Police dog breeds are one of law enforcement officials’ most valuable tools available to them in their line of work. These dogs are trained to the best of their ability.
Police dog handlers must be prepared to understand how each dog responds to certain things.
And what they need to do to effectively get the dogs’ attention when they need it the most.
Here are some of the different police dog breeds used by law enforcement agencies across the country today:
1. Bloodhound
The Bloodhound is one of the oldest police dog breeds, dating back to the 11th century. This breed was initially used to hunt deer and wild boar and track criminals.
Meanwhile, the Bloodhound’s sense of smell is so acute that they can track a person by scent for miles. In recent years, Bloodhounds have been used increasingly as police dogs.
They are often used to track down missing persons or fugitives, and their sense of smell has led to the capture of many criminals.
2. Belgian Malinois
The Belgian Malinois is a breed of dog used as a working dog for many different purposes. One of these is police work.
Police forces have used the Belgian Malinois in many countries, including the United States. The breed is known for its high level of intelligence and its ability to be trained for various tasks.
3. German Shepherd
The German Shepherd is one of the most popular police dog breeds. They are knowledgeable and trainable, making them perfect for law enforcement work.
Also, German Shepherds are very loyal and protective, which makes them great protectors of their handlers. These dogs are large and robust, with a thick coat that protects them from the elements.
They are also courageous and have a strong work ethic, which makes them ideal for police work.
4. Doberman Pinscher
The Doberman Pinscher is one of the most popular police dog breeds. They are known for their loyalty, obedience, and protectiveness.
In addition, Dobermans are very athletic and have a strong sense of smell, making them ideal for tracking criminals. They are also one of the most intelligent dog breeds, which makes them easy to train.
5. Airedale Terrier
The Airedale Terrier is a police dog breed that originated in England. These dog breeds are known for their loyalty, obedience, and strength.
They were initially bred to hunt game, but they have since been used for various other purposes, including law enforcement.
Meanwhile, Airedale Terriers are large police dog breeds weighing up to 65 pounds. They are known to be aggressive but can be trained to be gentle and loving companions.
6. Boxer
Boxers are a medium to large dog breed originally developed in Germany. The head is square, and the muzzle is short, with a black nose.
The coat is short and tight-fitting; colors include fawn, brindled, or white, often with black markings.
Boxers are energetic and playful but also loyal and protective of their family. These qualities make them excellent police dog breeds.
7. Rajapalayam Dog
Rajapalayam police dog breeds are a type of sighthound from the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
The breed is the Poligar hound, after a now-extinct feudal caste in Tamil Nadu. Rajapalayams were used to hunt wild boars and deer and as guard dogs.
In addition, the Rajapalayam is a large, muscular dog with a short, dense coat that can be white, grey, or brown.
The breed is known for its loyalty and courage and has been used by the police force in India since the 1950s.
Rajapalayams make great police dogs because of their sharp senses and ability to track criminals.
8. Bouvier des Flandres
The Bouvier des Flandres is a large, rugged breed known for its loyalty and protective nature.
These police dog breeds are often used as police dogs due to their courage and ability to track criminals.
They are also excellent guard dogs and will defend their homes and families with their lives.
9. Akita Inu
The Akita Inu is a popular police dog breed in Japan. The Akita Inu is a large and powerful dog with a muscular build and a loyal, protective nature.
Akitas are intelligent and quick to learn, making them excellent candidates for police work.
They are also fearless and tenacious, which makes them good at apprehending criminals.
Akitas are loyal and protective of their handlers, which makes them ideal partners for police officers.
10. Giant Schnauzer
The Giant Schnauzer is a versatile breed that excels in several roles, including as a police dog. These police dog breeds are large and powerful, with a solid working drive.
Furthermore, they are intelligent and trainable, making them ideal for law enforcement work.
Giant Schnauzers have been used as police dogs in several countries and have a proven track record of success in this field.
11. Labrador Retriever
The Labrador Retriever is one of the most popular police dog breeds.
They are intelligent, obedient, and have a strong work ethic. They are also gentle and good with children, which makes them ideal for law enforcement work.
Labrador Retrievers are used in various roles, including search and rescue, drug detection, and tracking.
12. American Pit Bull Terrier
The American Pit Bull Terrier is a dog that has been used as a police dog in some areas. The breed is known for its strength, loyalty, and tenacity.
Pit bulls were originally bred for fighting and bull-baiting but have also been used as working dogs in many capacities.
Today, some police departments use pit bulls as K-9 units. The breed has also been known to excel as a search and rescue dog and a detection dog.
13. Briard
Briards are a large, strong breed of dog known for their loyalty and courage.
They were initially bred in France and used as police dogs in Europe for centuries.
Briards are intelligent and trainable, making them ideal candidates for law enforcement work.
In addition to their size and strength, Briardas also have a keen sense of smell, making them excellent at tracking criminals.
14. Beagle
The Beagle is a small-sized hound dog, initially bred for hunting rabbits and hares.
Today, Beagles are still used as hunting dogs, but they’re also popular family pets. And some Beagles even work as police dogs!
These pups have a great sense of smell and can track down scents over long distances. Making them ideal for search-and-rescue missions and tracking down criminals.
15. Cane Corso
The Cane Corso is a large and powerful breed sometimes used as a police dog.
They are intelligent and trainable but can also be headstrong and stubborn.
These police dog breeds need firm, consistent training and socialization from an early age. They are not the best choice for first-time dog owners.
16. Dutch Shepherd
The Dutch Shepherd is a versatile and intelligent breed that excels at various tasks—making them ideal candidates for police work. They are strong and athletic, with an instinct to protect and serve.
In addition, their high level of intelligence enables them to be quick learners, which makes training much easier than with other breeds.
Alongside their service dog capabilities, they can also hunt down criminals or track missing people through various terrains.
Their size may not suit everyone, but their versatility makes up for it.
