K9 officer ? - Page 1

Does a K9 officer that is knowledgable about breed get any kind of choice of what partner he/she gets? Because I have seen some of the dogs used around here...and I know that I would rather choose my own dog and where it comes from. Or at least have some kinda of input.

Thank you...Kelly

Hi Kelly,

It depends on the department. If the department buys the dog, the handler buys the dog, or if the dog is donated.

Many of your larger departments have contracts with brokers and buy all their dogs through that broker. Sometimes they shop around but still buy mainly from brokers. When this is the situation, the indivdual handler often has little or no say on what dog they end up with. Esp if they are new handlers.

With smaller departments, the handler will often be forced to purchase their own dog or have one donated. In this scenario, usually an outside trainer or the lead handler with test and choose the dog, the handler can do it, or they get what ever dog is donated to them.

Yes it is scary sometimes to see certain dogs on the street. Even worse when the handler really doesn't know what the dog is and thinks it is more dog than it actually is.

LE runs the gammut. You have very good trainers, handlers, and dogs, and then you have some very poor ones.

Generally speaking, the smaller the department, the worse it is.

Kelly,

From what I know about it I would say no.  

Brent.

GARD is correct.  Though I do know of one smaller city the officer is getting donations for his own dog, and he KNOWS dogs and is going to one of the best to be certified.  For a small K9 unit starting out they will have the best.  There have also been some areas that would select puppies and the handlers would raise/train them from the very beginning.  These areas have very strong K9 departments and also top directors.