Riad is one "good dog" -- or so he was told repeatedly by his handler and others participating in a recent training exercise on the grounds of the former Mayview State Hospital in South Fayette.

The 4-year-old, 80-pound German shepherd was locked on a "suspect" he had tracked for several minutes through empty rooms in a dilapidated building. Riad had resisted smells and objects designed to distract him, and now he leaped in the air, snapping at the protective sleeve of the "suspect" --- in this case, a police officer who bravely agreed to hide on top of a 6-foot-tall bookcase. It's a party every time Riad makes such a find. While his handler, Officer Jim Fleckenstein,

Castle Shannon police officer Jim Fleckenstein poses with Riad at the police station on McRoberts Road.

barked orders in German --
Riad's native language -- to instruct him to halt the attack, the room broke out in squeals of delight. Everyone rushed to pet the police dog, who was eager for his reward -- a little love and a rope chew toy. He savored it all.

Although Riad is trained to attack suspects if necessary, he has never had to do so in the two years he has partnered with Officer Fleckenstein as one of two K-9 teams in the Castle Shannon Police Department.

These days, K-9 units are as much good will ambassadors for their towns as they are useful police tools.

Not just for biting anymore
In the mid-1970s, when Pittsburgh-area police introduced the use of dogs, they were considered weapons.

"In 1977, the dogs just had to bite," said James "Pat" Moloney, a master trainer certified by the North American Police Work Dog Association and operator of Moloney's K-9 Academy in Penn Hills.

A retired Penn Hills Police Department canine expert, Mr. Moloney said the requirements for police dogs, now referred to as K-9 units, are much different today.

Because they are active members of the police force -- most wear badges -- the dogs need to be prepared for everything from detecting narcotics and chasing down suspects to visiting local schools and posing for pictures on demand.

The dogs are used to educate young people about drugs. They visit nursing homes, patrol malls and main streets -- and are almost always the star attraction wherever they go.

The dogs are even depicted on collectible trading cards, with photos and statistics of the canines and their human partners. The dogs get top billing.

"It used to be that about the only time children saw a police officer is when mommy or daddy got pulled over," said Jim Watson, national secretary of the North American Police Work Dog Association, which is based in Perry, Ohio. "Now, the kids would rarely know my name, but they would never forget the dog's name."

But it isn't all about perception.

Most police dogs today are trained for dual purposes: They are utility animals that can track, search and protect, and they have a secondary skill, such as detecting bombs, narcotics or bodies.

"Now, 95 percent of their use is through the nose, not the mouth," Mr. Watson said.

While police dogs aren't motivated by food -- they work strictly for praise and toys -- fire dogs are given food rewards as part of their training.

Coal, an 8-year-old, 80-pound black Labrador retriever, has been with the Allegheny County Fire Marshal office for seven years, under the direction of K-9 handler and Chief Deputy Donald Brucker.

Coal -- as do police dogs -- lives with his handler and his family, but his work is much different.

Coal was provided and trained by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives as an accelerant detection dog.

From an early age, the dog was "imprinted" with the scents of hydrocarbons, such as gasoline, diesel fuel, lighter fluid and paint thinner, Chief Deputy Brucker said.

Unlike mechanical devices that can be used to detect accelerants in fires and explosions, Coal can distinguish between burned items that were made with petroleum-based products, such as plastics and seat cushions, and those that were covered with an ignitable compound to set them on fire.
Labrador retrievers most often are used as fire dogs for their ability to adapt to various environments and their work drive, Chief Deputy Brucker said.

Bred to work
The ideal police dog, according to Mr. Moloney, is one with a strong prey instinct, a suitable maturity level and the ability to bond with a handler.

"I'm looking for a dog who won't quit," Mr. Moloney said. "If you throw a tennis ball in the bushes and it's over his head, he shouldn't quit until he finds it."

German shepherds are the most common breed used, Mr. Watson said, making up about 67 percent of the nearly 40,000 police dogs that have been certified by his organization. The Belgian Malinois, similar to the German shepherd, makes up another 30 percent, with the remaining 3 percent consisting mostly of Labs.

Almost all American police dogs hail from Europe, especially Germany, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands, where dog breeding and exporting are big industries.

