There are around 2,000 police dogs that work across all the police forces within the UK.

Police dogs are trained in a number of roles and disciplines including General Purpose or Specialist Search dogs.

GP dogs are trained in multi-disciplines and undertake a wide range of roles including tracking suspects, searching for missing people, finding and recovering evidence, public order and operating in dangerous situations providing protection to the public and their handler.

Specialist search dogs are trained to sniff out and identify explosives, drugs, firearms, cash, ammunition, bodily fluids, dead bodies, and can even find hard drives or SIM cards.

Police dogs and GP dogs are a variety of breeds, including German or Belgian Shepherds, Malinois or Dutch Herders. Specialist search dogs are mostly Labradors, Spaniels and cross breeds and need a high drive to be able to perform their role.

Police Dogs are allocated to specific handlers, with many working alongside both a GP and a specialist search dog. They work as a team forming a close bond, living with the handler at the family home.

Most police dogs work until they are between 8 and 10 years of age and when they reach retirement most hope to remain with their handler as a pet.

The work of the NFRSA will ensure that handlers will be able to keep their companions and partners into their retirement, so the dogs are able to live their best lives in their advancing years, with the family they have always known, and without the worry of the potential costs of their care and well-being. And if the dogs are re-homed, their new families will also have that reassurance.

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The basic requirements for a police horse when they join the force is that they are aged between 4 and 9 years, have some schooling commensurate to their age, with a minimum height of 16.3 ‘hands’ (or 1.70 metres), a good confirmation and good feet, and are of a medium to heavy build.

The colour doesn’t matter, although a solid colour is preferred due to some ceremonial duties – but it is essential they have a calm and trainable character, which would include being non-reactive to traffic.

,Initially a new horse will come on trial for 4-6 weeks and undergo both 2 and 5 stage veterinary assessments. During this stage it will be ridden by experienced trainers in a variety of low level situations. It may not be used for police work of any kind during this period.

Once the trial is completed and the horse has been purchased it will be known as a “Remount”. It will continue training for between 6 months to 2 years (depending on the horse’s age, temperament and experience). This will initially be with an experienced trainer and then passed over to an allocated Intermediate rider to progress. Once it has reached a level where it has demonstrated consistency, being safe and effective in all operational environments and can be used as an operational resource, it will be known as a “Standard /Operational Horse”

Training will include a variety of general schooling, groundwork (lungeing and long reining), nuisance training, patrol training, trop drill rides, and public order training.

Police horses work on average between 5-6 days / week with 1-2 rest days. Where possible they will receive turn out to graze and rest in fields alongside this. The week will comprise of a mixture of training, patrols and events.

Some of these may include community engagement patrols, operations (for example ‘Op Servator’ which is anti-terrorism), working with partner organisations (for example The British Horse Society ‘Dead Slow’ campaign), rural patrols, assisting in missing persons searches, school visits and community events, Ceremonial events, football/rugby/racing/concert events – in fact any event with large crowds, night-time economy (town patrols), public order events, and mutual aid to other forces.

On reaching “Operational standard” a horse will receive its Operational name, collar number and the title PH (Police Horse). This will be in line with a forces tradition (Gloucestershire Horses are all named after local places) for example PH Prestbury PH005. They are protected by law and any assault to them is regarded as serious as assaulting an officer.

A police horse may start its career as young as 4 years old, others may join at a later stage. In good health and soundness, a Police horse will continue its career into its mid- twenties when it is generally advised for any horse to resume a quieter life. Some sadly do accrue injury and ill health and will serve a shorter career. The Horse Trust in Berkshire cater for any retired service animal who have 4 or more years in service. Others may retire to private homes at the discretion of the force, and it is at this point that The NFRSA will be there to support our police horses in their retirement.

A police horse may start its career as young as 4 years old, others may join at a later stage. In good health and soundness, a Police horse will continue its career into its mid- twenties when it is generally advised for any horse to resume a quieter life. Some sadly do accrue injury and ill health and will serve a shorter career. The Horse Trust in Berkshire cater for any retired service animal who have 4 or more years in service.

Others may retire to private homes at the discretion of the force, and it is at this point that the NFRSA will be there to support our police horses in their retirement when they are on need of veterinary assistance.

Please help us to support them in their twilight years by donating to the NFRSA today. You can choose a one-off donation, or a monthly contribution by clicking the button below.

