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Jake Read
Kinlea Hensel
English IV
11 November 2015
Research: Police Canines

When you think of a police officer you think of a very fit strong and intelligent human,
well same thing goes for police canines even though they're dogs they're tested in the same
manner as the officers who handle them. Police stations look for certain breeds of dogs. These
Police canines are also ran through certain specialized tests. There are many characteristics
needed to become a police canine such as, breed, aggression, and strength.
There are two commonly used breeds for police canine work. German shepherds are the
most commonly used breed for police canine work. Most German Shepherds are very confident
in their abilities. Most K-9 German Shepherds are alpha males, and unlike most house pets, they
remain unaltered throughout their lives in order to preserve their dominant instincts(Welter).
German Shepherds olfactory system is also one of the best out of dog breeds. German
Shepherds have an acute sense of smell thats over 30,000 times better than ours(Welter).
Belgian Malinois are a commonly used breed for police canine work as well. The dog is strong,
agile, well muscled, alert, and full of life(Belgian Malinois). The Malinois is historically a
herding dog and protector of farm and family, qualities that make him equally important to his
owners today(Belgian Malinois).
Aggression plays a tremendous part in police canine work. There are two parts to
aggression for police canines. The first part is Prey Drive. Prey Drive in a police canine is a

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necessity. Prey drive is the ability for the dog to chase and capture/apprehend its target. The dog
will be able to apprehend a threatening individual(K9 Police Dog Training). The puppy will
learn to chase(K9 Police Dog Training). The second part to aggression work is Defence Drive.
Defence Drive is the ability for the dog to defend him or herself and the officer in a hostile
situation. The dog will sense the psychological atmosphere in any situation and react
accordingly. If the dog senses a threat it will automatically go into a protection mode(K9 Police
Dog Training). The dog will be protect the household family indoors(K9 Police Dog Training).
Strength in a dog is also needed to become a police canine. One reason is police canines
need endurance to complete the task at hand. With a sturdy frame and muscular build, German
Shepherds are well-equipped to handle the physically demanding nature of police work(Welter).
Desirable police dog candidates are physically sound, mature adults that exhibit balanced
traits(Bryson). Stamina is also needed for a good police canine. This trait is extremely valuable
in high-risk or dangerous situations like chasing down and tackling a criminal trying to
escape(Welter). Law enforcement agencies need reliable sources for police dog
candidates(Bryson).
Breed, aggression, and strength play a key role in choosing police canines. German
shepherds are the most commonly used breed for this work.German shepherds have the best
sense of smell out of all breeds of dogs. These are the many ways police units go about choosing
police canine candidates.

Works Cited
"Belgian Malinois Dog Breed Information." The Belgian Malinois. American Kennel Club, n.d.
Web. 12 Nov. 2015.
Bryson, Sandy. "EFFECTS OF GENETIC SELECTION AND EXPERIENCE ON POLICE

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DOG BEHAVIOR." Operation Take Me Home. Web. 22 Oct. 2015.

"K9 Police Dog Training." Police Dog Training. NP. Web. 22 Oct. 2015
Welter, Ashley. "The 4 Must-Have Qualities Of A K-9 Crime Fighter - CrimeWire." CrimeWire.
Instant Checkmate, 20 June 2013. Web. 22 Oct. 2015