How did you choose this career?
My job is to make people feel more secure. I was a police officer before I volunteered to work in the K-9 unit. It’s very important for Thai society that we have a high security standard, and training canines is a part of making things safer.

Is it hard to train a dog for the K-9 unit?
Well, it’s kind of like having an 8-year-old child. You can’t discipline her too hard. Balancing rewards and punishments is essential.

And is it fun to work with dogs?
It’s fun, but very challenging.

What qualities does a good trainer have?
You must love dogs very much and be willing to dedicate a lot of time to your student. I spend more time with Frement than with my family! I’m with her seven days a week. Every day I finish work around 3pm, then I go home, take a shower and come back to see her again in the evening. You have to really know your dog—they all have different habits.

What does the training involve?
Start from the basic commands: chid (stay,) nang (sit,) mob (lay down) and koy (wait). All the behaviors must be correct first. It takes about four months to teach the basic commands. It’s very easy to force dogs to do what you want instead of really teaching them, but in the long term it’s a bad idea. That’s why all trainers have to take a course before they start training dogs.

Are female and male dogs different?
Females are generally calmer, but it’s not just about sex; each dog is unique.

Can K-9s detect every kind of dangerous thing, like drugs and bombs?
No. Each dog is trained to detect one thing only. Frement can detect every kind of bomb, but she can’t detect drugs.

When your dog finds a bomb, she sits. How can you tell if she really detects something or if she’s just tired?
I understand her.