The article highlights the criteria for selecting service dogs of the State Criminal and Exsecutive Service of Ukraine for training in the framework of the search service. Defects, diseases and deficiencies with which service dogs of all types of training cannot be admitted to training as part of the department’s cynology teams are characterized. Recommendations are provided for determining the suitability of service dogs for training of the search service. The method of establishing the nature of the predominant reactions of the behavior of service dogs is characterized.

For training, it is advisable to select dogs that are energetic, active, brave, mobile and quite excitable, i.e. choleric and sanguine. Phlegmatics and melancholics are not suitable for training. A refined technique with the help of which the nature of the prevailing reactions of the behavior of service dogs is established and their suitability or unsuitability for training according to the direction of the search service is determined. According to this criterion, service dogs are considered suitable for training if they have a predominant active-defense reaction, uniform development of orientational and active-orientational reactions, and uniform development of food and active-defense reactions. When determining the suitability of a service dog for training, the commission must examine it in a state of rest, and then in motion, establish its age, physical qualities, state of health, assess the acuity of smell, sight, and hearing and, in accordance with the specified methodology, establish the nature of the prevailing behavioral reactions.

Therefore, the criteria used to determine the suitability of service dogs to undergo training as part of cynology teams of the search service are compliance with the established requirements regarding age, state of health, standards of constitution and exterior of the relevant breeds, the presence of a certain type of higher stressful activity and the necessary prevailing reactions of the body’s behavior, which are determined using the specified method.

Taking into account the above criteria, during the selection of service dogs for training, in combination with educational training activities, will allow to achieve the educational goals of primary professional training of cynology teams with search dogs, in particular, and to bring the state of cynology support of the department into compliance with the specified requirements, as a whole.

Key words: initial professional training, junior dog inspectors, criteria, selection, training, search dogs.

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