This book takes a close look at the dog's behavior and signals, which are fundamental to understanding how dogs play and learn. Every K9 handler needs to understand these behaviors, because understanding them makes dogs easier to raise and train.

It is a pleasure to have a K9 as a reliable companion in service. It is important that the parties at both ends of the leash can trust one another. To that end, it is essential for us to recognize and correctly interpret the expressions, gestures, and signals of the dog. The authors also explain the principles and techniques of operant conditioning, a modern and successful method of K9 training for search and detection, patrol, remote guided camera, and attack.