I visit Paramount Specialized K9 Solutions...where Cortac train their dog teams.

      

 Back on my trusty steed again

In this particular case,
I visited  Paramount Specialized K9 Solutions,
under the watchful eye of Henry Holsthyzen
where Cortac (together with other companies)
 train their dog teams.

This company is one of the two proactive
security firms tasked with keeping our suburb free of crime


The next generation of guard dog?
This puppy got tired and bored(?) very quickly
and had to be carried around by its owner for most of the morning!


The training school is off the beaten track in the mountains near Johannesburg.


I was here to watch the Cortac team being put through its paces.
Aside from being utilized in the urban environment,
the Cortac dog teams are also deployed to various mines.

I had witnessed this dog agility training before.
It is usually what the public get to see at the Rand Show
and similar events.


Using their highly trained sense of smell,'
the dogs were able to find the "hidden" items with ease.
Good for tracking skills, when scent is all they have to rely on


They get a reward, in this case a ball,
after every exercise completed satisfactorily


Some of the dogs are being trained to find Rhino horn.
In this instance a small bottle of horn shavings was hidden
in the engine compartment of the car.
It was discovered within seconds.


As for poachers...
The dogs and their handlers to ambush exercises.
In this instance, both are wearing camouflage
and I was unable to spot them before they broke cover
and arrested this "suspect".


Another way of detaining poachers, long line tracking.
One again, the dog gets his suspect.


This is the part of the Cortac team that Linden might get to see a lot of.
Viper with handler Laurence.


I actually thought of donning this bite suit,
until I saw what the dogs did to it...
And then I changed my mind REALLY quickly.
Leave it to the professionals...


Viper gets his man.


Even if you are hiding in a car,
that does not deter the dog from jumping through an open window.


The Cortac team...


Vicky, with handler Nkosi showing how it is done.
And before I hear complaints about "animal cruelty",
the stick being wielded is soft plastic pipe.
From what I observed, it caused NO harm to the dog.


This is Sukela with Siphiso...
We just could not get the dog to bare his teeth.
Quiet but deadly is how he was described.


Vicky showing her fangs...
Nkosi is careful to stay behind.


And last, but by no means least...
Laurence and Viper.
At no stage was I allowed to interact with the dogs.
In fact they are actively discouraged from becoming too friendly.
They do not even get to play with each other,
as they are NOT pets, but are working animals.


My time was up and I left as Viper was chasing a ball.
I was very impressed with what I saw.
It is a professionally run organization
that uses dogs( mainly Belgian Malinois)
that have a "passion" for this type of work.
To find out more about what Cortac can offer its unban clients,
visit their website:
www.cortac.co.za

  

And that is all I have to say...

Until the next time.