Dogs are well known for being man’s best friend but there are some occasions where they are more than that. Some exceptionally talented canines have the skills to stop crimes, sense errors and correct potential anomalies. These kinds of canines are taken care of in various Armed Forces and in the police these dogs are considered both man’s best friend and crime stopper.
There are specific breeds of dogs that are designed to work in ways that could help solve crimes and catch criminals. However, they must undergo a series of trainings first. Dog handlers have to take training courses by themselves and with their canines. First, to become a dog handler, you must complete your 2-year probationary period and must have proved yourself to be a competent police officer. You can then apply to the dog unit for a trial course with a police dog that is trained to accept commands from any handler.
Dog handler trainees are taught to handle certain breeds of dogs such as Labradors, Retrievers, German Shepherds, Rottweilers and Dobermans. All of these canines belong to the guard dogs category where their genetics are fit to handle critical matters. Basically, what a police canine does is
- Narcotics (drug) detection
Sniffer dogs have helped to safeguard ports and airports for many years. With recent increases in terrorist activities, the demand for sniffer dogs has increased especially when it comes to detecting illegal drugs. A police canine can easily detect Cannabis – resin & herbal drugs, Heroin, Cocaine, Amphetamine and Ecstasy.
- Explosives detection
Aside from drugs, sniffer dogs can also detect explosives of any form. Police dogs and their handlers are usually hired in huge corporations, malls, airports and seaports for extra security inside and outside the building. Canines, with the help of their dog handlers can sense people with hidden firearms, ammunitions and even banned food products.
- Patrol and guarding work
Police dogs are also very good at patrolling missions. These trained animals have very sharp senses on smelling and hearing that they can identify an outsider even miles away. A trained dog will aid in the defence of the officer should he be under attack. This gives officers more confidence to carry out their duties in vulnerable areas. Plus, intruders will be less likely to attack when there’s a pack of dogs who can defend its handlers.
- Search and rescue tasks
A well-trained canine can search for missing persons even though they haven’t met that specific person yet. Dog handlers are the ones responsible for helping their dogs in search operations by making contacts with the people involve on who the person really is. Usually, a dog can search for a missing person by sniffing that person’s belongings such as clothes, shoes etc.
