About Police Dogs

Police dogs perform a variety of services for law enforcement agencies around the world. Those services include tracking lost children, chasing down fugitives, sniffing out illegal drugs or locating explosives. Most police dogs are German Shepherds, and they require extensive, specialized training before being sent out on the job.

Training

Every law enforcement agency has its own methods of training police dogs, but they usually begin with obedience and agility training. Some agencies use ''pseudo scents,'' or imitation scents, to train dogs to find money or drugs. Some police dogs and handlers are called K-9 units (or canine units). Others are referred to as PDS, or Police Dog Services. Some agencies say their dogs ''alert'' to a smell, and others say they ''indicate.''

Breeds

German Shepherds are often used as police dogs because they possess the agility and assertiveness required for general police work, according to ''Working Like a Dog: The Story of Working Dogs Through History.'' Other breeds used include Belgian Malinois, Doberman Pinscher, Rottweiler and Labrador Retriever. The United States Department of Agriculture uses trained Jack Russell Terriers to sniff out brown tree snakes on ships entering the island of Guam.

History

Humans have used working dogs throughout history, going back to the 5th century. In American history, bloodhounds tracked down runaway slaves, and dogs were used during the Vietnam War to clear tunnels and sniff out landmines. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police, known for their horses, have a long tradition of police canines. Early in its 80-year history, the Mounties used dog sleds for transportation when patrolling vast wilderness areas.

Function

The first police dogs were used for riot control. German Shepherds were chosen for this duty due to their ferocious bite. When a German Shepherd bites, it connects its upper and lower incisors, removing large chunks of flesh. Today's police dogs usually don't maim suspects, but are used to subdue or intimidate them.

Insight

Because a police dog and its handler depend on their bond in life-and-death situations, the canine usually lives with the officer and his or her family. This helps socialize the dog. Police departments hold their canines in high regard, often outfitting them in bulletproof vests and badges. In many jurisdictions, it is a felony to kill or injure a police canine. Those killed in the line of duty often receive police funerals.

References

• ''Working Like A Dog: The Story of Working Dogs Through History''; Gena K. Gorrell; 2003
• K9 Global Training Academy Working Dogs: History of Police Dogs