How Dogs Learn, Track, Rescue, and Risk Their Lives for Us: An Experienced Trainer on Man's Best Friend

A police dog named Aki Maki and its handler, Vladan Kovačević, recently located the body of a 27-year-old Russian national in a suitcase. The discovery, made in a difficult-to-access area near Palilula, Serbia, highlighted the critical role of police dogs in investigations. Without Aki Maki, the search would likely have taken much longer, according to Interior Minister Ivica Dačić.

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Without them, the search would probably have lasted longer.

Aki Maki was once Kovačević's pet before joining the Ministry of Interior (MUP) at eight months old. After five years of service together, Kovačević plans to adopt Aki Maki upon his retirement from the force. The MUP's police brigade includes over 60 dogs, with more than 40 actively working. Common breeds include Belgian Malinois, German Shepherds, Labradors, and German Shorthaired Pointers.

The MUP did not respond to requests for specific data on their police dogs, including selection, training duration, and tracking methods. However, Miroslav Tomić, who trains dogs with his wife Mihala at their Agility Bečmen club, offered insights. Tomić, who previously trained dogs for police work, shared that he gifted a police dog about 12 years ago and began his own training journey 20 years ago after wanting to train his own pet.

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We have five years of working and living together.

Tomić explained that while certain breeds like sheepdogs and some hunting breeds are predisposed to tracking due to their strong sense of smell and persistence, breed is not the sole factor. He noted that Labrador retrievers, for instance, can track underwater and are used for research, such as detecting whale feces in the ocean. Selection begins early, with trainers assessing puppies for a pronounced sense of smell, which is crucial for police and rescue dogs.

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It's less about the breed and more about whether the dog has a pronounced sense of smell from a young age.