Reasons to Use Full Size Dog Cages in Police Cars

Dogs as police companions is a common and long-standing practice. The dogs become an extension of the human's abilities, as they can smell and hear beyond the human range. Dogs are trained from puppies to become police dogs, and the police departments that recruit the dogs use larger crates in the back of the police car for specific reasons.

  1. Typical Dog Breeds for Police Work

    • Police dog breeds are typically German shepherds, Labrador retrievers and bloodhounds. The German shepherds have strong, but not hostile, personalities, which makes them ideal dogs to capture and hold criminals. Labrador retrievers were bred to catch and hold prey without biting, which also makes them good dogs to hold criminals. Bloodhounds have been bred to search with their noses where humans cannot see, such as underground or under rubble, making them terrific police search and rescue companions.

    Dog Sizes

    • The German shepherd is a mean of 24 inches in height, from paw to top of the head. The Labrador retrievers are a mean of 22 to 25 inches in height, while the bloodhound is a mean of 26 inches. The dogs, reaching up to and beyond two feet from the ground, are not small dogs. The average human will be able to pat thier heads with very little bending.

    Crating Dogs

    • The number one rule to crating dogs is to make sure the dog has enough room to stand and turn around. For comparison, place yourself in a box where you cannot stand or stretch your feet. Stay there for eight to ten hours, which is a typical working dog's day. Soon enough, you will be very uncomfortable. A large crate is used in a police vehicle to enclose a dog of a larger size.

    Keeping Dogs Happy and Working

    • The dogs in the back of police cars are more than just animals. They are highly-trained, intelligent working dogs. Many police departments consider these animals an irreplaceable part of the team. The police officer needs to be comfortable and happy in his job; so does the canine partner. A happy dog will work harder than a dog who feels cramped or has leg issues due to improper crating. Just as humans need proper working conditions to be at peak performance, so do animals. Large crates are used in police vehicles to keep the dogs at their best health.