KNPV - Not Barking Under Gunfire

CCPROTECTIONDOGS.COM

We've all seen someone jump at the sound of a balloon popping, or the classic prank of bursting a paper bag next to an unwitting friend, but few people realise the importance of understanding our reactions to loud noises, and how working dogs might react to these noises. There are many people who have never heard the sound of a gunshot in their lives. They may understand what a gun is, and that it makes a loud noise, but hearing that sound for the first time is almost guaranteed to be a nerve-wracking experience. Now imagine how a canine might react, having no knowledge of what a gun is, or what it might sound like. The sound of gunfire immediately provokes fear and confusion in many animals. However, conditioning Working Dogs to remain focused during gunfire is something that hunters and police officers have been doing for centuries.

The sport of KNPV recognizes the need for a dog that can remain calm during gunfire, and includes exercises which are designed to test a dog's reaction to gunfire. The most basic exercise is simply training the dog not to bark during while using firearms. The most natural reaction for a dog to have in response to loud noises is to bark. This makes training a dog not to bark during firearms exercises exceptionally difficult, but it's certainly not impossible. However, good training is only one side of the equation. It is extremely important for a dog to have strong nerves, as it will make a calm and controlled reaction to frightening noises that much easier to achieve. It is for this reason that police Personal Protection Dogs are specifically bred to have strong nerves.

It is commendable of KNPV to include exercises, such as not barking under gunfire, which test the needs of working police dogs. Of all dog sports, KNPV comes the closest to mimicking real life scenarios with its exercises. However, one should always remember that KNPV is just a sport. True Protection Dogs should be trained for protection work in the real world, not for sport.