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9's and their human partners learn new training WESTMINSTER It's a business retreat like no other, as police dogs from across the state converge on Westminster and Lancaster this week to learn new job skills and hone their craft. "I can't say enough about Vest a Dog," said Officer Richard Michel of the Westminster Police Department, about the nonprofit Massachusetts group's sponsorship of the three day event, which ends Thursday. At its most recent training conference, officers from 24 departments throughout Massachusetts and neighboring states signed up for courses in E collar training, firearm safety and vehicle extraction. "We deal with a lot of different things every day, and we have to expose the dogs to different environments and different circumstances," Boston police Officer Joel Rodriguez said. "We're here for the dogs, and we're here for us." Rodriguez and his dog, Titan, made the trip to Lancaster for the vehicle extraction course. Jerry Maillet of the Massachusetts State Police, who oversaw the vehicle extraction exercises Tuesday. "By teaching these guys techniques of how they can use the dog to make the search in a way that makes it safer for the officers to approach a car, the less likely you are to run into those types of ambushes." During the course, officers, also known as handlers, take turns with their dogs as each team drives up to a parked vehicle where the lucky Michel awaits in a 40 pound bite suit. Once the dog is released by its officer, it runs up to the vehicle, where it is tasked with having to find a way inside to subdue the suspect. "The day of having a dog that's ball crazy, biting and carrying on are over," Maillet said. "We're teaching the dogs to think for themselves." As important as independent thinking and problem solving ability can be, there is still always room for the old fashioned system of commands. Marlboro police Officer Ken McKenzie and his dog, Kaiser, enrolled in the E collar program being held at the Wachusett Village Inn. In describing the course, McKenzie said, "It's just a different form of squaring the dog away on what you want him to do. If the dog's not performing in a certain manner, you apply the E collar. Once the dog starts to catch onto the game, you don't have to use it as much." Much in the same way a nonpolice trainer would condition a dog, officers and training specialists teach dogs to obey specific commands by using a collar that emits either a high pitched tone, vibration or electric shock. "What we try to do is present something that would enhance what they already have learned through training school," said Kathy Hinds, president of Massachusetts Vest a Dog. As Hinds explained, training for officers and their dogs never stops, no matter how far into their careers they are. "Sometimes what they might learn is just a tiny nugget, but it's going to make a huge difference in how they're able to do their job in the future," she said. According to Hinds, the popularity of K 9 programs in smaller, local law enforcement agencies has grown in popularity in recent years, thanks largely to charitable organizations like the Stanton Foundation, which offers to cover the expenses of the first three years of a department's K 9 program. The cost of the program is paid for by the admission fee that each department pays, as well as donations made by Vest a Dog. Each department was able to enroll in this week's program after paying an entry fee of $135. It's the third such program that has been held through the organization, and many are hoping to see more in the future. "Dogs are always going to be around," Maillet said. "They're going to be a part of law enforcement from now on, and the way we've been able to evolve through training programs like this has allowed that to happen."