At the National Center for Canine Instruction of the Gendarmerie in Gramat, France, activity has been bustling in preparation for the upcoming summer season, which will be particularly busy for security forces due to the hosting of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. This unique facility, in operation since 1945, has intensified its training programs, especially for the Cynodex certification, which is required for private security agents. Following concerns raised by Valérie Pécresse, the president of the Île-de-France region, earlier this year about the lack of trained dogs, the Ministry of the Interior pledged to certify one hundred dogs before the Games.
Colonel Pascal Ségui, who has been in charge of the Gramat center since 2023, explains that the number of trained dogs and the specific skills they possess remain confidential. It is also not yet determined what roles these dogs will play during the Olympic events. The center is dedicated to creating highly skilled dog-handler pairs who can assist in a variety of tasks, such as searching for narcotics, participating in demonstrations, locating missing individuals, and detecting explosives on moving targets. The rigorous training program focuses on breeds such as Malinois, German Shepherds, Dutch Shepherds, Saint Hubert Hounds, and English Springer Spaniels, in order to create effective partnerships that can last up to eight years.
During the arrival of the Olympic flame in Marseille on May 8th, eighty canine teams from the national police and gendarmerie were deployed to inspect boats in the Old Port, in collaboration with bomb disposal units. Many of these dogs had received training at the Gramat center. With a team of 85 individuals, including 20 training instructors, the center annually trains around 100 dogs and hosts 300-350 students from various branches of the military, gendarmerie, and railway security agents of SNCF. The facility prioritizes selecting dogs that are intelligent, loyal, robust, obedient, playful, loyal, and a bit aggressive to handle the demanding tasks required during the upcoming Olympic events.
The Gramat center is known for its commitment to excellence in canine training and has been essential in meeting the demands for security measures surrounding the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games. The program focuses on creating highly capable dog-handler pairs who can respond effectively to various security challenges, from patrolling public events to detecting explosives on individuals in motion. The facility also pays tribute to the canine partners who have passed away in the line of duty, with memorial plaques displayed in the Garden of Remembrance on the premises.
As the summer approaches, preparations at the Gramat center continue to intensify, with an increase in training sessions and certifications for the upcoming demands of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The center’s dedication to creating highly skilled dog-handler pairs has been instrumental in ensuring the security and safety measures necessary for the successful execution of such major international events. With a commitment to excellence and a focus on continuous improvement, the Gramat center remains a key institution in providing top-tier canine training for security forces in France.
