Things that K-9 Handlers should think about...

The Dog

As we have always taught our handlers ~ do not feed/water (you can give a very small amount of water) before or after strenuous activity wait a few hours.  Do not overfeed your dog, feed larger total daily amounts in smaller portions.  Bloat or torsion (Gastric Dilatation/Volvulus) can kill your dog! Read more here...

http://www.doglogic.com/bloat.htm

http://www.kifka.com/Elektrik/Bloat.htm#Condition

What your weren't taught as a Handler you may want to do research of your own ~ about dogs in general, - health, nutrition, first aid, etc... it is now your responsibility.  You are taking care of a living being, and it is now your duty, even if you don't get paid to do some of it.

The working dog

• If you have an outdoor kennel with no heat you can bring your dog inside a heated area but put it into a crate do not allow it to run around in the house or garage.
• Do not treat your K-9 like a pet, it is not a pet! It should not be inside the house running around, it should not be on the trampoline with the kids, and your wife or daughter should not be taking it for walks.
• It shouldn't be off leash just because you have the control, (hopefully you do have off leash control) if it doesn't need to be off the leash, don't have it off the leash (i.e. going from the department to the car to load up into the vehicle) watch out for the poodle coming around the corner! If there is a chance something bad can happen why take the risk??????
• Never let anyone take the leash of your K-9.  If you would not allow anyone to take/handle your gun why in Gods name would you give them your K-9?
• Can you imagine how you would feel if you broke your dog?  You can destroy all the work that has gone into training the K-9, you can get a person bit, you can get your dog killed, can bring a lawsuit to you and your department. Think about it.
• Do not have 2 dogs out at one time.  If a K-9 is out of the vehicle and you want to get yours out, let the other handler know first.
• Do not let your K-9 off the leash if another one is out, unless the other K-9 handler knows about it. Then you better have damn good control. People can get hurt! (I know I took one because someone did not follow this rule)