By Terry Fleck

Since the release of my initial report of the Effects of the TASER X26 on Police Service Dogs, there have been several questions about the conductivity of the TASER X26 during these tests. TASER International suggested two additional tests to insure full conductivity of the TASER X26:

1. A “dry” suspect, shot by a TASER Model #44200 TASER Standard Air Cartridge, shot from a TASER X26:
   Two retired police service dogs bit a concealed bite sleeve, drenched in .9% saline solution, wrapped in two layers of heavy duty aluminum foil and then wrapped in a chamois cloth. The dogs bit between the TASER probes.

   RESULTS: The dogs were not visibly affected by the TASER X26.

2. A “sweaty” or “wet” suspect, shot by a TASER Model #44200 TASER Standard Air Cartridge, shot from a TASER X26:
   Two retired police service dogs bit a concealed bite sleeve, drenched in .9% saline solution, wrapped in two layers of heavy duty aluminum foil, wrapped in a chamois cloth and then drenched again in .9% saline solution again. The dogs bit between the TASER probes.

   RESULTS: Both the dogs would disengage the bite during the TASER activation. The dogs did not yelp or whine, they simply stopped biting.
   
   The dogs would immediately re-engage the bite when the TASER was turned off. Both dogs did not suffer any after effect. Their post experiment behavior was normal and they would continue to bite the concealed sleeve, when presented. The only avoidance both dogs showed was while the TASER was activated. As soon as the TASER was turned off, they immediately bit again.
   
   Over the past couple of weeks, I have talked with about two dozen canine handlers who have actually deployed a police dog on a real suspect bite, while a TASER X26 was deployed on the suspect.

   Only one of these handlers experienced any negative behavior from their dog. In that case, the police service dog bit the suspect between the probes and “jumped back” when the TASER X26 was activated. The dog did not yelp or whine, and immediately re-engaged when the TASER was turned off.

   In all other cases, approximately two dozen bites, the dogs continued to bite the suspect, while the TASER X26 was applied. The problem is, since these bites were in actual deployments, it is difficult to conclude that the dogs bit between the probes.

RECOMMENDATIONS:
In my initial test of the Effects of the TASER X26 on Police Service Dogs, I did not see any effect of the TASER X26 on two retired police service dogs.

During these two supplemental tests, when the suspect was “moist” or “wet” and the dog bit between the probes, the two retired police dogs would disengage the bite. Once the TASER X26 was turned off, the dogs would immediately re-bite the suspect.

Again, it appears the only potential concern with using both a TASER X26 and a police service dog on a suspect is inadvertently shooting the dog with the TASER device. Therefore, the TASER probes should be on the suspect BEFORE a police service dog is applied to prevent accidental shooting of the dog.

If the dog disengages a bite on a suspect, the suspect is probably sweaty or wet and the dog has bitten between the probes. The handler should then make a decision which use of force is more effective on the suspect, the police service dog or the TASER X26.

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