8 Dog Breeds for Police Work and Military Jobs

Police dogs serve alongside law enforcement to protect, search, and rescue. The dog breeds for police work must be intelligent, strong, and adaptable, with extensive training allowing them to handle crime scenes, track missing people, or control crowds.

While many breeds can contribute, the following breeds stand out for their work ethic and ability to serve both handlers and communities.

1. German Shepherd

German Shepherds are the most common police dogs. Known for their intelligence, loyalty, and strength, they excel at tasks like narcotics detection, human tracking, and crowd control.

Their work ethic and ability to bond with handlers make them essential in law enforcement.

2. Belgian Malinois

Sleek and agile, Belgian Malinois are favored as working dogs by both police and military. They are incredibly fast and can fit into tighter spaces than larger breeds. Their calm focus and high drive make these military dogs ideal for detecting explosives and chasing down criminals.

3. Dutch Shepherd

Similar to the Belgian Malinois, Dutch Shepherds are versatile dogs with a strong work ethic.

Originally bred as herding dogs, they adapt quickly to police work. Their agility and intelligence make them valuable in evidence searches and patrols.

4. Bloodhound

Bloodhounds possess one of the keenest senses of smell in the canine world, making them ideal for search-and-rescue missions and tracking missing people.

Bloodhound bloodhounds can follow a scent trail for miles, even days after it was left, which can be life-saving in critical situations.

5. Labrador Retriever

Calm and friendly, Labrador Retrievers excel at detection tasks. They are often used for identifying narcotics, explosives, and crime scene evidence.

Their approachable nature makes them safe around kids and family members while still being highly effective in the field.

6. Doberman Pinscher

Once a popular choice for police work, Doberman Pinschers are still used at times by law enforcement today. Their muscular build and protective instincts make them suitable for guarding and crowd control.

With proper training, they are loyal protectors and excellent canine partners.

7. Bouvier des Flandres

This large, powerful breed is less common but still utilized by some law enforcement agencies. With strong protective instincts and endurance, Bouvier des Flandres dogs are useful for patrol and control tasks. They can serve as both family members and working dogs with the right training.

8. American Pit Bull Terrier

Though controversial, American Pit Bull Terriers are sometimes used in police work for detection and search-and-rescue tasks. Their muscular strength, courage, and determination allow them to thrive under handlers who understand their needs.

They are less common than other breeds but still play a role in certain law enforcement units.

We created this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was fact-checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor.