Law enforcement canines from 25 agencies throughout Kansas are taking part this week in an annual certification-training gathering of the Kansas Police Dog Association.

The K9 unit at the El Dorado Correctional Facility in El Dorado is the site of the week-long gathering, during which judges put dogs and their handlers through their paces to ensure they meet the associations standards.

In addition to demonstrating their proficiencies in such areas as narcotics detection, tracking, article searches, building searches and suspect apprehension, dogs and their handlers will also take part in a variety of workshop sessions, such as basic canine first aid.

Sgt. Chuck Morris of the correctional facilitys K9 unit said it can take anywhere from three weeks to three months before a dog is fully trained in the police work it was brought in for.

And not only do the dogs need training, he said, but their handlers also have to go through a four-week course before they can start working with them.

The age of law enforcement dogs generally runs from about 2 to up to 10 years, Morris said.

Posted: May 3, 2006, 5 a.m. EST