Updated at: 05-10-2023 - By: petstutorial

Police dogs are an essential part of law enforcement, assisting officers in a variety of tasks from search and rescue to protection. These impressive animals come from generations of dogs specifically bred to perform the complicated tasks that police dogs are required to accomplish.

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Generally speaking, not all dogs are able to do police work, and that’s why we usually see just a few specific breeds being trained as police dogs.

You are reading: 9 Types Of Police Dogs

The most commonly used breeds are the German Shepherd, Belgian Malinois, Bloodhound, Dutch Shepherd, and Labrador Retriever. In this article, we will explore the different types of police dogs and their roles in law enforcement.

9 Types Of Police Dogs

German Shepherd

The German Shepherd, also known as the Alsatian in Britain, is a breed of working dog that originated in Germany in the late 19th century. They are medium to large-sized dogs that are highly intelligent, loyal, and protective.

German Shepherds are known for their willingness to learn and eagerness to have a purpose, making them excellent guard dogs and suitable for search missions. They are moderately active dogs and are described in breed standards as self-assured and curious.

German Shepherds are one of the most widely used breeds in a wide variety of scent-work roles, including search and rescue, cadaver searching, narcotics detection, explosives detection, accelerant detection, and mine detection dog, among others.

Labrador Retriever

The Labrador Retriever is a medium-to-large breed of dog that originated in the United Kingdom from fishing dogs imported from the colony of Newfoundland. They are known for their exceptional intelligence, gentle nature, and friendly personality, which makes them a popular choice for families and first-time dog owners.

The Labrador Retriever is a versatile and friendly working dog that is used for various tasks, including hunting, assistance, show competitions, and search and rescue missions. They are also known for their exceptional retrieving skills, which make them excellent water dogs.

Labrador Retrievers have a dense, short-to-medium-length coat that comes in yellow, chocolate, or black, and they require weekly grooming to manage shedding.

Belgian Malinois

The Belgian Malinois is a medium-sized herding dog breed that originated in Belgium in the late 1800s. They are known for their intelligence, loyalty, and strong work ethic. The breed is often mistaken for a German Shepherd, but they are smaller and lighter with a shorter coat.

Belgian Malinois are highly active dogs that require regular exercise to keep them mentally and physically stimulated. They are often used in law enforcement and military roles, including drug detection, search and rescue, and protection.

The breed is also known for its protective and territorial instincts, making them excellent guard dogs.

Bloodhound

The Bloodhound is a large breed of dog that originated in France. They are known for their exceptional sense of smell, which makes them excellent trackers and searchers.

Bloodhounds have a muscular build, wrinkly skin, extra-long ears, and a short, dense coat that comes in black and tan, liver and tan, or red. They are gentle, patient, and affectionate dogs that are great with children and other pets.

Bloodhounds are often used by law enforcement agencies as mantrailers for search and rescue operations. They are also known for their loud bay, which can be heard from a great distance.

Dutch Shepherd

The Dutch Shepherd is a medium-sized breed of dog that originated in the Netherlands. They are known for their intelligence, independence, and athleticism.

Dutch Shepherds are often used by law enforcement agencies as police dogs for search and rescue missions, as well as for assistance and protection. They are affectionate and loyal dogs that form strong attachments with their family and are great with children and other pets.

Dutch Shepherds require regular exercise and mental stimulation to keep them happy and healthy. They have a short, dense coat that comes in a variety of colors, including brindle, black, and blue.

Doberman Pinscher

The Doberman Pinscher is a medium-to-large breed of dog that originated in Germany. They are known for their imposing appearance, intelligence, and protective instincts.

Doberman Pinschers are often used as police dogs for security, guiding, and search and rescue missions. They are also popular as family pets, and they are known for being loyal, intelligent, and protective dogs.

Doberman Pinschers are typically black or brown with rust-colored markings, and they have a short, smooth coat that is easy to groom. They are medium- to high-energy dogs and require regular exercise to stay healthy and happy.

