Are dogs an answer for school protection?

As a retired school teacher, I’ve thought a lot about school shootings over the years and I would like to suggest an unconventional idea — incorporating service dogs into the school environment.

School service dogs would add a dimension that human resources lack. The dogs would be trained to react not only to the sight of guns or body armor but especially to the smell of gunpowder and gun oil. These two odors would be the primary motivation for the dog to go into the attack mode. The dogs could be trained to corner and detain, but not attack an individual. Only if shots were fired would the dogs go into the attack mode.

The dogs would be superior to police presence, in that they would sense a threat sooner, and since they would work as a group they would be a greater deterrent than a single police officer. In addition, in situations of life and death a dog or two is expendable, a police officer is not. As an additional benefit, they could be trained to sniff out drugs.

The cost of the program would be reasonable if the dogs were housed and cared for by individual teachers who are dog-people. Training and bonding could happen over the summer break; the two of them would learn how to react in emergency situations at “summer camp.” The camps would be staffed by professional K-9 handlers and funded by the state. On completion of the course the dog would be assigned to the teacher and incorporated into their family life. The dog would be the family pet except when they are on duty at school.

The choice of dog breed is of great importance. The dog has to be large enough so as to be intimidating when called upon to be so. The dog has to be “kid friendly.” And though it may seem frivolous, the dog has to be a floppy eared dog. We are programmed, be it DNA or instinct, to be wary of pointy eared dogs. Finally they must, in dog parlance, have a good nose.

In the elementary schools, the dogs would stay in the classrooms with the teacher responsible for them, the teacher would be encouraged to leave the door open. In the secondary level, some dogs may be utilized in the halls that are adjacent to the points of entry (older kids will sometimes open doors for those wishing to enter).

There would be an additional benefit to the institution in that these dogs are not only intelligent, they are also empathetic. Many times they can sense when a kid is in emotional stress before the adult in the room can. Many times the kid who is acting out will find peace if they can just sit and pet the dog.

On the flip side, a youngster who seeks out and abuses a dog is a student who needs professional help, and he or she may need it desperately.

In the beginning, there will be a learning curve: the dogs and their handlers will have to work out unforeseen issues as they come up. The administrators and school staff will have to be trained how to deploy and what to expect from this resource. Nothing kills a good idea like improper implementation.

I realize that this is a whole new approach to an ongoing threat, but with proper training and deployment, it can not only make our schools safer but more welcoming for kids.

Cloquet resident Kermit Nielsen was a longtime teacher at Proctor High School and remains an engaged citizen in retirement. Email him at [email protected].