WDW Security, K-9 Section

[Lou... 3,118]

I had the opportunity to talk to one of the K-9, canine for youz people from NJ, security CMs yesterday. You can spot them pretty easily because they're wearing a dark blue Swat Team type costume.

I'm not going to divulge how many dogs are in the department, but it's substantial. The breeds are German Shepards, Labs, and one of my favorites, one Border Collie.

They're free to patrol anywhere on WDW property. I had one come inside the bus and inspect it not that long ago.

The dogs of course are amazing. They're highly trained and treated very well.

The human half of the team does not take their partner home at the end of the day. They have a K-9 kennel.

They are also responsible for the care, feeding and well-being of the dog, including cleaning of kennels, unit vehicles, the administering of medication, and bathing and grooming.

Both the CM and dog attend a K-9 dog training center for a total of 13 weeks to complete explosive ordinance detection training for over 500 hours and K-9 tracking for 120 hours before becoming a Canine Security Specialist team.

And in case you think that just because they're part of WDW security and are not serious, some of the teams attended an explosive and ordinance detection seminar in Daytona Beach. One WDW team took 3rd place and another took 1st place in the explosives detection event. I think that shows that Walt Disney World Security is right up there with other law enforcement departments.

For dog people, how would you like to work in the K-9 Security Section?

[rdancemom... Pam 113]

That's awesome Lou! Thanks for sharing it.

DD21 sees our local K9s & their patners frequently thru work. Before DH became disabled she was headed down there for the animal training/management program at Santa Fe in Gainesville but put it on hold in order to be home here with DH for now.

The dog/handler teams we have here eat, sleep, & work together. Do wdw's K9s work with just one person or several since they're kept in a kennel?

[Lou... 3,118]

Do wdw's K9s work with just one person or several since they're kept in a kennel?

Yes, they work with the same CM everyday and are cared for by that CM.

[Otter Spotter aka Debbie 58]

While I find this fascinating and admirable - I couldn't do it. Not that I don't like dogs - I LOVE dogs!! I am not disciplined enough to treat the dogs as working animals and not pets.

I've always had this crazy fear of terrorists targeting WDW in a quiet, subversive fashion. I'm not afraid of being at Disney should something like this happen... God forbid... but seriously - what better place to check out of this life than at WDW? My fear is that something that the whole world finds pleasure in could be destroyed in a heart beat by crazy hate-mongers.

I'm so glad to hear that Disney takes this very seriously. Thanks for sharing this, Lou!

[DebbieT11 5]

We got to see one team last trip..... they were boarding a boat that we'd just left. Saw them again later in the bus loading area. They were quite a team. Thanks, Lou!!

[johnnyb aka John 15]

Wow, really cool, what does it pay, and do you get a bonus if I get hired? I am ready for a change, lets go!

[polkadotsuitcase 12]

Love it. Thanks for the info; had no idea there even was a K9 component to the security detail! Any chance any of 'em are named Pluto? ;D

[Lou... 3,118]

Wow, really cool, what does it pay, and do you get a bonus if I get hired? I am ready for a change, lets go!

No clue what it pays.

I probably would get a finders fee.

The CM I talked to said that some sort of animal training experience was required. His was horses.

Any chance any of 'em are named Pluto?

I'm guessing, no.

[mikeymouse1 25]

I wonder why they dont take there dogs home at the end of the day.Most agency's send the dog home with the handler. We have several friends in K-9 and the dog is a member of the family when its of duty

[Lou... 3,118]

I wonder why they dont take there dogs home at the end of the day.Most agency's send the dog home with the handler.

I had heard that as well and that's why I asked hm if they did. I was surprised that he said no.

I should have asked what happens on the handler's days off?

[GOBA Mom Lynn 18]

When we were at AK on our last trip, we saw one of the dog teams.

We had gotten one of those picnic lunches they had back then, and were eating it at the picnic tables on the walkway behind the dig site. Someone noticed that a child's backpack was left unattended on a bench along the walkway. Soon a CM was there scoping things out, I guess to see if anyone came to claim the backpack. When no one came, a supervisor came and they started to clear the area. :popo: We just kept on eating our lunch, hoping to see how this all panned out. But alas, we were told to pack up (since I guess they could see we were almost done.) and they closed the walkway entirely. We were headed to Little Nemo, so we had to walk all the way around the dig site, and by the time we got to the other end of the walkway, we saw the dog and handler come out from backstage next to Primeval Whirl (more or less). They headed down the walkway and out of sight. We never heard an explosion or anything, so I guess it was just some poor little girl's long lost backpack. It was interesting to see how they handled the whole thing, though.