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Police Dogs: Partners in Justice

A dog’s nose is 10,000 times more acute than ours. This fact is the reason why they play such a vital role in many police operations. That which can’t be seen with the eye, can be smelled with the dog’s nose. Common breeds of dogs used as police dogs include (but are not limited to) German Shepherds, Labrador Retrievers, Rottweilers, Dobermann and Bloodhounds.

Search and Rescue Dogs

Search and rescue dogs are used to locate suspects, as well as to find people who have gone missing. They are awesome because they don’t hesitate to risk their lives to do what they are trained to do. Thousands of human lives are saved every year through the combined efforts of police officers and search and rescue dogs. Also known as SAR dogs, search and rescue dogs find people through detecting an individual’s unique scent. Depending on atmospheric variances, a well-trained SAR can detect an individual’s scent from up to ¼ of a mile away, or more.

Detection Dogs

Another type of police dog is called a detection dog. Detection dogs specialize in finding drugs or explosives that a person may be carrying. They are trained to target specific scents that include:
  • Drugs
  • Explosives
  • Guns
  • Criminal Evidence
  • Cash
  • Other Contraband
Detection dogs are able to sniff out these items, even when someone tries to mask them with other odors. Detection dogs are able to do this because they smell in “layers.” They have the ability to differentiate between multiple smells and multiple ingredients. So basically even if someone tries to be sneaky and mask an odor, the dog’s nose picks up the target scent regardless.

Arson Dogs

Arson dogs are another big help to the police. They are trained to pick up the slightest trace of materials at locations where arson is suspected. They are used to identify if there are minute traces of accelerants that may have been used to start a fire.

Cadaver Dogs

Lastly, cadaver dogs are an invaluable asset to the police. Their noses are so sensitive that they are even capable of detecting the trace scent of a body that is located underneath the water. Through the help of cadaver dogs, those who killed can be brought to justice with the evidence that is discovered.

Police Dogs and Technology

Have you ever heard of the Fido Cam? This digital camera unit may be used by police dogs during searches. It allows humans to see the situation from a police dog’s perspective. The Fido Cam attaches to the dog’s head. The Fido Cam may be beneficial in many different types of situations. For instance, if the police are searching for a dangerous person, they can send in the police dog with the Fido Cam to find them. Watch out, criminals. You’re on Fido Cam!