Dog Section

Finding a Suitable Dog

A newly-recruited dog can be a ‘gift dog’, or purchased from a specialist breeder. Whichever route the dog has taken, the end result is the same - the dog is trained in all tasks required in order to become an operational police dog.

Gift Dogs

These are donated by a member of the public or purchased at a nominal cost. If you have a suitable dog you would like to donate please see how you can help.

New recruits vary in age from twelve months to three years, ideally they should be between ten months and two years old.  They are given free board and lodgings and plenty of good food.

The dog should be bold and confident but not overly aggressive; have a bright, inquisitive nature and willingness to play with a toy. New recruits are carefully assessed by a series of tests to identify whether or not the dog has the necessary instincts and temperament. If the dog passes, it will be paired with a handler and put through the initial general purpose course.

Dogs From an Established Line

Puppies can be purchased from an established line of working stock. These puppies will be placed with experienced handler and brought on through the puppy programme, to ensure the pup is raised in a family environment and nurtured through natural puppy development.

The dog is continually assessed and, if all is well, will start the general purpose dog course between fourteen to eighteen months of age - with the handler who has reared it.

Training

Throughout training the dog's natural abilities are identified, encouraged and enhanced. Training encourages an animal to use its instinctive drives in a controlled situation and on command. A dog's natural abilities form the basis for many of the exercises in police dog training, including its instinct to treat its handler as pack leader.

Among the skills that the dogs are taught are tracing and searching for criminals from crimes, the recovery of articles, locating missing persons, attendance at large scale disorders and public relations activities such as school visits.

The police dog is rewarded and praised for its hard work and given good food, care, exercise and protection. On completion of the initial course, the dog and handler are assessed. If they have achieved the required standards they are licensed to become operational as a team.

Training continues to be a vital part of the team, with emphasis on control, safety and efficiency. Re-licensing occurs annually throughout the working life of the dog to maintain standards.

Housing

All police dogs are kept at the handler's home to ensure they remain bonded. A police dog will have holidays with their handler. This will be spent at home with the handler or in police kennels.

During operational duties the dog is housed in the police van which is specially adapted for the dogs safety and comfort. The dogs are regularly watered and exercised by their handlers, and we have a lay visitors scheme in operation to monitor the dogs welfare.

Retirement

General-purpose dogs are usually retired at around seven or eight years old. Specialist dogs are retired at about ten years.

The handler is allowed to keep their dog. Many choose to do this. If this is not possible, however, the dog will be housed with a suitable owner for the rest of its life.

If any one is interested in re-housing an ex-police dog please see how you can help.