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Fire Investigation Search Dogs (FISD) have been operational within the UK for over two decades. Today there are around 18 operational dogs across the UK, many of which are employed by Fire & Rescue Services.

Fire Investigation Search Dogs become operational after between six to eight weeks intensive training. They are able to search a cold fire scene and detect the presence of liquid ignitable accelerants such as petrol, diesel, white spirits, and many more. These accelerants may have been used to deliberately start a fire, and the FISD are able to detect and indicate even the smallest amounts left behind.

Some of these deployments can be extremely challenging and dangerous, but the handler will always ensure the dogs welfare and safety is of the most paramount importance.

Fire Investigation Search Dogs have been fundamental in supporting the collection of evidence for many crimes, including murder and they have played a vital role in the progression and development of the detection of liquid ignitable accelerants at deliberate fire scenes across the world.

FISD are required to maintain a high standard of training and conduct annual licensing which is regularly supported by local Police Dog Sections.

On retirement the FISD will often stay with their handler due to the close bond developed over the dog and handlers career. As it is very difficult to gain meaningful insurance, the NFRSA will be there to step in when help is needed with medical costs.

Urban Search & Rescue Dogs, or USAR dogs as they are more commonly known, have been operational within the UK since 2004. They are trained to search disaster scenes such as a building collapse, or earthquakes where they can search for trapped survivors.

The USAR dogs are highly trained to search large and challenging areas for live casualties and indicate their location to their handler. The dogs can search rubble piles, tunnels, and confined spaces as part of their role.

USAR Dogs have been deployed to extremely arduous and dangerous scenes around the UK, and on occasion across the world, but at all times the handler will ensure the dogs welfare and safety.

For example, many USAR dogs also support the UK national response to disasters through their voluntary role as part of International Search & Rescue (ISAR). This role has seen the dogs being deployed all over the world and play a vital part in saving lives.

USAR dogs undertake an arduous development pathway – it can take the dog and handler up to 18 months to obtain their license – and they are managed by National Resilience. Both dog and handler are required to undertake a challenging licensing process every 12 months to remain operational.

On retirement the USAR Dog, just like Fire Investigation Search Dogs, will often stay with their handler due to the close bond developed over the dog and handlers career.

The NFRSA will always be waiting in the wings for these amazing dogs in their retirement and will contribute to any ongoing veterinary needs they may require in their twilight years.

Your donation will help us in our work, and you can support us by clicking the button below.

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Prison Dogs play a vital part in the physical security of a prison. There are varying specialist roles within search dogs and discipline dogs, such as drug detection and explosive detection dogs, as well as passive and active search dogs.

Dog handlers are sourced from serving prison officers who have completed their probationary period and express an interest in becoming a dog handler. They then complete in house training of approximately ten weeks to achieve a high level of competence.

Each year the dog team complete extensive training and are then assessed to maintain their licence to operate.

The duty of a dog handler within the prison service is not just a job, but a way of life, as the care and maintenance of the of prison dogs often starts early before the shift starts, and finishes long after it ends.

From the work of General Purpose Dogs, who maintain security and order within the prison estates, to the work of search dogs who are highly trained to seek out explosives, drugs, mobile phones, cash and other contraband, their job is essential.

Each year the work of these extraordinary teams is celebrated at The National Dog Trials. Handlers across the country go through local selection and then represent their establishment on a national level, held at the Prison Service College in Warwickshire.

Prison dogs will generally retire between the ages of 8-9 and usually stay with their handler with whom they share an unbreakable bond.

But as they grow older, veterinary assistance becomes almost inevitable and the NFRSA will be there for their needs.

Please help us in our pledge to protect our protectors by clicking the button below and donating – your generosity will save the lives of these amazing animals and ensure their retirement is one of comfort, health, and happiness.

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Border Force Detector Dogs are a specialist canine resource working to help keep the UK safe by detecting illicit goods from entering the UK.

The team is made up of a central unit which provides advice, Dog and Handler training and practical support to 8 regional dog units based across the UK comprising a total of 70 dogs and 95 staff.

They are Nationally and Internationally recognised for their work in areas such as currency detection, document detection, and kennel enrichment.

To find out more click here!

As with all the services we support, we give assistance to Border Force dogs in their retirement and your contribution will help us to do that. Please consider donating using the link provided.

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