domestic dog have been formally called on to aid law fight offence and tag down suspects since the late eighties , though their character in do and protecting humans choke back many century earlier than that .
More recently , police Canis familiaris ’ work has exposit to mirror almost everything their human vis-a-vis do — from quail at suspects and patrolling , to help on lookup and delivery missions , to sniffing out drugs , shooter , and bombs . It ’s nuanced and demanding piece of work , requiring a special temperament and skillset , which is why you ’ll see sure breeds used as police dogs again and again .
Still , experts jibe that stock alone does n’t automatically qualify a dog for police body of work , nor does a less common K9 strain rule one out . “ Yes , we ’re drawn to sealed breeds because we make love what their characteristics usually are , ” says Shana Parsnow , manager of working click program forHighland Canine Training , LLC . “ But the characteristics of the individual dog are really the most important thing .
What It Takes to Be a Police Dog
Often a blackguard ’s road to police work begins at giving birth , or even before . A number of breeders in the US and Europe specialize in produce dogs that are perfectly suited for law enforcement part . But becoming a police K9 is n’t as simple as hold the right parent . While it varies somewhat bet on the line of work , most K9 police work requires dogs that are alert , obedient , physically fit , and highly driven yet still calm .
Police dog-iron undergo continuous training throughout their lives , often starting with obedience and socialization exercises in puppyhood and follow by frequent endurance and agility drills as they mature .
Usually when they ’ve reached around a year of general grooming , dogs are paired up with their police handlers , undergoing another 3 to 6 months of focussed speciality training for the job they ’ll be assigned to . Dog - and - coach teams stay to check together right up until a dog recede from police force work ( usually around 10 years in ) .
6 Police Dog Breeds
Most police Canis familiaris strain fall into one of the following six categories :
German Shepherds
Often the first breed that springs to mind when you think of constabulary dogs is theGerman Shepherd . You ’ve likely spotted them in airports , schooling , and arena over the years — and German Shepherds top virtually every list of K9 dog breeds for good grounds .
Known for their bravery , intelligence and unflinching loyalty , German shepherds can assist in most any area of police work , from sniff out drug and explosive to comprehend or restraining a take flight defendant . “ They ’re very hard dogs , both physically and mentally , ” Parsnow tell . “ They ’ve been bred for on the button the kind of [ police ] work that they ’re doing . ”
Belgian Malinois
These skimpy , hefty herding dogs are known for being impertinent , protective , and very mellow energy — all characteristics that make them one of the best police dog stock . For K9 breeds , “ you need dog that are go - go - go nonstop and survive to do work , ” Parsnow says , and Malinois fit that throwaway .
Like shepherd , “ these dogs are very in high spirits in prey and hunt drives , ” she tot , “ so they ’re always influence to give chase cat . But those are the characteristics we appear for — in fiat to teach this piece of work , they have to have those drives . ”
Dutch Shepherds
Like German Shepherds and Belgian Malinois , Dutch Shepherds are among the top choice for police K9 spawn that do “ dual - intent ” law body of work — that is , a combination of detection - based job and roles that are more active , such as patrol and arrest .
Ranked at the high get-up-and-go horizontal surface among dogs by the American Kennel Club , Dutch shepherd were originally bred as all - purpose farm blackguard . Today their loyalty , intellect , strenuosity , and drive to work make them one of the more democratic case of law dogs .
Labrador Retrievers
The Labrador Retriever ’s friendly and social personality , combined with their intelligence and exuberance for intemperate study , down them among the most vulgar constabulary blackguard breeds . Labs typically train for espial piece of work ( finding drugs or explosive ) or trailing / tracking ( find miss people ) , and their forthcoming nature and high vigor make them ideal tantrum for these tasks , agree to Neil Day , who ownsAll Day Dog Adventures , LLCand has train numerous dogs with the National Search and Rescue Dog Association .
“ They could be finding a little old lady or a unseasoned child , ” Day eminence , so a gentle , amiable temperament is fundamental . And on those not - uncommon days of 10 - hr searches through the wood , “ you need a dog that ’s receive high ride and top-notch energy , ” he add .
German Short-Haired Pointers
Like labs , these dogs were to begin with bred to help with search — seek out prey , pointing at it , and retrieving it — while still being well-disposed family wienerwurst . overbold , ultra - gumptious and eager to please , GSPs are often assign to like detection and tracking study as labs . And like Labs , “ we bonk them because they have the drive and the born desire to hound and work , but they ’re also very societal Canis familiaris and unremarkably fit right in with handlers ’ families , ” Parsnow says .
Bloodhounds
While all firedog have a fantastic sense of smell , Bloodhounds are famous for their driven and skilful sniffing . Police often utilize these keen , persistent tracker to receive miss people and locate criminals . With their droopy face , scrunch brows and propensity for stringy drool , Bloodhounds are also a favorable - look clump , make them a perfect mate for regain missing youngster . ( reckon aside , they ’re also a breed that ’s generally very unspoilt with kids . )
Bonus: Mixed and Unexpected Breeds
There are certainly exclusion , additions , and even storm to this list of democratic K9 breed . Many mixed breed and shelter deliverance have become successful members of various constabulary effect around the res publica . And especially when it comes to detection or lookup and rescue , “ many different breeds can be used if they have the right disposition , ” Day says . The only I he ’s envision struggle a bit are short - nosed breeds likeBulldogsorFrenchies .
“ motive is the biggest key , ” add together Parsnow . “ We ’ve trained all sort of different firedog for sensing work . In fact , right now we have a Dachshund , and he does it just fine . You would n’t expect him , but he has all the characteristics for a detection and track dog . If a click has those characteristic — the prey drive , the hunt thrust , the sociableness , the want to have a toy — then the dog can do the job , ” she state , no matter of its size , stock or blood line .
