Define Active Shooter K9™ – A canine trained to focus on targeting an active shooter.

(1st Active Shooter K9™ training video-released 10June2018)

There are many many variables at play here. This line of work is high risk and so is the liability.  In my opinion the pros out way the cons – Neutralizing the threat of an active shooter is a risk for all involved.  Efforts to neutralize an active shooter within the first seconds increases the level of risk without a doubt.  So the question is, is it worth the risk to utilize an Active Shooter K9™ Team within the first 7-12 seconds?  Seconds do count.

Canine Tactical is in the process of developing an Active Shooter K9™ Team with a canine that is not your average working canine or with your average training regiment.  I believe the right combination of a specific elite working canine, an elite handler, and quality training, is the path forward to defeat a dynamic situation with a dynamic fast course of action.  Key word here is fast in an active shooter scenario.  A scenario where every 4 seconds a round is being fired.  The goal or focus is not about just releasing the canine when shots are fired.  This is where the handler becomes the key factor as rounds are going off and students running in hallways screaming, yelling, and it’s chaotic…

(2nd Active Shooter K9™ training video-released 24June2018).

Note the canine remains unaffected by the chaos. The canine is attached by a hip-lead to the handler while they attempt to locate area of the shooter.  The hip-lead used is custom fit and designed by Canine Tactical for this type of situation. http://www.caninetactical.com/shop/hip-lead.php .This hip-lead self-corrects the canine as the handler focuses on the situation at hand.

Handler is training in this clip, never run to a gun fight. The handler is moving with a purpose and is clearing up to the threat incorporating the Morton/Method concept; an operator first mind-set utilized in all CTAC programs.  The operator determines the need to utilize the canine or not. The canine is only used in key areas and most importantly the canine does not dictate the flow.

Key points: Shots fired and the area of shooter is identified… (most school systems teaches the Run/Hide/Fight curriculum), either they are barricaded/contained and/or shooter is relocating to a different area. This where the canine could be deployed.  At this point, typically the extreme chaos has dissipated, “best case”…. It not, panic spreads and/or it is difficult for the handler to identify location of shooter, the canine could still be deployed.  The canine is not unattended.  A properly trained canine can be directed off-leash. Keeping in mind when the canine is off-leash in front of handler, the faster the team arrives to the threat. This is the “Speed is you Security” concept and with the K9 out front leading the charge, the handler can pick up the pace.

Decision to release the canine may reduce the canine’s survival but it could gain seconds, a split-second distraction for the handler to react and neutralize the shooter.  Is the canine’s survival in question?  Yes, the risk of canine’s survival in exchange for saving lives of students and staff.  Where it becomes inhumane, in my opinion, is when the canine is not supported by the handler at all times.

In some areas and after the first crucial 7-12 seconds of the onset of an active shooter there could be multiple LE/operators arrive on scene. The Active Shooter K9™ Team would also be trained in multiple friendly shooter scenarios. This sight picture/training is not taboo.  My experiences as a canine operator included exposure to every multiple friendly on target and the canine utilized by multiple people who support each other.

Just like people support each other.  A method proven successful in very high risk, chaotic, active shooter scenarios which also involved innocent victims of all ages.

CANINE TACTICAL NEWS UPDATE

• CANINE TACTICAL’S THIRD PODCAST ABOUT ACTIVE SHOOTER K9™ WITH WARRIOR MINDSET. http://www.caninetactical.com/categories/active-shooter/

• PRODUCT UPDATE: THE CUSTOM FIT BALLISTIC HARNESS AND THE MOD 3 NOW COME WITH THE COBRA BUCKLES OPTION 2. NOTICE BUCKLE PLACEMENT, ONCE AGAIN, BUYING CANINE TACTICAL PRODUCTS, GIVES THE CUSTOMER THE ADVANTAGE OF MY EXPERIENCES. IF YOU’VE NEVER BEEN THERE, THEN TRUST SOMEONE WHO HAS. http://www.caninetactical.com/shop/ballistic-vest-two.php

• CANINE  EUDORIS®10 @ 10 MONTHS OLD PASSED CERTIFICATION AND IS WORKING THE STREETS. UPDATED DEPLOYMENTS http://www.caninetactical.com/categories/brands/?id=1

• THIS GROUP IS ALMOST FINISHED UP WITH CTAC LEVEL IV. MORE IN FORMATION ON CTAC. http://www.caninetactical.com/categories/civilian-tactical/

• CANINE TACTICAL WILL BE ATTENDING THE WORKING DOG CONFERENCE IN ST.LOUIS, MO., JULY 16TH – 18TH, BOOTH #6. 

• CANINE TACTICAL WILL ALSO BE ATTENDING HITS 2018 IN WASHINGTON D.C. AUGUST 14 – 17, BOOTH# 135.