SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KTIV) -
Dogs are considered man's best friend, but they can be a crook's worst enemy. And, some of the best are training in Sioux City.
Police dogs undergo rigorous training to get certified. Woodbury County Sheriff Deputy Sergeant Jim Bauerly has had Bosco, a Belgian malinois, since he was 9-weeks-old. Bauerly trained Bosco for months before he was certified with the U-S Police Canine Association and able to go out on patrol. Each year, Bosco undergoes testing so he can get recertified to measure his level of performance. "We use them to locate evidence such as drugs, or evidence such as a gun, and evidence to locate people," Sergeant Jim Bauerly said.
Bosco is trained to go on patrol and to find drugs. To get his new certification, he and the other dogs will be tested on obedience, agility, suspect and article search, and apprehension. They must earn at least 490 points out of 700 to pass. But not all of them do. "A dog can have a bad day just like a human and it might not make it," Bauerly said.
The trials at Chautauqua Park in Sioux City also serve as a friendly competition between the various departments from Iowa and Minnesota taking place. The teams with the top 3 highest overall scores earn a trophy. But, the reward these dogs are looking forward to most is simple... either a toy, or praise from their handlers. "They're doing this for fun, they don't realize that it's dangerous and that they could be killed."
Bauerly says Bosco has done very well, and he's hopeful they'll finish among the top teams. Certification and field trials continue Thursday morning at 8:00am, and the public is welcome to come and watch.
