The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
WORKING DOG WEEKEND
This annual event celebrates another side of man’s best friend
Dogs are a large part of our world, both as companions and as workers, Lake Metroparks Farmpark Event Manager Andy McGovern said.
The latter was on display during Working Dog Weekend held June 11 and 12 at the Farmpark in Kirtland.
“We want to show that dogs are not pets,” McGovern said.
Among the working roles on display were K9 dogs.
K9 officers Dan Hirz of Willowick, Terry Wurgler of Mentor and Brian O’Toole of Fairport Harbor gave presentations throughout the weekend along with their patrol dogs.
Hirz is currently working with his second K9, Jäger.
“A lot of people want to know how we get the dogs to learn the
“We want to show that dogs are not pets.” — Event Manager Andy McGovern
dogs to smell narcotics,” Hirz told the crowd gathered in the arena June 12.
It’s simpler than it sounds, Hirz said.
“What we do is we include their toy with the source of the odor,” he said. “Of course they know what their toy smells like and they want their toy, so they look for it. They start associating their toy with that odor.”
The three officers provided a demonstration of obedience and answered questions from the audience.
Hirz said that obedience is the basis of all that they do with their K9s.
The K9s come home with the officers at the end of the day, like a family pet.
“That’s part of what makes them so sociable,” Hirz said.
Even after the initial training program, training continues as long as the dog is working as a K9. The officers said there is training twice a month and each year they have to pass a certification.
The three dogs on display during the demonstration were male, but Hirz said female dogs also work as K9s. K9s are selected based on their personalities.
The use of K9 force on a suspect is just below using deadly force, Hirz said.
“So it has to be a pretty serious situation,” he said. “It has to be an act of violence, it has to be a felony warrant, something that warrants that kind of force to get them under police custody. You couldn’t do it just because someone ran from the police. You couldn’t just send the dog out unless you knew that guy had a warrant.”
The officers also give K9 demonstrations in their own communities throughout the year. Hirz said that he has quarterly demonstrations at the Willowick library. Wurgler said he is constantly having his dog, Titan, walk through the Great Lakes Mall. It teaches kids not to be afraid of the dog, he said.
Other Working Dog Weekend events included therapy dogs, Siberian Husky sled dog clubs and water rescue demonstrations form Hampton Hills Newfoundlands.
“They truly are man’s best friend,” McGovern said.