CaRDS canine and handler teams consist of purpose bred dogs, usually Patterdale or Jagdterriers, and well trained, experienced handlers. Some of our people are retired from professions such as law enforcement, the military or government agency where they trained and handled working K-9s. We breed and home raise our puppies so that they are well trained and socialized from birth. Like most working canines, they live at home with their handlers as a part of a family. Each handler has one or more dogs, often alternating them in the course of a work day.
The Patterdale and Jagdterrier breeds have always been bred to control vermin in a variety of situations. Both breeds are noted for their natural tenacity in pursuit of quarry. The dogs average 22 pounds in weight and are constructed in such a way that they can easily navigate the narrow spaces between pallets. That close proximity of the pallets actually concentrates the scent and, combined with the size and agility of the dogs, makes it possible to search a large area in a comparatively short time period.
We raise domestic mice which are used for initial training and later these same mice are used on each working day to “validate” the dogs’ responses. Since the dogs are actually hunting for mice (rather than doing “scent detection” that is more common among narcotics and explosives dogs) they are able to work longer hours with greater efficiency.
Each dog is meticulously examined by a veterinarian and carries a full panel of current inoculations. We have enough dogs available so that we are always able to deploy a full working team as scheduled or even in response to a rapid request. Each dog has a long exercise period before daily deployment to lessen the chance of eliminating in the warehouse.
The dogs indicate the presence of rodents, whether mice or rats, by actually attempting to reach them in or under the pallet. They are able to differentiate between nests deep within the pallet or “runners” which are rodents on the move, either as a result of the dogs’ efforts or natural migration. Although dispatching rodents isn’t our primary purpose, anything on the move that comes to the dogs’ attention doesn’t have much of a future.