Breeding operations in Europe tap larger gene pools than those in the U.S. and focus mainly on quality, not quantity, Mr. Watson said.

The body type and genetic instincts so favored in top police dogs have been bred out of most American dogs, according to Mr. Watson.

"Where we made a mistake is in breeding for show," he said. "We breed for looks, and it's a shame because we've ruined the breed."

Breeding two superior dogs doesn't guarantee their pups will perform well, he said.

Most of the European dogs exported to the U.S. have been "green" trained, meaning they have basic skills, can understand commands in their native tongue and have shown promise as potential police dogs.

That's when trainers like Mr. Moloney step in, helping police handlers select the most appropriate dog for their individual personality and needs.

The dog will bond with one handler, who will be its sole source of food and affection. The dog lives with its handler, often in settings that include other pets and children. Generally, the dog maintains the commands in its native language, which the handler will learn. The dog will respond only to its handler's commands and will serve and protect its handler to the exclusion of all else.

Police dogs can be around one another, but they cannot live or play together because each dog must maintain an "alpha" status to effectively do its job. When they retire, the dogs continue to live with the same families as pets.

Although most states, including Pennsylvania, do not require police dog certification, the majority of on-the-job dogs are certified by the North American Police Work Dog Association or other agencies for legal reasons.

Mr. Watson has been called hundreds of times to testify about training procedures and is recognized as an expert by courts, including at the federal level, throughout the U.S.

To be certified by the work dog association, dogs must complete a 400-hour, 10-week intensive training course given by master trainers, such as Mr. Moloney, followed by ongoing training.

The exercise at Mayview was part of the ongoing training provided by Mr. Moloney, who works with 22 local police departments, emergency responders and search and rescue teams.

The law
Ten years ago, the state Legislature made it a felony to taunt or torment a police animal, with a fine of up to $15,000 and a maximum sentence of seven years in jail.

Though some have complained about inconsistent enforcement, the intention to protect police dogs is clear.

Two years ago, defense lawyer James M. Ecker raised objections when his client, Kenneth King, was held in jail for nine days because he could not meet a $100,000 bail after being arrested on charges he swore at and threatened to "shank" Pittsburgh police K-9 Benny.

Though Mr. King eventually was released on his own recognizance after agreeing to go to anger management classes, Mr. Ecker complained that the bail was higher than the amount for people who have been charged with rape or other violent crimes.

In May 2008, the parents of an Allentown man threatened to sue the City of Pittsburgh when their son, Justin Jackson, 19, was shot and killed by Pittsburgh police after he opened fire on their K-9 partner, Aulf, and killed the German shepherd.

Paying their way
Although police departments nationwide have been feeling the economic pinch with layoffs and program cutbacks, K-9 units have been largely immune because most are cost-efficient, saving man hours during searches and bringing home the bacon when it comes to drugs and drug money.

Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. has brought that concept full circle, donating $438,572 in drug forfeiture funds to local departments to help offset the cost of the dogs, their training and their equipment, which can reach $20,000.

Most municipalities fund the cost of food, veterinary care and other expenses, but many, like Mt. Lebanon, also get those items donated by local merchants. The departments also rely on the good will and donations of the community at large.

Mr. Zappala's grants work in concert with those from Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who donates $100,000 a year through his foundation to K-9 units and charities in Pittsburgh and his hometown of Findlay, Ohio.

Grants of up to $8,000 each also are given to emergency responders in towns where the Steelers play each season. Mr. Roethlisberger, a self-professed "dog lover," said he and his father, Ken, came up with the idea when the police dog in his hometown was killed.

Also supported through corporate and private donations, the foundation has distributed nearly $500,000 to K-9 units and charities since 2007.

Mr. Roethlisberger, who owns a Bernese Mountain dog and a Rottweiler, said he hopes to sponsor fundraisers soon to expand the foundation to include more police and fire departments and more charities. Interviewed this month at training camp at Saint Vincent College near Latrobe, Mr. Roethlisberger said he was thankful to be able to continue the foundation, now in its fourth grant cycle.

"We think it's such a huge thing to help not only police officers but the whole community," he said.

Riad, with Castle Shannon police Officer Jim Fleckenstein, is part of a K-9 unit that can detect narcotics and chase down suspects in addition to visiting local schools and posing for pictures with youngsters.

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