Dog training school

A 13-week course at the police dog training school in Exeter, is undertaken by all police dogs, regardless of their handlers’ experience.

The ultimate aim of police dog training is that a dog will react in the same way, each time it hears a certain command, or sees a visual sign from the handler. To obtain this degree of response from the dog, the handler must be consistent in commands and manner.

Control is the major factor in training dogs; self-control on the part of the handler as well as control over the dog. Self-control requires that handlers must, at all times, have complete control over themselves. A handler who loses their temper during the training period will also lose control of the dog. A handler must have 100% confidence in both his dog’s ability and his own in controlling his dog.

Training is very much reward-based, be it physically, verbally or with food. Each handler must find out what works best for his own dog and apply it in such a manner as to suit his particular dog. Once the dog becomes operational, similar techniques are employed on the job. Handlers use a ‘trigger’ such as a hand signal or voice command to let the dog know it is time to work.

Dog training is a continuous process, it doesn’t start and end on the training field; physical contact between the dog and handler is a vital ingredient in the chemistry of producing a successful team.

At the end of this intensive 13-week course which covers the principles of tracking, searching for people and property, obedience training and criminal work, there is an assessment to ascertain whether the dogs are qualified to go operational.

The dogs have to pass a Home Office inspection once a year to ensure they are safe and effective and can confidently carry out the tasks expected of them.

Police dog handlers

Being a police dog handler is a long-term commitment. Police dogs have an average working life of about seven years and live with their handler both throughout their working life and into retirement. Our police dogs live with their handlers and must be sociable and family-oriented.