Fairfax County Police Department News

Tucker and Penny graduated from their 16-week K-9 training program last week. These two black labs are brother and sister and they have spent the last four months learning basic search techniques and explosive odors. Part of the Fairfax County Police Department’s Explosive Detection Team, they are now assigned to human partners who will continue their behavioral training.

Tucker and Penny were trained with food reward methodology, meaning that the dogs are given food reward when they detect explosives and give the proper “alert” to their handler. This form of training is extremely effective as well as time-intensive. Handlers and canines spent the entire 16 weeks together, working seven days a week, 24-hours-day, with the exception of sleep.

The dogs joined K-9s Moose and Marco who are already part of the Team. Moose and Marco graduated from their training program in July 2010. The squad has had these K-9 teams since the early 1970’s.

All four dogs came to the police department from the “Puppies Behind Bars” program. (http://www.puppiesbehindbars.com/explosive-detection-canine-program)

This program works with inmates in various facilities in the Northeast who are trained to raise service dogs for wounded war veterans and explosive detection for law enforcement. (Learn more about this program at http://www.puppiesbehindbars.com/home.)

Welcome Penny and Tucker!