To learn more about each K9’s unique skils, visit the MEET THE DOGS section of the website

Do all police dogs bite?

No. Some dogs are trained just to sniff.

What kind of dogs are used for police work?

Any dog with the right amount of drive to work can be a police dog when it comes to sniffing. But usually only certain dogs are used for bitework. Common “sniffing” breeds can include: Labrador retrievers, German Shorthair Pointers, Beagles, Weimaraners and Springer Spaniels. Some of the common “biting” breeds can include: German Shepherds, Belgian Malinois, Giant Schnauzers, Rotweilers, and Dobermans.

What kind of dogs are used for police work?

An over-simplified explanation of this process is teaching the dog to first get very excited about a particular toy. Once that dog learns to love his toy so much, the trainer then introduces certain smells the dog will he be responsible for finding. When the dog smells those certain smells, he is given the toy as a reward. The dog then learns to associate receiving his favorite toy when he smells the certain smells. In the end, it’s always a fun game to the dog because he may get a toy at the end.