Police Departments have used dogs in various capacities dating back hundreds of years. In recent years, the role of these dogs – also known as K9s – has become more clearly defined in police departments across the United States and world.
Most police dogs come from the same few breeds that have consistently possessed the right traits for the job – German Shepherds, Dutch Shepherds, Bloodhounds, Labrador Retrievers, and Belgian Malinois, mostly. They undergo rigorous training to ensure they are ready for the job.
The dogs serve in a vital role, often doing things humans are physically incapable of – here are a few ways K9s aid police departments:
Scent Detection
Dog’s noses, as macrosmatic, are significantly more powerful than ours, up to 60 times stronger than the human sense of smell. This gives them incredible powers of scent. This allows them to use that nasal advantage to sniff for all kinds of illegal materials such as drugs, explosives, arson accelerants, and other evidence. You’ll often see these dogs at airports and border entries, sniffing for bombs, drugs, and contraband food items.
Searching For People
The remarkable powers of scent aren’t just used to find illegal and dangerous materials. It’s also used to help the police find people who are missing or have been kidnapped. The K9s can be trained to find both living victims and human remains of the deceased. This can be especially important in the case of a major tragedy such as an explosion or natural disaster when many people are missing. But it’s also vital in cases where one person or a small group are lost in a large area, such as hikers in a forest.
Apprehending Suspects
Much like human police, dogs can be trained to apprehend suspects in certain situations. They will bite them in a non-lethal way, neutralizing the suspect until officers release the dog. These K9s will also go head-first into a dangerous situation, putting their lives on the line to protect their human partners from an armed suspect.
Of course, none of this would be possible without the hard work of the people who train these dogs. If you’re interested in making a difference by becoming a police dog trainer, you can start by getting certified with Dog Trainer College. We offer both in-person and online courses that will set you on the path to becoming a police dog trainer. Call 800-795-4201 to learn more about our courses today!
