Live K-9 Police Demonstration Held in Dalton (Photos)

The Dalton Police Department, along with members of other Berkshire County law enforcement agencies hosted a K-9 demonstration Tuesday.

Officers from Dalton, Beckett, and Pittsfield K-9 Units gathered at the Dalton CRA and put on a live demonstration of K-9 tactics used in law enforcement for local children.

According to the National Police Dog Association, the highly trained dogs have been used in law enforcement since the Middle Ages and the most commonly used breeds are German Shepherds and Belgian Malinois. However, several other breeds are represented as having some unique talents including Basset Hounds, Bloodhounds, and Labrador Retrievers, which are all known for their tracking, trailing, and detection skills.

Used as a means of law enforcement widely across the United States, Police K-9s usually serve in the force for 6 to 9 years. Police Departments require a dog to first pass basic obedience training. The dogs must be able to respond to and obey the commands of their handler without hesitation for proper control.

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