Security dogs at the Supreme Court caught the attention of many Kenyans on Wednesday, August 31, as the hearing of the presidential petition kicked off.
While sniffer dogs are common in security operations, little is known about the special care that the canines get in order to perform their crucial roles.
The dogs undergo rigorous training and enjoy a rich balanced diet to qualify them for the job.
At the entrance, the trained dogs sniff through the luggage to detect explosives, weapons, and other illegal items.
How does this training and maintenance take place?
Speaking to a dog expert, Samuel Kibunyi, Kenyans.co.ke established that these dogs are on daily rice and chicken diet complemented by dry food products.
According to Kibunyi, during an outdoor activity, the dogs are fed the dry products often bought from pet stores in small quantities. He referred to the foods as snacks for the dogs.
"The dry foods are measured in small quantities when the dogs are outside. They incorporate supplements like calcium, fatty acids, and omega acids," he explained.
In addition, he said that calcium was a common supplement that helps build strong bones, especially the two hind legs. Further, the omega acids help maintain the shine and health of the dog coat.
He pointed out that several breeds are used as sniffers by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) including the Labrador Retriever, the Golden Retriever, the Malinois, the German Shepherd, and the Cocker Spaniel.
The expert noted that the dogs undergo several stages of training, obedience, detection, and security. In the obedience stage, the canine is trained to listen and obey each command given by the trainer.
In the detection stage, they are taught to identify explosives, firearms, or other illegal substances. Kibunyi stated that the dogs can detect the gun 'odour' up to a week after a person made contact with the firearm.
However, he stated that not all sniffer dogs advance to the security stage. In case such a dog detects illegal items, it alerts the police or handler. However, in case it is trained on security, the dog will take action.
Kibunyi explained that it costs Ksh600-Ksh1,000 per hour to train a dog. The training is scheduled for 3 days a week for 3 months.
Still, in training, Kibunyi noted that dogs undergo a refresher course to revisit previous lessons.
Another cost incurred to maintain these dogs includes vaccinations that begin 10-12 weeks after they are born. Also, an anti-rabies vaccine is administered every year.
All dogs are dewormed every three months, for every 10Kgs the dog gets one tablet.
Purebred dogs are also required to be registered under the East Africa Kennel Club (EAKC). A club member registers each puppy for Ksh2,000 while a non-member is charged Ksh3,000.
All registered dogs are chipped to keep track of their location. Kibunyi stated that the rice-grain-sized chip is implanted near the neck of the canine.
The sniffer dogs can work all day or alternate shifts with other canines.
Eventually, Kibunyi noted that the hounds work for a limited period and when the time comes for ‘retirement’, they are sent to different homes.
"The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) often advertises for anyone seeking to adopt a dog and these dogs get new homes," Kibunyi added.
