14 best police dog breeds to keep your family safe

Law enforcement officials utilize search dogs as a powerful instrument. They may be utilized during a search, assault, or arrest and in many other circumstances, such as locating missing persons or detecting drugs. Police canines have been around for almost 300 years, and their use has grown since the 1980s, with the debut of drug-sniffing dogs. Police dogs come in various breeds, but these eight best ones will give you some of the finest security available for yourself and your family.

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American Pit Bull Terrier


Pit Bulls are known for their loyalty and devotion. Those are a highly intelligent dog that is well suited for a wide range of police activities. He enjoys training sessions and the mental and physical activity that comes with being on duty all day.

The average lifespan of a hunting dog is 12 to 16 years. These alert, protective canines make excellent police partners.

Beagle

On the opposite end of the spectrum, we have a breed that may not be expected to be a great police dog, but the beagle has one of the finest noses in the business. The beagle is a small breed with a huge character and makes wonderful pets and excellent police dog partners. These dogs may be found on airports, border areas, and as narcotic detecting patrol animals, among other places.

Belgian Malinois


The Belgian Malinois is a confident, hardworking dog with a robust muscular physique. These world-class working dogs assist in a variety of activities, including herding livestock and police work.

The Belgian Malinois, like the German shepherd, is a breed of excellent herding dog. However, compared to other great herding dogs such as the German Shepherd and Rottweiler, they are usually somewhat smaller. The Belgian Malinois has a strong work ethic and forms a close, loyal connection with his handler.

Active dogs that learn quickly and want to please their owners with good instruction are the most popular breeds for these roles. The powerful Belgian Malinois has become one of the most prevalent types employed in law-enforcement operations both in the United States and across the world.

Bloodhound

With a unique appearance, the bloodhound has an acute sense of smell and can find a needle in a haystack if you need it. This breed is capable of tracking miles away to locate either a trapped victim or a fleeing criminal. Because this dog was initially utilized for hunting and tracking, it’s only natural that it excels at police work.

Boxers

The Boxer was originally bred as an effective guard dog, making it well adapted for police work. These clever dogs develop strong friendships and are also fiercely devoted to their owners.

Boxers need a lot of mental and physical activity daily, so they’ll enjoy having a set of standard tasks. These exuberant and athletic dogs on average live from 8 to 10 years.

It’s worth noting that these adorable puppies have a childlike spirit (and they’re also fantastic with children). So regular, consistent training sessions will be required to keep their abilities sharp. With an eagerness to please and a loyal disposition, these dogs might make excellent cops.

Briard


The briard has a long history as a dependable guard dog, making the breed ideally suited for police duty. These loving dogs are pretty bright, making them highly trainable.

However, because these dogs can be independent or challenging to handle to a fault, they must receive enough time to connect and train with their owners. These dogs usually live for 10 to 12 years. These magnificent canines know how to take charge, making them excellent candidates for everyday work. The briard will be ecstatic to help you with your everyday chores since he’s always up for a challenge.

Cane Corso


The Cane Corso is an exceptionally bright dog, so he can learn new things quickly. On the other hand, these dogs may be a little obstinate, so they’ll need regular and intense training to thrive.

The Cane Corso is an energetic dog breed that loves to keep occupied. The Cane Corso might be a great companion for security, patrolling, or acting as a loyal guard dog.

Doberman Pinscher


The majority of these canines live 10 to 12 years and are recognized for their agility, demeanor, and brave attitude. Dobies are adoring dogs that will go into harm’s way to defend those they care about or achieve their duty as police dogs.

As highly engaged members of the working group, these dogs require a lot of mental and physical activity throughout the day. As a result, working with a police department might be a good fit for these dogs if they get adequate training.

Dutch Shepherds


Dutch Shepherds, like German Shepherds and Belgian Malinois, are among the most popular police K9 breeds in their field. They’re known for performing “dual-purpose” police work—a mix of detection-based tasks and more active roles such as patrol and apprehension.

The American Kennel Club classifies Dutch shepherds as the most energetic dogs, with an energy level of E. Originally bred for all-purpose farm work, they are now one of the more popular police dogs due to their devotion, intellect, athleticism, and ambition to work.

German Shepherd

In terms of exercise, German shepherd dogs or GSDs are energetic pups who enjoy spending time on their feet (er, paws) throughout the day. These canine cuties generally live for 10 to 14 years and weigh about 70 to 100 pounds.

German shepherds are a breed of dog that looks great in almost every environment and situation. They can be found in the military, police, on the farm, or even on television. There’s no doubting these highly trainable dogs are excellent for just about any task you put before them.

Giant Schnauzers


These working dogs have a powerful build and a big personalities to match. A well-trained giant schnauzer has various career possibilities, including cattle herding and serving as an alert guard dog.

The giant schnauzer is a popular dog breed that has a strong build and sharp intellect. If you have a large schnauzer, you know how important it is to keep these impressive creatures intellectually and physically engaged throughout the day.

Giant schnauzers are heroes of K-9 units because of their insatiable desire to work. These canines generally live between 10 and 12 years.

German Short-Haired Pointers


These dogs, like labs, were developed to assist with hunting—seeking out prey, pointing at it, and bringing it back—while still being friendly family pets. GSPs are generally assigned to the same detection and tracking tasks as labs because they are intelligent, ultra-energetic, and eager to please. They’re wonderful because they have the drive and natural desire to hunt and work. Still, they’re also very friendly dogs who typically fit right in with handlers’ families.

Labrador Retriever

The Labrador retriever is not the first breed that springs to mind when you think of dogs well-suited for police work. Still, this breed’s trustworthy, clever, and trainable disposition makes them an unexpectedly excellent choice.

Labradors typically live for 10 to 12 years and make excellent family pets after they’ve stopped working as a task force. These adaptable and bright dogs are well-equipped for a wide range of law enforcement responsibilities. However, they are generally utilized in scent detection or rescue operations rather than patrol work, as some breeds.

Rottweiler

Rottweilers, affectionately known as “Rotties,” have a robust, muscular physique with a courageous, caring spirit. These busy dogs adore keeping themselves occupied, making police work an exciting prospect for the pups.

Rottweilers and Rottweiler mixes are eager to please, but they need frequent training sessions to remain sharp. Rottweilers and Rottweiler mixes have a self-assuredness that makes them ideal for executing their tasks under high-pressure conditions.

Rottweilers are highly loyal to their owners or handlers, and police officers can count on them to keep them safe while they’re performing their regular duties.

Credits: thanks for the cover photo to Canva.

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