Alton, Mo. – The Howell and Oregon County Sheriff’s Department and the U.S. Forest Service, along with other local agencies, took their K-9’s and officers in a vigorous training in a span of 3 days.
Where it was Held
The K-9’s and their handlers met at the Alton High School to train and strengthen their bond with each other.
Why it was Held
Instructor Michael McHenry of F.M. K-9 said “I’ve been working them about nine hours a day and straight through the day, from about 9 o’clock in the morning to about 5 in the evening, non-stop.” [1] Instructor McHenry recommends this intense training every year. McHenry commented that this is the dog’s environment and that the dogs could be here for real and it’s nice to know the building. The training included a lot of exercises like tracking, drug searches, building searches, and aggression control.
Who’s Amul
Oregon County’s 2-year-old German Shepherd, Amul, was the newest trainee of the batch. Chief Deputy Rich Matteson got Amul back in late March; Chief Deputy Matteson also said that Amul and he trains on their off days. Chief Deputy Matteson also said that this training is a crucial part of protecting and serving Oregon County. Amul and Matteson have had two successful tracks so far and they have only been together for three months.
Notes:
- ^Deere, Michael. “Local K-9 teams sharpen their skills in three-day training.” 29 June 2020. (go back ↩)
