Police dogs, also known as K-9 (a play on the word “canine”), have been assisting law enforcement and the military for hundreds of years. These highly trained dogs work alongside policemen for various tasks such as tracking missing people, detecting narcotics, and clearing dangerous areas.
K-9 units are also used for search and rescue missions and help collect criminal evidence due to their amazing sense of smell. Apart from their law enforcement duties, they also serve as therapy dogs, providing emotional support to their owners.
Dogs come in various sizes, shapes, and colors, but not all breeds are well-suited for police and military work. Only certain dogs with high intelligence, obedience, loyalty, strength, and easy trainability excel as police dogs.
Have a look at 7 dog breeds perfect for police K-9 units.
Dog Breeds Perfect for Police K-9 Units
1. German Shepherd
Breed Profile
Height: 22 to 26 inches
Weight: 50 to 90 pounds
Life Expectancy: 7 to 10 years
When we think of a police dog, the German Shepherd is the first breed that comes to our mind. Known for their fearlessness, loyalty, and obedient nature, GSDs have been employed by law enforcement and military forces in many parts of the world.
GSDs are hunting dogs with excellent tracking and detection skills. Their high intelligence, athletic personalities, endurance, and willingness to work make them great K-9 candidates.
Police departments employ GSDs for various tasks such as search and rescue missions and detecting explosives.
2. Belgian Malinois
Breed Profile
Height: 22 to 26 inches
Weight: 40 to 80 pounds
Life Expectancy: 14 to 16 years
Belgian Malinois is another popular police dog breed with a muscular build. It resembles German Shepherds a lot in appearance; however, it is smaller and can be more exciting.
Due to its relatively smaller size, Belgian Malinois can enter and search places that GSDs cannot. They typically enjoy a longer lifespan and face fewer health problems compared to many other breeds, making them a more cost-effective and low-risk choice over time.
Belgian Malinois have strong protective instincts, making them excellent watchdogs. They possess amazing skills for detecting explosives and tracking suspects with their keen sense of smell. They served during World War I and World War II as medical couriers.
3. Bloodhound
Breed Profile
Height: 23 to 27 inches
Weight: 80 to 110 pounds
Life Expectancy: 10 to 12 years
Bloodhounds have the strongest sense of smell among all dog breeds. Their nose has 300 million scent receptors. Due to their sensitive noses, they are the first animal whose evidence is admissible in the U.S. court.
Bloodhounds have been used for police work for several decades. They assist in detecting drugs, explosives, and illegal substances.
The military uses them to detect land mines and track missing persons. Bloodhounds are now frequently used for security tasks and search and rescue operations.
4. Boxer
Breed Profile
Height: 21.5 to 25 inches
Weight: 50 to 80 pounds
Life Expectancy: 10 to 12 years
Boxers are fearless dogs having a strong desire to please their handlers. They were first selected for police training in Germany. Now, they serve as law enforcement and police dogs in Europe and America as well. These obedient dogs form strong bonds with their handlers and are excellent guard dogs.
Do You know? During Word Wars I and II, Boxers served military in guarding perimeters and assisted in communication by working as military messengers.
Their stable personalities and muscular bodies make them well-suited for police work. They specialize in protecting law enforcement officers in the line of duty. Boxers are known for their ability to remain calm under pressure and their high trainability.
5. Rottweiler
Breed Profile
Height: 22 to 27 inches
Weight: 80 to 135 pounds
Life Expectancy: 9 to 10 years
Rottweilers are excellent family guardians who served the military in both World Wars. They are preferred by military and police departments due to their courageous and aggressive nature. Although Rottweilers are sometimes labelled as dangerous, they are not inherently vicious.
With their strong build and natural protective instincts, Rottweilers are well-suited for patrol and guarding roles. Known for their unwavering loyalty, they can be effectively trained to perform a wide range of police duties with confidence and control.
They just want to protect and are reactive. The American Kennel Club describes them as loyal, loving, and confident guardians. They need plenty of exercise, including games of fetch and tug of war. Proper training and socialization can help positively harness their territorial nature.
6. American Pit Bull Terrier
Breed Profile
Height: 17 to 21 inches
Weight: 30 to 70 pounds
Life Expectancy: 8 to 15 years
The American Pit Bull Terrier is a powerful and agile dog typically used for patrolling and detection work. Due to their strong protective instincts, they make wonderful guard dogs. They can fearlessly chase criminals and detect explosives and drugs.
American Pit Bull Terrier helps in violent crowd control and domestic violence situations. They have an outgoing and friendly temperament, but at the same time, are quite strong-willed.
According to PetMD, they are the “Velcro dogs” that always desire to stay close to their handlers.
7. Doberman Pinscher
Breed Profile
Height: 24 to 28 inches
Weight: 60 to 100 pounds
Life Expectancy: 10 to 12 years
The Doberman Pinscher is a large dog breed known for its muscular build and intimidating appearance. According to PDSA, their fearlessness, instinct to protect, and intelligence make them well-suited for police work. They are highly responsive to training.
Therefore, a Doberman Pinscher can be trained to track and detect anything. They also serve as fierce attack dogs for SWAT teams.
Dobermans lack a double coat due to which means they cannot withstand extremely cold weather. So they are well-suited for law enforcement teams working in warmer areas.
Conclusion
Many dog breeds that were initially used for herding or hunting purposes now serve the police and military departments as K-9 units. Their sturdy bodies, high intelligence, easy trainability, and keen sense of smell make them ideal for detection work, search and rescue tasks, and finding missing individuals.
If you are planning to adopt such a dog, make sure to train them properly to overcome their territorial nature.
