don't be this guy!!!! ------>

---

Understanding what gear is needed, its application and use is paramount for Swat K9 Team Safety. 

Your dog must be "Neutral" to all gunfire whether its from you, another Swat Officer or the Suspect.  Failed training in this area is one of the biggest failures for Swat K9 Integration.  

The basics for any Less than Lethal weapon is to have Lethal Force Cover Equal to or In-Front of your position.  It doesn't matter if your deploying Gas, Knee-Knockers, Breaching Round or Dog.   

Understanding High Risk Swat K9 formations, movements and how they change is paramount for mission success.  We have developed specific Swat K9 formations that are easily adapted as your terrain changes.  Officer safety aspects are fully integrated into this course of instruction. 

These devices are critical for every Swat Mission.  Their use is dependent on mission plan, a rapidly developing situation and officer safety.  Its important the your dog is familiar with and neutral to these devices.  

Storm Dog Tactical has specifically developed and offers the only K9 Handler Specific Combat Pistol skills course in the United States. A K9 Handler’s pistol tactics are very different than those being instructed to Patrol Officers during firearms training.   

It’s imperative to us that you, the K9 Handler, understand how, why, where and what pistol tactics change during K9 Deployments, so as not to delay lethal force response when necessary.   

Dogs psychology parallels human psychology as it relates to Speed of Movement. Understanding its effects and outcomes is important in order to minimize K9 Conflict during each Tactical mission.

Much like training a new Swat Operator your dog needs to be trained in Teamwork concepts. If your dog is only working out of compulsion or fear of correction, fear will take over, and the result will be high conflict, decreased focus, lack of commitment and a failed ability to perform basic level skills.  

The ultimate use of your K9 at breach-point is dependent on each Missions Plan, the Tactical Situation  your dealing with, Swat S.O.P.'s, Officer Safety and more.  This is a high stress area for all Swat Operators and their is NO ROOM FOR K9 CONFLICT AT BREACH-POINT.  

Each Swat K9 Handler should understand the difference between these deployments, their use and applications. Closing the Time and Distance Gap between the Team and the Suspect is the only way to apprehension.  These deployments can change and work together in both a rural and urban setting.  

The internet is flooded with Fake K9 Courses from Police Dog Trainers who know nothing about Advanced Tactical Operations.  A dog does have an active role in these Swat Missions. However, they at NO TIME SHOULD BE AT POINT GOING INTO A SCHOOL OR FACILITY.  

Understanding how to deploy your dog in fatal funnels can drastically increase a Swat Teams Safety and Speed through this dangerous area.  Every Swat K9 Handler needs to be able to deploy both on and off leash.  Your K9 MUST UNDERSTAND ITS JOB and not be looking back at you or the teams advancing position.  This training is often misunderstood as an obedience exercise.  

Understanding proper K9 use for Buy  Bust Operations & Vehicle Take-Downs is important for the safety of all involved and the public in the immediate area.  Its imperative that the Swat K9 Handler take part in mission planning as it relates to K9 Use, Operation and vehicle placement if requested. 

Understanding Dynamic entries, their use and application is a must in order to understand how, when and where a K9 can be used for these missions. 

A barricaded subject is one of the most difficult things to teach a Swat K9.  We are not talking about clearing the structure.  We are referencing the initial developments which include a hostage negotiator and a Tactical Team commander both trying to resolve the situation with a different tactical solution.  The proper use of the dog during these missions can drastically increase the Swat Teams Safety and the those in the immediate area.  

We at Storm Dog Tactical believe the Breach & Hold can be one of the most dangerous deployments. The Swat Team loses the element of surprise and this can empower the subject to take random shots while out of view.  Their is NO ROOM FOR K9 CONFLICT DURING THESE MISSIONS. 

Preparing a Swat K9 for success for  long and short duration events is difficult without having major K9 Conflict.  In order to achieve maximum operational ability for both each dog MUST be EVALUATED INDEPENDENTLY and each handler given an outline specific to their dogs TRAIN ABILITY AND RETENTION OF TRAINING guidelines. 

Every K9 is different and the way in which each dogs has to be mentally decompressed varies too.  We thoroughly evaluate each dog independently and give each handler the information they need for each mission.