a lot closer to real protection work than many other dog sports because it comes the closest to mimicking real scenarios. One scenario seen in KNPV that isn’t seen in other sports is the presence of water in the environment. In the real world, a police protection dog must not only be able to swim, but must be able to do so with speed and efficiency in order to engage a target across a body of water, or to rescue a drowning person from a river with strong current.
KNPV uses two exercises to test a dog’s swimming ability. In the first exercise, the dog is instructed to swim across a canal with a minimum distance of 15 meters, wait at the other side, and then return to the handler when instructed. Unfortunately, while it is admirable that KNPV would include water exercises, this exercise does not come close enough to a real scenario to be effective as training for a true protection dog. In the real world, the dog will be sent across a body of water in order to perform a task, such as engaging a target. To have the dog sit and wait for a second command to be given on the other side of a river is absurd, and wastes valuable time. The dog should be trained to swim the distance and engage the target with one command.
In the second exercise, the dog is instructed by the handler to retrieve a large object in the water, approximately 7 meters out, and bring it back to shore. Again, it is admirable that KNPV would include this exercise, but it is still not close enough to the real scenario. The most important thing a dog could be bringing back to shore in this instance would be a human life. To depend on a dog that has only been trained to haul an inanimate object in calm waters to save a living human being is simply unacceptable.
The bottom line is that KNPV is just a sport. Whether you’re training a Belgian Malinois, a Dutch Shepherd or a German Shepherd as a police protection dog, it must be trained for the real world, using real world scenarios and real danger. There is simply no substitute for true protection dog training.
Tags: Belgian Malinois, Dog Sport, German Shepherd, K.N.P.V., Water
Posted in K.N.P.V. | No Comments »
Tuesday, July 13th, 2010
K NPV is a term that comes up often when speaking of working dogs, and with good cause; KNPV is one of the most challenging and well-respected dog sports in the world. Between 800 and 1000 dogs get their KNPV PH1 title each year. Of these, only about 5 will be German Shepherds. KNPV titles can only achieved in Holland, where the sport originates, and the vast majority of competing dogs will be Holland’s favoured breed: the Belgian Malinois. For a German Shepherd to achieve a KNPV title is an extremely difficult task that requires a hard dog with strong nerves. KNPV also requires a dog that is intelligent, loyal and sociable as well.
Training a dog for the KNPV PH1 title takes dedication and commitment. Training normally takes been 2-3 years to complete. To train a dog for this long, with the level of intensity required for KNPV takes a true love for dog sport and dog training. Training German Shepherd puppies or Belgian Malinois puppies must begin at a very young age.
While KNPV is the closest dog sport to real protection work, one should never forget that it is just a sport. However, KNPV forms the basis of breeding standards in Holland. Only the best dogs make it through to achieve a KNPV title, and the litters bred from KNPV titled dogs are ensured to have the strength and nerves required of true protection dogs. Very few KNPV dogs are female, as the best females are always held back for breeding.
Tags: Belgian Malinois, Dog Sport, German Shepherd, Guard Dog, K.N.P.V., Protection Dog
Posted in K.N.P.V. | No Comments »
Thursday, May 27th, 2010
 The Koninklijke Nederlandse Politiehond Vereniging (KNPV) is a dog sport originating in Holland that uses a number of exercises in an attempt to mimic situations encountered by police k9 units. One such exercise is centered around guarding an object.
For dogs with a natural protective instinct, training to guard an article should not be a difficult task. The same guard drive that a canine would have experienced in the wild to protect food, a den or young puppies, can be applied to any object. For the K.N.P.V. exercise, the dog’s are trained to ignore distractions such as a people walking past the article, and to attack the decoy who will attempt to take the article. The article can be any object, but medium-sized objects such as a bag, or coat are often used. After the dog has taken a bite on the decoy, the decoy will release the object and step back, at which point the dog will return the article without any outside command.
