Police Dogs – Types, Breeds, Training, And Their Complicated Tasks

Doing the complicated tasks of humans is the specialty of these dogs. Generally, these dogs do major operations such as:

• Apprehension – Predicting about an unpleasant thing before it happens
• Detection – Detecting drugs, explosives and evidence of a crime scene
• Search and rescue – Identifying the lost or kidnapped victims
• Patrol – Searching in buildings and areas and identify the criminals

Generally, large dog breeds with higher intelligence, stamina, and strength will be employed as police dogs.  The average police dog height will be between 22 to 35 inches and that depends on the breed and individual dog trait. The police dogs retire at around 10 years of age and the police dog lifespan may be around 14 to 15 years depending on the health.

K9 is nothing but the homophone of the word “Canine”. Also, police dogs are known as “K9 dogs” in English-speaking countries.

K9 dog breeds are given special training to assist law enforcement personnel. K9 dogs do the same work of police dogs, such as finding drugs, search for explosives, identifying the lost people and looking for evidence of crime scene.

The German shepherd was the first dog used as a K9 dog. Other dog breeds are also used as K9 dogs. Here’s the list of popular K9s.

• Blood Hound
• Dutch-German Shepherd
• Belgian Tervueren
• Doberman Pinscher
• Boxer Dog
• German Short-haired Pointer
• Giant Schnauzer
• Labrador Retriever
• Rottweiler

These dogs differ in the tasks they do. Based on the tasks they do, we have provided three different types.

1. Apprehension Dogs

Apprehension is nothing but predicting an unpleasant thing before it happens. Certain dog breeds are able to do such a task and are called “Apprehension dogs”.

You can train these dogs to have physical strength, intelligence and the ability to keep control of the dangerous suspect.

Suitable Breeds

Herding breeds namely the Belgian Malinois, German Shepherd Dogs, and Dutch Shepherds.

Advantage

The main advantage of apprehension dog is that he is able to know the suspect and to act only based on the master’s command through proper training.

2. Detection Dogs 

Dogs have a good sense of smell and so they are able to detect drugs, explosives, and evidence of a crime scene. It is believed that 225 million scent receptors are present in the dogs’ noses.

Suitable Breeds

Coonhound, Labrador retrievers, Golden retrievers, German Wirehaired Pointers, German shorthaired pointers, Vizsla

Advantages

• Scent receptors in dogs enable them to detect the illegal drugs and explosives at airports and border entries.
• Detection dogs are able to detect the danger in landmines and protect their owners.

3. Search and Rescue

Dogs that are involved in search and rescue operations usually identify the victims who have either been kidnapped or have gotten lost. You can also train these dogs to explore the remains of dead humans.

Suitable Breeds

Bloodhound, Border Collie, American pit bull terrier, English Springer Spaniel, German Shorthaired Pointer

Advantages

We have listed out the major advantages of search and rescue dogs.

• Much helpful in disaster times
• Can locate the dead bodies of drowned victims in oceans and lakes
• Able to cover large areas in a short time span
• Able to complete the task with a unique quality

Training this dog involves more responsibilities. It also depends on the dog’s ability. For example, if you have a sniffer dog, you can provide training for him to be used for detection purposes.

But, obedience training is essential for these dogs from a young age. It is the foremost step in training this dog and it helps the dogs to obey the handlers or trainers.

Once given obedience training, you can give any special training to the dogs to be used in narcotics, patrolling, bomb detection, etc.

Training differs based on the special needs required.

• Bomb detection – Training will be a 10-week course. You have to train the dog to make him learn more than 10,000 different smells of explosives.
• Drug detection – Training is given to the dogs to find narcotics of any kind. Dogs used for this purpose should be trained to know the difference between various kinds of drugs and the other smell.
• Patrolling – Dogs used in patrolling will get day-to-day training in different aspects. These dogs are able to identify the suspects, keeping criminals under their custody and protect the masters. Sometimes, these dogs will also be given drug detection training.
• Scent tracking – It is a high level of training. This training helps the dogs to learn everything about the tracking suspects and identify the missing people by following their scent.

These dogs are provided training either by the police force that has in-house owners or by a private training facility. Protection dogs used in patrolling are trained either by a home trainer or by a professional.

Training is also essential for the handlers to know about the training provided to dogs and how to handle him effectively. Once the dog completes training, he will be with the handler 24/7.

Renewal is important in this training. Trainers and dogs must renew the commands. Reward-based training will also help the dogs to feel the love and companionship with their handlers.

Police Dog Commands

The command is the essential thing in this training. As dogs should listen to the commands and act accordingly, you have to make the dog learn, understand and obey the commands.

Let’s have a look at the list of basic commands used in the training.

• Sit
• Stand
• Stay
• Down
• Come
• Jump
• Go Ahead
• Go Inside
• Track
• Fetch
• Bite

Language is also important in commanding. Speak to the dog in a language he is trained.

People use both male and female dogs as Police dogs. So, do you want to have a precious name for your powerful dog? Here, you go.

Recommended Read:

Most Popular Dog Names Research Analysis

Powerful Male Dog Names

Unique Female Dog Names

Names For Small And Large Dogs

These dogs are much expensive as they are used in law enforcement. The average price of this dog costs around $11,000 without training.

The price of these dogs also depends on the operation it involves. For example, a single-purpose dog can cost around $2500 to $4000 with little or no training.

But, if a dog is used for patrolling and narcotics department, you can buy him at a cost of $8000 to $10,000.

Breeders in the United States of America

• Von der Haus Gill German Shepherds
  16863 Boundry Rd
  Wapakoneta, OH 45895
  Office Phone: 419-568-9400
  Kennel Office: 419-568-9454
  Fax: 419-568-9405
• Rudiso Malinois
  PO Box 1781, Capitan, NM 88316
  Phone: (505)400-9234