Police Dogs

Police dogs were first used in 1899 by the Belgian police force. In the UK, we were slow to recognise the potential of using dogs to deter criminals, and in 1934, as a result of the continental success, the Home Office set up a committee to study and examine the worth of police dogs and the facilities that should be given to their training.

The police were still not very enthusiastic about the idea, as they feared that the dogs might prove dangerous and their use would harm police-public relations. However, after the Second World War, the dogs proved highly successful in London, especially in such areas as Hyde Park and as a result their use was eventually extended throughout the different police forces.

Police dogs have now become an acceptable specialist arm in the fight against crime and there is not a police force in the UK that does not have a dog section.

Training

Every dog and has to undergo extensive training. The general patrol dogs (German Shepherds) have to complete a twelve week course with its handler at a training school. This training involves basic skills, obedience and agility exercises. If this course is successfully completed, the dog and handler will be able to start patrol work.

The 12 week course is for all general patrol dogs, regardless of their handlers' experience and is held at the Strathclyde Police Dog School. The ultimate aim of police dog training is that a dog will react in the same way each time it hears a certain command or sees a visual sign from the handler. To obtain this degree of response from the dog, the handler must be consistent in commands and manner.

Training is very much reward based, be it physically, verbally or with food. Each handler must find out what works best for his own dog and apply it in such a manner as to suit his particular dog. Once the dog finally becomes operational, similar techniques are employed on the job. Handlers use a 'trigger', such as a hand signal or voice command to let the dog know it is time to work.

The 12 week course covers the principles of tracking, searching for people and property, obedience training and criminal work. At the end, there is an assessment to decide whether the dogs are qualified to go into operational work.

Continuous assessment is very much a part of dog policing. The dogs also have to pass a Home Office inspection once a year to ensure they are safe and effective, and can carry out the tasks expected of them.

Also, to ensure the dogs are fully trained, both dog and handler have to attend regular training days and local refresher courses. The aims of these courses are to continually learn new skills and improve those already learnt on the initial course.

Police dog training is a continuous process, it doesn't start and end on the training field; physical contact between the dog and handler is a vital ingredient in the chemistry of producing a successful team.

Dog Handlers

Being a handler is a long term commitment. Police dogs have an average working life of about eight years and live with their handler both throughout their working life and into their 'retirement'.

Police dog handlers also must show a full-time commitment, as police dogs live with their handlers and must be sociable and family oriented.

It is not all a dogs-life though, as police dogs receive holidays alongside their handler, and this will be spent at home with the handler or in police kennels.

Dogs and Their Roles

Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary has ten working police dogs in total; three general purpose dogs, four drugs detection dogs and three explosive detection dogs.

General Purpose Dogs

General purpose dogs are German Shepherds and are found throughout the Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary. They are used for a variety of duties including:

• Crowd management
• Searching of buildings and open grounds for missing or wanted people
• Search or recovery for evidence
• Tracking of suspects
• Maintaining public order
• High profile patrols, such as attending football matches, protests and VIP visits.

Drugs Detection Dogs

Drug detection dogs are Spaniels and receive 8 weeks specialised training. The tasks they are involved in include:

• Searching buildings for illegal drugs
• Looking through suspected vehicles for harmful substances
• Exploring open ground and areas for narcotics
• Scanning anyone who is suspected of carrying various kinds of drugs

Explosive Detection Dogs

Explosive detection dogs are also Spaniels and receive 8 weeks specialised training. They help officers with the searching of buildings, vehicles and open areas for numerous types of explosives.