Police forces around the world have been using dogs to aid in law enforcement duties for over a century. Canines have proven to be invaluable assets in police work due to their powerful sense of smell, ability to track suspects, and intimidating presence when confronting dangerous criminals. But not all dog breeds are well-suited for the unique demands of police work. When selecting dogs for police duty, certain breeds consistently rise to the top as the most effective.
German Shepherd
Without question, the most common and widely utilized police dog is the German Shepherd. There are many reasons why this breed is so widely used for police work:
- Intelligence – German Shepherds are known for being highly intelligent and able to follow complex commands and undertake specialized training.
- Athleticism – This breed has a combination of strength, speed, and agility necessary to physically apprehend suspects and perform rescue operations.
- Work ethic – The German Shepherd has a strong work drive and eagerness to have a job to do. They take well to rigorous training programs.
- Protectiveness – This breed bonds closely with their human handler and has strong protective instincts, making them an effective K-9 for patrol work.
- Versatility – German Shepherds excel at a wide variety of police tasks from tracking to drug detection to suspect apprehension.
Some key statistics on the German Shepherd’s prevalence in police work:
- It’s estimated that approximately 90% of police dogs in the U.S. are German Shepherds.
- Of the estimated 15,000 police dogs currently working in the U.S., over 13,000 are thought to be German Shepherds.
- The German Shepherd is the most common police dog breed worldwide, used extensively across Europe, Asia, and the Americas.
Due to their combination of qualities, German Shepherds have long been the breed of choice for K-9 units and this remains unchanged today. Their versatility, athleticism, work ethic, and protective nature make them an unmatched breed for law enforcement duties.
Belgian Malinois
While the German Shepherd is still top dog, the Belgian Malinois is a breed that has risen in popularity for police work in recent years. This smaller Belgian Shepherd variety possesses many similar qualities that make German Shepherds top police dogs, including:
- High intelligence and trainability to perform a wide range of police duties.
- A strong protective drive and loyalty to their handler.
- Quick reflexes and athleticism to chase down suspects.
- An energetic temperament that excels at constant active duty.
Some key advantages that the Belgian Malinois possesses over the German Shepherd:
- Their smaller stature makes them ideal for searches in tight spaces and being lowered from helicopters.
- The Malinois has a weather-resistant short coat suitable for operations in hot climates.
- This breed has fewer health problems as they age compared to some larger breeds.
While the total number of Belgian Malinois police dogs is still small compared to German Shepherds, many police departments have added Malinois to their K-9 units to complement the traditional German Shepherds. Some key statistics:
- An estimated 8-10% of police dogs in the U.S. are now Belgian Malinois.
- The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s K-9 platoon added 18 Belgian Malinois in 2019.
- The US Secret Service and Navy SEALS now predominantly use Belgian Malinois in their operations.
The Belgian Malinois’ rising popularity as a police dog is likely to continue in the future due to their stellar working abilities.
Dutch Shepherd
Closely related to the Belgian Malinois is another increasingly popular police dog breed – the Dutch Shepherd. While not as common as the German Shepherd or Malinois, Dutch Shepherds are being recognized for possessing many of the same excellent traits that make their cousins top police dogs.
- Highly trainable nature.
- Strong protective instincts for their handler.
- Agile and athletic build to apprehend suspects.
- Eager temperament ready to work long hours.
Some specific advantages of the Dutch Shepherd:
- Their short, brindle coat sheds minimally and provides heat insulation.
- A powerful bite force when engaged in suspect apprehension.
- Lower incidence of hip dysplasia compared to some larger breeds.
While the total number of Dutch Shepherds employed currently remains quite small, many police departments have started adding them to their forces due to their capabilities. Some statistics on Dutch Shepherds:
- 130 active police Dutch Shepherds in the Netherlands.
- The Massachusetts State Police and U.S. Border Patrol use Dutch Shepherds.
- Increasingly being bred as police dog candidates in the U.S.
The Dutch Shepherd is likely to keep rising in popularity alongside the Belgian Malinois as forces seek to diversify and capitalize on their excellent working traits.
Other Notable Police Dog Breeds
While the German Shepherd, Belgian Malinois, and Dutch Shepherd account for the vast majority of police dogs, some other breeds also see limited use in K-9 units due to their specific capabilities. These include:
Bloodhound
- Used for search and rescue missions due to their legendary sense of smell.
- Utilized to track escaped prisoners or missing persons based on scent.
- Large, wrinkled face helps trap odors to aid scent tracking.
Rottweiler
- Used for suspect apprehension and crowd control.
- Bred to herd and protect livestock.
- Size and strength to restrain non-compliant suspects.
Labrador Retriever
- Mainly used for drug detection duties.
- Friendly nature makes them excellent search dogs.
- Their inviting appearance and playful temperament is non-threatening during searches.
Beagle
- Small size allows them to search small, confined areas effectively.
- Used by the USDA to sniff out food and agricultural items being smuggled.
- Highly motivated by scent and food rewards.
While these breeds have some limited specialized roles, the vast majority of police departments predominantly utilize German Shepherds, Belgian Malinois, and Dutch Shepherds as their all-purpose police dogs who can perform a wide range of duties.
Conclusion
When considering why certain dog breeds are preferred for police work, common traits emerge such as intelligence, athleticism, trainability, and strong protective instincts towards their handler and duty. The German Shepherd clearly tops the list based on its versatility, work ethic, and stress tolerance across a range of law enforcement tasks from tracking to apprehension and everything in between.
However, the emergence of the Belgian Malinois and similar Dutch Shepherd demonstrates that some newer breeds are beginning to challenge the German Shepherd’s dominance due to their energetic temperament, strong work drives, and robust health as they age. Still, the German Shepherd remains the undisputed leader of police dog breeds worldwide.
Nonetheless, police departments are increasingly diversifying their K-9 units by mixing in drug sniffing Labrador Retrievers for narcotics detection or utilizing Bloodhound’s legendary sense of smell for search operations.
While police dogs may vary based on their specialized role, the most successful breeds for active patrol duty share the traits of intelligence, athleticism, trainability, and eagerness to work closely with their human handler. When these intrinsic characteristics are matched with proper training and deployment, police dog teams are invaluable assets for modern law enforcement.