• MOD home
• defence for...
• about defence
• defence news
• A - Z index
• contact us
• help

Search defence:

Search Scope:

Defence

About Defence

Dog Assessment

Dog Assessment
Once the telephone assessment has taken place and your dog has been accepted for a visit on of the Defence Animal Centre (DAC) will come and see your dog in your home at a time and date convenient for you.

Firstly the assessor will take your dog out into the garden or another suitable area and play with a ball with the dog.  This is so that we can see if the dog has any drive for the ball and to establish some trust between the dog and trainer. It is important for us that the dog likes to play with a toy as this is what is used as a reward for the dog during its training.

If the dog can enthusiastically retrieve a ball we will look at making the exercise a little harder for the dog.  This is completed by holding the dog on its collar, throwing the ball out of sight and then encouraging the dog to search for it.

Dogs that are to be considered for Police or Protection work a padded tug toy called a 'dolly' is used. The dog will be encouraged to paly fetch and tug of war with the trainer.

Finally  the trainer will check that the dog is willing to accept a muzzle, as all of our dogs are muzzled when they are groomed or visit the Veterinary Hospital. This is done by simply slipping the dog's nose into the muzzle a couple of times and observing the dog's reaction to this.

Once the trainer has carried out these checks and if the dog has been successful he may be considered for acceptance into the Services.  If the dog is accepted by the assessor it will be taken to the Dog Procurement Cell at the DAC, where it will be introduced to kennel life. After a few days of settling in one of the Veterianry Officers will carry out a thorough examination of the dog including X-rays of the hips and elbows to ensure the dog is fit enough to begin training.