Bolo and Toben, the city's new police dogs, demonstrated their skills at a
special exhibition Wednesday for one of their biggest supporters,
11-year-old Ashten Howard of Jackson, Mo.

Ashten was treated to an exclusive meeting with the German shepherds because
of her significant donation to the "Pay for the Pup" fund-raising campaign,
promoted through the Southeast Missourian Jr. Overall, $18,074.88 was raised
to acquire the dogs.

The honor-roll student gave up having a birthday party in March and instead
donated $100 to the effort to buy the dogs.

Ashten, who plans to become a veterinarian, made her donation after reading
a newspaper article about the city's need for a new police dog.

The smile on her face widened as she petted Bolo and Toben, and it was
evident that her time with them more than made up for her sacrifice.

The police department was so taken with Ashten's gesture that they gave her
a birthday cake at the demonstration to make up for the one she didn't get
in the spring.

"Probably the best part was getting to see all the training and tracking
that they could do," Ashten said. "I was surprised at how much work they
have to do -- it's tons more than I thought it'd have to be."

Local K-9 trainer Mike Ervin and the dogs' police handlers, Roy Rahn Jr. and
Paul Kesterson, showed Ashten and her parents, Greg and Joan Howard, the
skills Bolo and Toben have learned at Ervin's training facility.

Selected Carefully

Bolo and Toben were imported about two months ago from the Czech Republic
and met their new handlers shortly afterward. Kesterson was paired with Bolo
and Rahn with Toben. The dogs spent two weeks at the officers' homes to
encourage bonding.

Neither dog received any training until arriving at Ervin's facility. Once
there, they were evaluated to see if they had the right temperament to
become police dogs. Both are nearly 2 years old.

"Not just any German shepherd can make it as a police dog," Ervin said. "We
have to test hundreds just to find those that are right for the job."

Large dogs are not ideal for police work, which often takes them into
crowded and tight areas. Bolo and Toben will grow to about 80 pounds each,
making them just the right size for easy maneuvering by their handlers.

Months of Training

Bolo and Toben have been taught many of the skills they'll need, but Ervin
said they will receive training for many months to come as they mature and
learn more about what is expected of them.

They were trained with German commands because it is the most common
language used in the field, Ervin said. In addition, it prevents confusion
if a perpetrator tries to command the dog in English. Because of the close
connection the dogs establish with their handlers, not just anyone can
command them.

"The dogs go not so much on the actual words, than upon the sound of the
words," Ervin said.

Their training includes tracking, defense, criminal apprehension, building
and area searches, narcotics searches and obedience.

Dog training doesn't come without a few mishaps, however, said Ervin, who
has suffered bites and scratches in his 20 years as a trainer.

Kesterson learned this when Bolo nipped his shorts while going after a toy
pipe during the early phase of the dog's training.

"They're just so focused on the pipes because that's their reward,"
Kesterson said.

Ervin considers his work as both training for the dogs and training for
their handlers. Both have to learn the other's behaviors and expectations in
order to be successful and safe.

Demanding Work

Police dogs must have high prey drive for criminal apprehension, and they
need a high hunt drive to find narcotics.

To encourage the hunt drive, training toys are tough, plastic pipes
containing a small amount of narcotics. The dogs become obsessed with the
toy and strongly associate the drug scent with it.

When they are led to a drug search, they are instructed to "find it." When
the dog indicates he has found drugs, the handler rewards him with the toy
and praises him heavily.

Police dogs are protected from coming into physical contact with the small
amount of drugs in their toys. However, they face exposure while working,
and their careers and lives can end if they ingest or inhale the drugs they
find. This is why police dogs are never taken into active methamphetamine
labs, which contain dangerous chemicals, Ervin said.

Cape Girardeau's new Petco store donated a bullet-proof vest for one of the
dogs. The department also has a used vest left behind by Bolo and Toben's
predecessor, Jupp, who retired earlier this year, though his vest may be too
large.