RCMP dog Jammer is gaining confidence and skill as his imprint training continues.

Constable Justin Neufeld transferred to Steinbach in early November and trains puppies who then go onto specialized profile training in Innisfail, Alberta. He says the partnerships he's been able to form in the Southeast have been phenomenal.

Constable Justin Neufeld and RCMP dog Jammer"We've been able to establish a lot of partnerships here in the community. We've had phenomenal success and a lot of support from all the local businesses. So, I'd like to thank everybody who has been a part of that; just to name a few E.G. Penner, Penner International, and McMunn and Yates. The schools have been very open to letting me come in and do presentations with some of the teachers and classrooms which has been fantastic as well."

 Neufeld says Jammer is the first puppy he's had the opportunity to train adding the biggest challenge he's found in training a dog is they don't speak the same language.

"So I need to learn different ways to communicate with an animal and he needs to communicate with me and we need to understand what each other is feeling, what expectations are, and how to build up confidence in each other. Essentially we call it bonding because it's exactly that, it's working on observing and believing in each other. It's me developing his abilities and him developing me at the same time to become a functioning partnership and a unit because we are a team."

He notes before having the opportunity to raise and train a puppy himself he was able to work closely with other dog handlers which was an excellent learning experience.

I would be given another dog once they have a new litter ready to go. So, I would hope at that same time, somewhere in the near future beyond that, I would be getting another puppy and then I get to start the process all over again."

He notes Jammer is a very loyal dog and, given the opportunity to bond with someone else, he would be able to form that same trust and affection with another handler. Neufeld adds, when training, officers go through a specific time where they invest in the dog to learn how to read each other and believe in each other.

Neufeld says when Jammer first leaves there may be some confusion on his end.

"I would imagine, on his end, being a dog, all of a sudden being separated from his handler. When he was a puppy he was separated and there was obviously a lot of frustration on his part, he was very vocal about being alone. Probably the change from playing with his brothers and sisters as a puppy and then being removed from the litter. From here I'm all he knows, so from there it will be another change for him."

He notes he doesn't feel the change will be something that will shut Jammer down or slow him down but will be a bit of a learning curve.

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As for which profile Jammer will specialize in, Neufeld says those decisions will more than likely be made in Innisfail once they see how he reacts to different training. He notes Jammer is a very confident dog all around but has skills that need to be built up, such as criminal apprehension, some aggression, and some tracking.

"From what I've seen he excels in all the areas so I'm very happy with the way he has developed and his abilities at this point."

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