Long hours, less perks make police dog trainers a rare breed

Bengaluru: The heartwarming tale of constable Thimmarayappa and police dog Lalu is the stuff bestsellers are made of. Diagnosed with prostatic hyperplasia, a condition where cells of the organ have abnormal growth, the Doberman recovered because of Thimmarayappa's love and care. Lalu went on to compete against elite canine units to win the silver at the all-India police duty meet last year.
Canines like Lalu are in the forefront of state police contingents not only at ceremonial parades and duty meets but also during contingency situations. Last month when a suspicious package triggered panic in Sadashivnagar, the dog squad was the first to be rushed to the spot.
The cause of concern for police, however, is not dogs but their trainers, which are becoming hard to find. At present, the police department has 240 trainers; they are cops who are recruited to perform policing duties and later deputed to canine units. Unlike other deputations, a stint in the canine unit can last as long as a decade depending on the dog's lifespan.
Motivating young recruits to join dog squads is a tough task, say police officers. "Some volunteer because of their love for the animal, but the number is small," said Bhaskar Rao, additional director general of police, crime and technical services, adding that the job is very demanding.
Training begins as early as 7am and the dog squad is always on call. From identifying signs to understand what the canine is trying to convey to running long distances along with sniffer dogs, trainers don't have it easy.
Getting a transfer from the units is difficult because a trainer and dog are seen as a team from the beginning. A dog's training begins when it is a pup, and it gets attached to the trainer. All the trainers are provided housing quarters in areas where the dogs are stationed. The attachment even affects their personal lives, some trainers admit.
Senior police officials said the number of those volunteering to work in canine units is coming down. But no questions are asked and orders on postings to the units are promptly followed. The department is now trying to attract more volunteers as it plans to expand the canine force. More incentives for staffers and two trainers for a dog are among the proposals in the pipeline.
NO MEAN FEAT
Getting trainers is becoming difficult because these men don't get to do much when it comes to policing. Besides, working in the canine units is very taxing in terms of the number of hours
Bhaskar Rao, additional director general of police, crime and technical services