History of Police Dogs

Early History

• Ever since dogs were first domesticated between 12,000 and 15,000 years ago, humans have used them for security and as assistants while hunting. The Romans and Spanish conquistadors used dogs in times of war, as well as to control the people over whom they exercised control. The British used two types of dogs to assist in exterminating the native population of Jamestown in 1610: bloodhounds to hunt them down and mastiffs to grab them. The Nazis used dogs for a variety of purposes, but chiefly to attack inmates in concentration camps.

American History

• In 1840, the United States used bloodhounds against the Seminole Indians, and used them for tracking and recapturing escaped slaves. Confederate troops also used bloodhounds during the Civil War. From 1942 to 1945, a little over 19,000 dogs were donated to the U.S. Army for the Dogs for Defense program. About 45 percent of those were rejected as being unsuitable for training. Those who were accepted were trained for one of four important duties: sentry dog, scout or patrol dog, messenger dog, or mine dog. After the war, the dogs were rehabilitated and returned to the people who loaned them to the military. About 1,500 dogs were used as sentries in the Korean War, and during the Vietnam War, American troops used dogs to clear caves and tunnels of the Vietcong, as well as to find booby traps and land mines.

Guard Dogs

• Also called "watch dogs," almost any breed of dog can be trained to warn her human companion of an unexpected visitor or impending danger by barking and growling. Dogs are very territorial, and they have been used for this purpose for centuries. Many dogs are also quite well-adapted to protecting property and livestock. Most guard dogs are chosen from larger, easily-trained breeds with an intimidating appearance, such as Rottweilers, Doberman Pinschers and especially German Shepherds.

Uses in Law Enforcement

• Police initially used dogs for riot control purposes. German Shepherds were the preferred breed for such situations, as their bite acts like scissors: the large incisors and canine teeth can tear out chunks of flesh, causing wounds that can easily become infected, as well as leaving scars. Police canine use later expanded to tracking and drug and explosive detection.

Modern Police Work

• Today's police dogs are trained to intimidate and subdue suspects, rather than to severely injure or kill them. Most police dog units are referred to as "K-9" units, which is a homophone of the word "canine." Many police forces across the country outfit their K-9 officers with bulletproof vests, their own identification and police badges. Anyone who intentionally injures or kills a K-9 officer is guilty of a felony in many jurisdictions, and K-9 officers killed in the line of duty are often afforded their own police funeral.

K-9 Training

• Dogs and their handlers must attend courses in order to be properly trained to work together. Police dogs can be trained to detect explosives, narcotics, arson, mines and pirated DVDs, as well as for tracking, search and rescue, and patrol. Yearly, onsite recertification is often required. The dogs must first be experts in obedience before being considered for police work, and often they are at least 2 years old prior to receiving police training.

Family Life

• Because police dogs and their handlers work as a team, the dogs usually live with their handlers' families. This also ensures that the dogs remain friendly and social. The team of K-9 and human officers is one of complete trust and understanding. The handler must use good judgment in highly stressful and often dangerous situations and maintain complete control of his K-9 partner. Retired K-9 officers can remain with their family or be adopted out to civilians whose home situations qualify.