The Sheriff’s Department is getting two new bomb-sniffing dogs.
The latest recruits, yellow Labradors Nalla and Dexter, still have training and a battery of tests to pass but could begin working in the field in about six weeks.
The department already has two explosive-sniffing dogs, who are trained to detect the presence of commercial and improvised explosive devices through their keen sense of smell. They are among 26 other K-9s working in the Sheriff’s Department — mostly on patrol duty.
Red Labradors Bear and Archer, the department’s first explosive detection K-9s, were selected earlier this year from the Pacific Coast K9 facility in Washington. The dogs were then certified in San Diego in April as part of a 10-week in-house detection program.
Each dog costs an estimated $7,000 to $9,000 and is funded by donations through the Honorary Deputy Sheriff’s Association, sheriff’s officials said.
The explosive specialty dogs join others working in several departments across San Diego, including Harbor Police Department, Metropolitan Transportation System and San Diego State University.
While many police dogs fulfill a variety of policing roles, including detecting narcotics and apprehending suspected criminals, explosive detection K-9s are single-purpose police dogs. They train with toy rewards for navigating obstacles, identifying objects and demonstrating relentlessness.
Explosive detection canines are often deployed in cases involving search warrants and gathering evidence. They can also conduct sweeps of large areas following bomb threats, said Deputy Jovonni Silva.
One of the most important steps of training K-9s is ensuring that the dog and the handler are a good fit. Deputy Darryl Patmon said the department works “overtime” to pick the right people.
“We go off the personality of the dog, the personality of the handler,” Patmon said. “We want to put the best team out there as possible, so you’re not only reading the dogs. You also have to understand who the handler is and what they can tell and bring to the team.”
Patmon said he bonds with his dog, Dexter, by playing soft country music by the likes of Luke Combs, Garth Brooks and Charley Pride. Deputy Thomas Nelson, Nalla’s handler, said he connected with his dog because of their shared “low-key” personalities.
“When you’re training with them, you’re interacting with them (and) you’re constantly with them, so you’re building that bond and that relationship with them,” Nelson said. “It’s 24/7. They’re with us all the time. Even when we’re not working, they’re still with us.”
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