Taking a bite out of crime

Cross Creek K9 Training Academy is a full-time, full service canine training facility and has been assisting agencies worldwide with their K9 needs for over 18 years.

Since 1999, they have placed over 125 dogs with various agencies across the US and beyond. It is the only police dog training facility to earn a Seal of Approval from the American Society for Law Enforcement Training. Dondi Hydrick is head of operations and he has been training dogs for over 26 years. He first started training dogs in the military.

Cross Creek Training Academy offers a variety of handler and trainer courses designed to prepare each individual for a future in working with police dogs.

Police Officer Michael Irvin recently went through his third week at the K-9 training facility. His dog King hopes to be part of the first narcotics unit at the Chesterfield County police force. Irvin may depend on King one day to save his life. As for the training, he said, “ This is the best training I’ve ever had. I’ve had training before, but not like this.”

Hydrick says its not any dog that can become a police dog. He selects dogs to match the needs of the agency and those of the handler. He says the need of every agency is different.

The dog that is right for working in Paris, France is not necessarily the same dog needed for Columbia, SC. The dogs are sent over from Germany, and if they don’t meet his standards, they’re sent back. Hydrick says of King, “he will definitely make the cut, I knew that before his handler came in.”

Irvin is being trained as a handler for King. Irvin and King’s training is done in a combination of settings to prepare them for street duty using vehicle stops, off-site narcotic and patrol building searches. Part of the training consists of an obstacle course and commands training. The obstacle course is designed to test the physical ability of the dog.

A popular part of the training is the biting. The dogs are taught where to bite a criminal. The most crucial part of training is the commands. Officer Irving will not only be trained in English commands for King, but he will speak German and Dutch. This allows Irving to make commands that only King will understand.

Hydrick says it’s important for the dog and the handler to have to bond. Irving says, “ King bonded with me from the time I got here. You can’t describe it.” The training is a month long process. When the training is completed, Irving and King hope to become a true police team.

Reported by:

CraigMurray

Craig graduates in the Spring and plans to continue his career in broadcasting. Last semester, he did an internship with Fox Sports Net in Atlanta. In his spare time he enjoys playing golf, reading and hanging out with friends. His dream job is to be a commercials producer for ESPN.