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Dewey dog trainers polish police canine for
Yavapai-Apache Nation Police
By Laura Flood
Prescott Valley Tribune

“Denny,” the police dog utilizes tough love. Denny, trained at a kennel in Dewey, loves his work and his handler, so he is tough when he needs to be and he backs off and shows a congenial attitude when the trainer requests it.

Robert Wager is the lucky policeman with the Yavapai-Apache Nation in Camp Verde, who just became Denny’s new handler. Denny will assist him throughout his day, intercepting illegal drug trafficking in his area, Cottonwood and Rimrock. He will also help Wager apprehend criminals who try to flee and protect him from an attack.

New police dog Denny attacks the arm of trainer Ray Farber in an exercise to educate his new handler. The Yavapai-Apache Nation police department bought the Belgian Malinois from Farbenholt Kennels in Dewey to work with Officer Robert Wager. Wager is learning the commands and handling techniques to utilize Denny’s extensive training in narcotics detection and protection.

Denny is completely trained and polished to perform these tasks. Now it’s time to train Wager to appropriately handle him through a six-week session at Farbenholt Kennels, Dog Training Division, in Dewey, owned and operated by Ray Farber and Jeri Holton. Although Wager has worked as an animal control officer for six years and served as director of the Verde Valley Humane Society, he realizes the fine art of becoming a team with a dog trained for police work. “Its great that we have a pro-canine chief and there is a local dog training facility,” Wager said. “I can drive here in 30 minutes from Camp Verde.”

Denny is a Belgian Malinois breed that looks similar to a German Shepherd. The trainers imported him from Germany and had him certified in Pennsylvania in narcotic detection (for three distinct drug odors), protection work, agility and obedience through the United Police and Corrections K-9 Association. Then Denny flew out to Farbenholt’s, where Farber and Holt completed his training the past three years. The trainers said they will miss Denny, but are happy he has a good job ahead of him because that was their purpose in finishing him. The couple has 30 years combined dog training experience
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Farber and Holt have also trained and titled dogs in AKC obedience, shutzhund (German sport dog) competitions and stock dog herding events. They have imported dogs from Germany for use in protection and police work. They stress obedience training without using harsh or cruel means. Their experience and training methods impressed Wager. “We didn’t want an overly aggressive, psycho dog,” Wager said. “I’ve seen dogs like that at other departments that were not controllable.” Denny is ready to work when he receives a command (given in German), otherwise he is mellow. The dog relaxes until he hears a little hiss noise from his handler to snap to attention for a command. After Denny’s training session, the 4-year-old Belgian Malinois relaxes, wags his tail and walks about the grounds, taking time out to be a friendly police dog.

May 2004