Police Dogs (K-9 Units)

People are safe and those dogs are trained to sniff drugs, bombs and stuff like that.

From time to time our department gets a call from an outside agency and the conversation typically goes something like this: "We were thinking of starting a K-9 unit. We have a German Shepherd and a car; what else do we need to do?"

First, our experience has been that it is highly likely only one of the two things that you have may actually work; that is, the car. Second, your department should be aware that starting a K-9 unit will not be a cheap proposition. According to the United States Police Canine Association (USPCA), budget is the number one killer of police K-9 units. Although the car you have in mind may be used, the required modifications mean dedicating the unit and that may be prohibitive in small departments that have a limited number of vehicles.

The short answer is: you can't. Police dogs are very highly trained by experts. Police departments don't buy police dogs from private parties, only from special training schools.

Yes, women can work on the K-9 unit. I have never heard of a department that will not allow that.

Many people are unaware of this, but the K-9 unit requires any candidates to pass a very difficult physical test. The reason being that as a K-9 officer, you will be in control of a large German shep and there may be time where you may have to actually lift the dog eg. if need to get the dog over a fence but still maintain control without unleashing.

As long as the physical can be passed, any candidate is eligible.
yes