Police Puppies Challenge Stereotypes About Service Dogs

Every tough police dog was once a cute puppy like these.

Damjan

• Published in Animals
• August 31, 2020

Dogs serve in law enforcement units in practically every country in the world, and those dogs are irreplaceable because of their sense of smell and bravery. Some dog breeds are more “usable” because of their natural qualities.

German Shepherd Dogs, Dutch Shepherds, Belgian Malinois and the mixes of these breeds are some of the most popular choices for Law Enforcement Dogs. We can sometimes see Dobermans, Rottweilers, Boxers, and Labrador Retrievers as service dogs too.

It's not as common to see dogs outside of German Shepherds and Belgian Malinois, though, other than for specific tasks. But no matter what breed a service dog belongs to, they always look so tough and serious.

But even the toughest service dog was once a cute puppy. Service dogs start their training early as puppies, so when they join the service, they aren't tough stuff, they're just adorable puppies. 

1. New Zealand's Puppy Patrol in training

2. Taiwan's cutest puppy ever, perhaps.

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Police dogs live with their handlers while they are in active service and even after their retirement. Their handlers take care of them like they are their own pets, which makes a bond that can't be broken.

Even regular dogs can be well behaved and fit as service dogs. Dog behaviorist Nick Jones MA says that "As well as focusing on basic dog training commands, in the beginning, it is essential that the owner focuses upon creating a dog that is polite, mannerly and can accept control and direction from the handler."

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"Like people, all dogs are different, and adjustments made as we progress are part and parcel of the journey. Try not to let setbacks or a seeming lack of progress deter you, as it's normal to experience pauses and then surges in your dog's ability to listen and take directions."

"In summary, focus on good manners and polite behavior as your very first port of call, and then gradually layer in increasingly difficult training challenges in keeping with your dog's progress as it develops," Jonas says.

Maybe we should all try this. It's highly unlikely that we will catch many bad guys when we go for a walk, but the training itself will create a strong bond, and we will learn to appreciate each other more.

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Best results in dog training are achieved when it starts at an early age. "On the basis that a new puppy is acquired at eight weeks of age, training can commence from the very beginning," Jones says.

"Not in a formal sense, more along the lines of implementing short sits, waits and an introduction to good manners and polite behavior towards humans and other animals. Training programs evolve over time, and as the dog matures and becomes more settled, the owner can increase the challenges set for the dog."

The owners should keep in mind that dog training is a challenge and that mistakes are inevitable. The trainer has to have the right attitude to push through them.

"It's good to have a plan, but all plans are subject to minor setbacks, and your dog will have no appreciation for the plan that you have, and so we are to an extent at the dog's mercy in terms of how quickly we can make progress in terms of training and behavior," Jones clarified.

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Damjan