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CRIME-fighting canines are among the most highly-trained officers on a police force – but some people may be surprised they aren’t paid a penny for their efforts.
While police dogs aren’t paid with money – they can still earn rewards for their law enforcement capabilities.
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Do police dogs get paid?
In a word, no – police dogs do not get paid.
But while they don’t take home a salary, the pooches are compensated in other ways.
One way they bring home the bacon is through extra treats and snacks.
Others that are more play-focused are repaid in fun and playtime – which all feeds into their training through positive reinforcement.
One example – according to woofandbeyond – sees bomb-sniffing dogs trained with toys.
After sniffing out a fake ‘bomb’, often a white towel, the canine cop will be rewarded with a game of tug-of-war.
They are also rewarded through benefits that most dogs don’t have access to, including top-tier medical treatment, high-quality diets – even specialised funerals if they die in the line of duty.
How many hours does a police dog work?
Police dogs work long hours alongside other officers on the force – but often will be used above and beyond the normal 8-hour working day.
This will include a variety of working hours, from early 6am starts to late-night shifts into the early hours of the morning.
Some forces also allow their dog handlers to work a reduced seven-hour shift, so they can have time to feed their canines and clean their kennels.
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Do police dog handlers take the dog home?
Crime-stopping canines and their handlers are a unit that stay together 24/7.
After finishing a long shift on the streets, police dogs are often taken home by their handlers and get to live a normal family life.
What jobs can police dogs do?
Police dogs are highly trained and are extremely intelligent, and carry out all kinds of jobs for a police department.
Some are drug or bomb-sniffing experts, while others are trained to control crowds, protect VIP’s and stand guard for valuables.
