NYPD K-9 unit founder has a simple tip to get your dog to behave

Michael Gould runs the countrywide interactive pet care facility Hounds Town.He says: “Humans don’t control their behavior.

Dogs self-regulate.That’s the essence of Hounds Town.“I, a rookie cop, helped found NYC’s Police Department K9 Unit when crime was rampant.

Central Park muggings, robberies.Two thousand homicides a year.

A German shepherd and I worked Central Park, Flushing Meadows Park, Prospect Park.It’s six months to do NYC streets as a K9 working dog, longer than the human police academy.“They smell things we can’t see — invisible cancer — run 20 mph, scale 6-foot fences, detect odors better than technology.

Some more motivated than others can do magical things.I’m working with one now, hunting a person who went missing 25 years ago.

He’s now looking for her remains.Exceptional is this dog’s desire to work.“Dogs learn certain words.

Never yell.Talk to your dog, tell it you love it, pet it, but they’re really responding to your movements and boundaries that you set.

It’s physical.“We take dogs that are blind, three-legged dogs.The point is, it’s a special place where we humans don’t project our emotions on the dogs, and we allow them to interact with one another.“I’ll tell you a quick story you might find amusing.”Cindy: You gonna charge me?Michael: “You’re my idol.

You crazy? I’m having a dream right now that I’m even on the phone with you.“So I get a call from this woman.She wanted to walk her little West Highland terrier every morning into Central Park.

She said, ‘Some days she won’t walk home with me.’ I met the dog.Simple answer? When the sun came up, this little West Highland was afraid to walk into her own shadow.

On a bright, sunny day, the sun rising cast a shadow that this little dog was afraid to walk because she saw herself.So once we realized what the issue was, the pet owner picked her up and walked the dog home.” Subscribe to our daily Post Opinion newsletter! ...