Last June 2000, SK9C Trainers Noel M. Austria, James R. Tan and Tessa M. Daza, together with friend Royce Cruz visited the beautiful city of Gent in Belgium for a NVBK training seminar. It was a memorable experience not only because of the training knowledge that they gained, but also for the priviledge of watching the "Grote Prijs de Provincies" (Grand Prix) where the top Belgian Mechelaars in the 5 regions of Belgium competed
It was NVBK President and Judge Germain Pauwels and his lovely wife Mary Ann who mentored the SK9C trio. They also got a taste of NVBK training by joining the training routine in the Club where Germain trains, the Eeklo Club. Narcotic detection training was also thaught by Germain and Police Officer Willy.
NVBK dogs are trained to do sport routine exercise in order to teach control and discipline. They know that when inside the ring, they must tolerate other people around while doing the exercises. Outside the ring, they show the same control and discipline, but, make no mistake about it... do not attempt to fool around with its handler and this dogs are ready to attack, with or without bite suit. No wonder, this dogs can easily adopt into police work or personal protection work.
(Photo) Tessa Daza receiving final instructions from Eeklo head trainer Carlos (in red -shirt)
Dogs in the NVBK program are trained for approximately 2 years before entering the trial. The victory or failure of the dog in the trial rests solely in the shoulder of the handler. The handler must be responsible enough to prepare the dog well before entering a trial.
(Photo) Tessa feeling the bite of a 10-year old retired NVBK dog, now working as an active police dog in Gent. Handler is Police Officer Willy (in blue jeans).
In the NVBK program, the dog is tested not only on the character and quality of the bite, but also its ability to use its sense of smell. There is an exercise in the program where the dog has to look and retrieve an object that has the scent of its handler's hand.
This is an indication that an NVBK dog has the potential to be re-trained for sniffing and other scent related works.
(Photo) Ouch! James Tan felt like he's hit by a boxer's punch on this guard the object with muzzle exercise.
In the Object Guard with muzzle exercise, the decoy uses a thick vest with layers of foam padding to protect his chest or ribs from injury. This dogs are trained to hit hard that it can lift the decoy's two feet on impact.
(Photo) Noel A. doing civil agitation on a 10-year old NVBK dog that was retired from the ring with a Category 1 title.
Despite being trained for sport all its life, this dog now works as an effective perimeter guard dog on this car sales garage in Gent, Belgium. The said car sales garage employs the services of 3 retired NVBK dogs aged 10 to 11 years old. This are what they termed as "the real dogs". (This dogs are approximately 90 to 100 lbs in weight and are as quick as a cat).
