After which, we were then issued a locker key and we put our things at the allocated locker. In this attachment, we have a total of 6 cadets, 3 boys and 3 girls, from different areas and schools. There is even one cadet from the sea unit. After doing a basic self introduction, we then toured around the place. Some of the places that we toured around include the dog’s pen, dog’s kennel and the dog’s training room. The place is so big that they even had a library, a computer lab and a special room where they wash their dog's equiment! A lot of washing machine inside.
These plastic bottles are one of the training areas for the dogs. According to Chris, this bottles when stepped will make a funny noise, thus they want the dogs to adapt to these noises.
This is one of the seized vehicles. According to Chris, he mentioned that these seized vehicles will be one of the training ground for the dogs, where by the handlers will hide the drugs in the car and they would expect the dogs to find them.
It suddenly poured when we were about to take our dogs out. Due to the rain, we had 2 hours of break time. In these two hours, we went to their library and read some books about the dogs. After reading 3 thick and old books, we went for a tour by ourselves to prevent ourselves from dozing off like the boys.
Playing with 'dogs'...
After two hours of break, we went to take out our dogs! Finally… ha ha. Let me introduce to you guys.
Yan Lin’s Dog, Pip. Handler (Yan Lin) Say:
Pip is different from Sally. Why? Because, Pip is a MALE dog. That’s why he is different from Sally. Sorry, I don't know what breed he is as I forgot to ask. Anyway, I think he is younger then Sally, 3 or 4 years old. He was supposed to be trained to search for explosive objects, but from what I heard was, he doesn't want to work.... Poor Pip. He was super hyper. Whenever its time for a walk, he would jump up and down.
Pip is different from Sally. Why? Because, Pip is a MALE dog. That’s why he is different from Sally. Sorry, I don't know what breed he is as I forgot to ask. Anyway, I think he is younger then Sally, 3 or 4 years old. He was supposed to be trained to search for explosive objects, but from what I heard was, he doesn't want to work.... Poor Pip. He was super hyper. Whenever its time for a walk, he would jump up and down.
My (Ying Xue)’s Dog, SallyHandler (Ying Xue)’s Say:
Sally is a female dog and her breed is Springer Spaniel, and from the trainers, I was told that she is 6 years old already. She is specially trained for Narcotics/Explosives detection. When I first picked her up, she seemed quiet and doesn’t move much. But as soon as Chris leashed her and brought her to me, she became so hyper that I almost couldn’t control her. Sally is very strong and she pulled me most of the times when I bring her out.
After identifying our dogs, we were then brought to the dog’s pen to learn how to groom a dog. Dog grooming is one of your dog's basic needs and an important part of dog ownership. Grooming the dogs is a very important process, because this is the time when the dog trainers can detect if the dogs are healthy or otherwise.
Sally is a female dog and her breed is Springer Spaniel, and from the trainers, I was told that she is 6 years old already. She is specially trained for Narcotics/Explosives detection. When I first picked her up, she seemed quiet and doesn’t move much. But as soon as Chris leashed her and brought her to me, she became so hyper that I almost couldn’t control her. Sally is very strong and she pulled me most of the times when I bring her out.
After identifying our dogs, we were then brought to the dog’s pen to learn how to groom a dog. Dog grooming is one of your dog's basic needs and an important part of dog ownership. Grooming the dogs is a very important process, because this is the time when the dog trainers can detect if the dogs are healthy or otherwise.
The comb where we use to groom our dogs...
Before... 
After... Oh dear, I think I had worsen the look of Sally after grooming her. Ha ha, that is because I am not a professional dog trainer yet!
After grooming our dogs, we bring them back to their kennel and went up to the dinning areas to have our lunch. Hmm… lunch is Nasi Lemak. When asking for our comment for the food, Yan Lin joked that Nasi Lemak is good, but it would be better if we have Macdonald and KFC for lunch. So I am sure you guys can imagine how ‘nice’ the food is right?
After our lunch plus a short break, we went to the field. Our next activity is to see the new dogs doing their obedience test. We then had a new ‘tour guide’, Johnny, replacing Chris, as Chris is busy with some things. We were told by Johnny that obedience test is a test compulsory for all new dogs. Whenever the new dog is here, they will be trained by the handler, and 3 months after their training, the dogs have to go through an obedience test. If the dog failed their test, they would have to go through another test a month later. If they fail again, they would re-take the test again and again. However, if they fail the obedience test more than 5 times, they would become a wash-out dog. Wash-out dogs are dogs that are still alive but cannot participate in any police training. All they have to do is to sleep and eat. Wash-out dogs are not retired dogs. Retired dogs are dogs that are above 8 years old and they have some sickness. According to the tester, obedience test is split into 2 parts.
After our lunch plus a short break, we went to the field. Our next activity is to see the new dogs doing their obedience test. We then had a new ‘tour guide’, Johnny, replacing Chris, as Chris is busy with some things. We were told by Johnny that obedience test is a test compulsory for all new dogs. Whenever the new dog is here, they will be trained by the handler, and 3 months after their training, the dogs have to go through an obedience test. If the dog failed their test, they would have to go through another test a month later. If they fail again, they would re-take the test again and again. However, if they fail the obedience test more than 5 times, they would become a wash-out dog. Wash-out dogs are dogs that are still alive but cannot participate in any police training. All they have to do is to sleep and eat. Wash-out dogs are not retired dogs. Retired dogs are dogs that are above 8 years old and they have some sickness. According to the tester, obedience test is split into 2 parts.
The first part is to see if dogs listen to their handler well enough. In this section, dogs will be asked to march with their handler, sit and walk to handler when hand signals are made, and lastly bark when hand signals are made.
The second part if the test is to see if dogs can listen and assist their handler when they are solving crime. In this section, one of the trainers will act as an ‘attacker’ which will emerged into the training field wearing this huge protective gear on his arm. The dog will then off its leash and leaping across the length of the field to sink its sharp teeth into the guy’s arm. The dog are suppose to release the bite and stay still and watch the crook in case he run away while the police prepare to arrest him. Being able to see such a feat with my own eyes sure beats any TV show.
After the obedience test end, we proceed on to feed the dogs. According to the dog handler over there, they told me that each dog have different food requirement. Although they can only eat once in a day, they cannot eat too heavy as in the long run, they will be lazy. Moreover, they are police dog and they have to work and carry out their duty. He then told me that my dog, Sally eats one scoop of dog food. I was then informed that Sally had moved to the sickbay ward as she is suffering from some coughing illness.
Before
Meanwhile…
After 5 minutes later...
According to the trainers, we are not allowed to see the dog while they are eating for fear that the dogs will make it a habit and would not eat the food with your presence. After feeding our dogs and washing the feed bowl, we are free to go home.
From day 1, we had learnt that being a dog handler is not easy. A dog handler basically is like a nanny, they have to do everything for their dog. Other than taking care of the dogs, they also have to train them. Therefore, being a dog handler is not easy.
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