As with many K.N.P.V. exercises, the idea behind it is well-intentioned, but the execution of the exercise as a sport is inevitably unsuitable for a real world scenario. The scenario that this exercise depicts is one in which someone has carelessly left something of value in a wide-open, public space. Imagine that you have something of great importance that you need protected, but instead of locking it inside of a building, within a contained, fenced-off area, you have left it out in the middle of a park. This is, essentially, the K.N.P.V. scenario. In a real scenario, guard dogs are most often used to prevent intruders from entering a specific area rather than guarding a specific object. This is due to the simple fact that if you have an object valuable enough to hire highly skilled guard dogs to protect it, you are better off preventing intruders from even coming near the object rather than waiting until they have fully grasped it.
Although we have great respect for the K.N.P.V. dog sport, one should always remember that it is only a sport. Guard dogs and protection dogs should be trained for real world scenarios, not for sport.
Tags: Belgian Malinois, German Shepherd, Guard Dog, K.N.P.V.
Posted in K.N.P.V., Sporting Dogs | No Comments »
Tuesday, May 11th, 2010
 The Koninklijke Nederlandse Politiehond Vereniging (KNPV), roughly translated as “Royal Dutch Police Dog Sport”, is an intense dog sport that developed in the Netherlands as a way to test the breeding potential of working dogs to ensure their bloodlines remained strong and capable. While a variety of breeds are permitted to participate in KNPV, the sport is largely dominated by the Belgian Malinois. Although the breed does enjoy a fair bit of popularity in the area, its widespread use as a sporting dog for KNPV is a result of the Belgian Malinois’ ability to prove itself in KNPV trials time and time again.
Breeders put an incredible amount of time and effort into keeping their bloodlines strong and training their dogs to perform their absolute best. Whether they are training working dogs for police work, or sporting dogs for KNPV, it is important that training begins while the dogs are still puppies. A breeder must also determine the capabilities of his puppies very early on. While KNPV sporting dogs often produce very strong litters whose pups go on to be full-fledged police dogs or protection dogs, it is important to realise that the type of training they receive must be centered around the work they will be doing from the very beginning. Training a Belgian Malinois as a sporting dog will make it unsuitable for work as a true protection dog, even if it were to be cross-trained. It takes a huge amount of skill and expertise on the part of the breeder to ensure that their Belgian Malinois puppies are living up to their full potential and continuing to improve their bloodline.
Tags: Belgian Malinois, Guard Dog, K.N.P.V., Police Dog, Protection Dog, Puppies, Sporting Dog
Posted in Belgian Malinois Puppies, K.N.P.V. | No Comments »
Tuesday, May 4th, 2010
 The Koninklijke Nederlandse Politiehond Vereniging (KNPV) is a dog sport originating in Holland that uses a number of exercises in an attempt to mimic situations encountered by police k9 units. One such exercise is centered around a search for small articles.
The KNPV small articles search takes place in a square section of grassy field. Three small objects, such as a key, a ring, a bullet casing, or a coin, are placed on the field. The dog then has 10 minutes to search the field and retrieve the objects. The handler is permitted to give basic commands instructing the dog to search, stay or release the retrieved object. A retrieval time of under 3 minutes is required to obtain a perfect score, while the dog is also graded on general obedience, the manner in which it searches the field, and how it handles the objects during the retrieval stage.
The intent of this exercise is to train the dog to act in a manner that mimics a police search for evidence. Unfortunately, the way this exercise is performed by the KNPV presents a number of problems when compared against what would be required of a search conducted by actual police forces. One of the biggest problems is that the dog is trained to mouth the object, pick it up and bring it back to the handler. In a real police search, investigators wear latex gloves to avoid disturbing the evidence any more than absolutely necessary. To have the dog mouth a piece of evidence might completely ruin it. The correct action for the dog to take would be to indicate passively by sitting next to the found article. Secondly, because KNPV is a sport, the exercises are performed with specific regulations concerning the search area. During a search, an officer can almost never rely on evidence being simply dropped in a perfectly square patch of grassy field.
The most important thing to remember is that KNPV, like all other dog sports, is just a sport. Police dogs, protection dogs and guard dogs alike need to be trained to handle real situations from the very beginning. Training for sport just isn’t good enough for work in the real world.
Tags: Belgian Malinois, K.N.P.V., Police Dog, Search, Small Article, Sporting Dog
Posted in K.N.P.V. | No Comments »
Call Us Toll Free 877.687.CCK9 (2259) / Or Email Us
|
 |