Sheldon, Iowa — Sheldon has gone to the dogs…..police dogs, that is.
Narcotics detection dogs, along with their human partners, from a several hundred mile radius are in Sheldon this week to take part in a three-day drug detection training course.
The course is conducted by a Florida firm and is designed specifically to address issues and concerns that arise during the deployment of detector dogs.
The course promises to take drug-detection human and K-9 teams beyond illegal drug odor recognition to ensure that the environments in which the teams work and the novel odors around them have no influence on the dog’s ability to accurately search and alert.
The event began Monday at the Crossroads Pavilion with a classroom-only session. On Tuesday morning, the group, both human and K-9, underwent training on the ball diamonds at the City Park. They’re scheduled for more training in the Crossroads Pavilion parking lot as the course proceeds, according to Sheldon Police Chief Scott Burtch.
Pictured above: Sheldon Police Officer Eric Meinecke and his K-9 partner Balin (Photo courtesy of the Sheldon Police Department)
Pictured below: K-9 officers listen to their instructor at the Sheldon City Park ball diamond during Tuesday morning’s session. (KIWA Staff photo)