English Springer Spaniel

English Springer Spaniels are a breed of gun dog traditionally used for flushing and retrieving game. They are affectionate, excitable dogs with a typical lifespan of twelve to fourteen years. Although they are not commonly used as police dogs, they have been trained for law enforcement roles such as narcotics detection.

In 1989, Trooper Sutton and his English Springer Spaniel, Mindy, were accepted to the Maine State Police narcotics school, a six-week training program.

English Springer Spaniels are medium-sized dogs with a moderately long coat that is feathered on the legs and tail. They are well-proportioned, balanced dogs with a gentle expression and a friendly wagging tail.

The breed is known for its exceptional stamina and needs moderate amounts of activity to focus its mind and provide exercise. English Springer Spaniels are also used as search and rescue dogs by mountain rescue and Lowland Rescue teams, where their willingness to work and cover rough terrain makes them an excellent choice.

In 2016, the UK’s longest-serving police dog, Brewster, a Springer Spaniel, retired at the age of 13 after nearly 11 years of service.

Golden Retriever

Golden Retrievers are not commonly used as police dogs, but they have been trained for certain law enforcement roles such as search and rescue and detection work. They are known for their friendly and gentle nature, which makes them great family pets. However, there have been some notable cases of Golden Retrievers serving in law enforcement.

For example, Trepp, a Golden Retriever, holds the Guinness World Record for the most successful police dog, with over 100 arrests and the recovery of more than 10 million dollars in stolen property.

In addition, a Pennsylvania police dog named K9 Chico was included in a school yearbook after students requested that he be featured. Another example is Leo, a Golden Retriever therapy dog who was recently introduced as the newest member of the Sioux Falls Police Department in South Dakota.

While Golden Retrievers are not commonly used as police dogs, they have proven to be successful in certain law enforcement roles and can make excellent therapy dogs.

Boxer

Boxers are not commonly used as police dogs, but there have been some notable cases of Boxers serving in law enforcement. One of the most famous Boxers who served as a police K-9 was Dolly von den Almeaur, who worked as a police dog with Detective Marion Byerson.

Boxers are medium to large-sized dogs that were developed in Germany in the late 19th century from the now-extinct Bullenbeisser, a dog of English Mastiff descent, and Bulldogs brought in from Great Britain. They have a smooth and tight-fitting coat that comes in fawn, brindled, or white, with or without white markings.

Boxers are friendly, lively companions that are popular as family dogs. Their suspicion of strangers, alertness, agility, and strength make them formidable guard dogs.

Boxers have also been used in dog agility or dog obedience trials and flyball events. In this article, we will explore the characteristics, health, and care of Boxers.

FAQS

1. What breeds are commonly used for police dogs?

The most commonly used breeds for police dogs are German Shepherds, Belgian Malinois, Dutch Shepherds, and occasionally mixes of these breeds. Less popular, but still used at times, are Rottweilers, Doberman Pinchers, and Bouvier de Flandres.

2. What do police dogs eat?

Police dogs require a diet formulated to meet their increased energy and nutrient demands. They are extremely active and require a diet that provides them with the necessary nutrients to keep them healthy and energized.

3. What happens if the handler gets out of the program before the dog is ready to retire?

Depending on the dog’s age, the dog might be re-trained with a new handler or be given to its original handler if age and circumstances permit.

4. What does “K-9” stand for?

“K-9” is short for the species “canine”, or dog. When it is on the side of a police car it means the police car carries a working police service dog.

5. What tasks do police dogs perform?

Police dogs are trained to perform a variety of tasks, including suspect apprehension, narcotics and explosives detection, evidence discovery, search and rescue, and protection.

6. What breeds are used for specialized detection work?

Beagles, Bloodhounds, English Springer Spaniels, and Labrador Retrievers are often used for specialized detection work.

7. What is the lifespan of a police dog?

The lifespan of a police dog varies depending on the breed and the individual dog. Generally, police dogs retire at around 7 years of service or 10 years of age.

8. Where do police dogs live?

Police dogs live with their handlers and become members of their handler’s family. When not at work, the dogs live at the handler’s home and spend time with their families as any other dog does.