Dog Parks Mn

DNR police dog has a nose for the job

Somewhere in the knee-high grasses, Scott Staples had tossed a disarmed handgun. It was a jungle in there.

Now it was Schody’s turn to find the weapon and return it to Staples, a Department of Natural Resources conservation officer from Cloquet. The dog hadn’t seen Staples throw the gun.

“Get it!” Staples said.

Schody, a 1-year-old German shepherd, is the newest addition to the DNR’s K-9 staff. He and Staples, 38, have just completed 10 weeks of police-dog training in Brooklyn Park, Minn.

Schody, 60 pounds of focused canine, darted into the cover at Chambers Grove Park on the St. Louis River in Duluth. He weaved left and right, seeking scent.

“Their noses are just phenomenal,” Staples said.

Schody had all but disappeared in the grasses, but you could see him now, working in a tighter pattern, homing in on the scent. He is trained to find human scent — in this case Staples’ — on any article he’s searching for.

Nose lower and lower now, Schody paused, then pounced. Up he came, the black handgun held gently in his powerful jaws. He trotted out of the heavy grass and straight to Staples’ side.

“Out,” Staples commanded.

Schody dropped the firearm into the officer’s waiting hand.

Serious investment

Staples, who patrols about 600 square miles in Carlton County, is one of just two Minnesota conservation officers assigned a K-9 companion. The other is Travis Muyres of Ham Lake, Minn.

Staples and several other officers had put in for a dog, and Staples was fortunate enough to be chosen. He is well-respected among DNR officers and has been nominated multiple times for Conservation Officer of the Year. He had never trained a dog of any kind before.

At his police-dog training this past spring, Schody learned tracking skills, article search and apprehension and protection. This fall, Schody and Staples will go to detector school, where Schody will learn to find evidence such as fish and game.

K-9 working dogs don’t come cheaply. Schody was acquired from Slovakia for $7,000. But the DNR doesn’t pay for the dogs. The K-9 program is funded through donations, said conservation officer Todd Kanieski of Dayton, Minn., who supervises the K-9 unit. Schody’s costs were paid for through a donation from Safari Club International, Staples said.

German shepherds from Europe are chosen for their drive and their compatibility with humans, Staples said.

Sit Means Sit Dog Training,Indoor Dog Park, Dog Daycare,Pet ...

Ryan Paddock, head trainer and owner of Sit Means Sit Minneapolis, has trained and handled dogs for many years. Ryan has served in the US Navy for 4 years and has been training military working dogs since 2005. He has developed green dogs (untrained working dogs), protection dogs and both narcotic and explosive detection canines. Ryan worked in various locations in the Middle East, and has conducted numerous VIP sweeps for high-ranking US Armed Forces officials. Ryan is certified as a Narcotic Dog Handler, Explosive Dog Handler, and as a Patrol/Attack Dog Handler, and now looks forward to applying his considerable experience and results to bettering the pet dogs and owners in his community. Our mission is to provide training programs that result in a happy, confident and satisfied owner, as well as a happy, confident, and obedient dog. After all, the first step in enjoying a long, rewarding relationship with your dog is effective training that lasts a lifetime. To do this, we’ve created programs that not only train your dog quickly but also teach you how to control your dog at all times, even in severe distractions; the REAL world!

Traveling with Your Pet, The AAA Pet Book

Dog Park Wisdom, Real-world Advice on Choosing, Caring For, and Understanding Your Canine Companion: Easyread Large Edition

Moon Minnesota Camping, The Complete Guide to Tent and RV Camping

County Parks of Minnesota, 300 Parks You Can Visit Featuring 25 Favorites

Dog Park, The Musical