Adding a K-9 partner to your life......?

Question

How long does a K-9 usually work in the field? What happens when the dog retires? Do most officers keep them AND get a new one? Is it an issue if you already have two dogs? I mean don't you think it would really affect your other dogs if you got a new one that got to leave with you every day?

This is something that I'm hoping to be a possibility in my future, but I'm not sure it's a good idea with my other dogs. I have not talked to any trainers or other K-9 Units yet as this is far ahead in my future. I will of course learn more if I make it on the department. I just thought someone here might have some experience to share.

Answer 1

Most Depts once you get into K-9, you are there for life. It is a great job and most guys in it will not voluntarily leave it. With that being said, once you retire a dog, around age 8-9, and you want to stay, you will get another dog. Most handlers keep their retired dogs until they die, I mean you had that dog for years and you worked with him every day, you have a bond that is closer then most people have with each other. When you get a new dog you will need to handle proper introductions and have a kennel ready for one of them. Yes, there are jealousy issues, yes there will be moaning and complaining from the one left behind and yes, you will feel like crap doing it and like a traitor, but, it has to happen and it always does. Sooner or later the retired dog accepts it. Now, you will still need to get that stay-home dog some exercise and attention and still do a little training, they love bite work, so I give my retired dog a bite on a sleeve a couple of times a week, he feels important and he calms down a little. The new dog will realize where he fits in the pack and everything will be fine. The only thing I want to make sure that you understand, and something I had to learn the hard way, is that NEVER compare your new dog to your old dog, EVER. It is not fair and it can be dangerous in that world. Good luck in your pursuit of getting into K-9.

Answer 2

A friend of mine is a Chicago police officer, and he was interested in the K-9 unit once upon a time. The fact that he already had two dogs wouldn't have been a problem so far as the force was concerned. Once the K-9 retires (it could be up to 10 years if he didn't get hurt), then he would have the opportunity to keep the dog.

Very few K-9 officers are issued another K-9 dog after the first retires with them. But this is mainly because after 7-10 years, when the first dog would retire, most officers have advanced in the force to levels where they wouldn't be issued dogs anymore.

Answer 3

My dad was in the K-9 unit at our police department. When the dog retires, you can keep them, we kept his K-9 dog until he passed on. My dad had multiple K-9 dogs, but never more than one at a time, seeing as to many K-9 dogs can get overwhelming. Some dogs would be jealous if some dog they hardly know is going off with their owner every day. We never had any other dogs when we had his K-9 dogs, except for once, when his dog had retired at age 10, and we bought his great-grandaughter. How coincidental! :P A lot of the officers will have a retired K-9 dog and get a new one, it's really pretty common where I live.
Best of Luck!

Answer 4

Most keep them, dogs are good from 5-10 years. Most departments will sell the dog to the officer when they retire for a buck...some officers do other jobs in the department so there's no issue with another dog...depends on department

Answer 5

I've heard where many retired K-9 dogs live with their partners. The reason for this is that the dogs are trained in specific disciplines that the average pet owner could not handle.
Good luck in making the Department. Happy New Year.

Answer 6

I too, locate this annoying! at the same time as i'm actual not the specialist, it would seem to me that not each and every canines that enters into preparation might want to be acceptable for the pastime required. This looks to me to be a case the position come hell or severe water, the Cop is certain and determined, that the canines WILL put up. i'd actually have concerns how this canines would react interior the "warmth of the instantaneous". If this style of teaching has been deemed suitable, or basically been treated with a "seem any incorrect way" attitude, then i imagine it unfair that this Officer take the "warmth" on my own. besides the actual undeniable truth that, i do not imagine this Cop might want to proceed with preparation canines, I do imagine the punnishment is severe, compared to the "Slap on the Hand", that maximum recieve for a procedures worse cruelty. It does make me ask your self how those residing less than his Roof stay. with any success, this may incident will shed mild on a subject matter that has of route created controversy. i'd actual be interested in listening to what different ok-9 units might want to say!

Answer 7

Around here, they seem to mostly keep the dogs when they retire.

It does affect the dogs that get left behind, if they enjoyed working. It isn't just K9 dogs, my dogs ALL want to go. It is hard to leave the retired show/working dogs at home and take the young ones. I try to take the oldsters with occasionally and enter them in Veterans, or even just with running errands.

Answer 8

http://policedogfoundation.org/html/fun_facts.html
http://www.policemag.com/t_cipick.cfm?rank=88944

Having read these site it seems the K-9 officer retires to his partners / trainers home. You may want to contact your local police dept. and ask, but from what I understand these dogs are loyal to the men and women with whom they served. Good Luck
Your other dogs should be fine if you become an officer with a K-9 partner, their smarter then we give them credit for. Just show equal love and devotion to all when your around them. :) An outing to the park or beach may be a good family (3dog) outing.

Answer 9

I saw on K9 to 5 that in the Army when a dog reaches the age of retirement, they put them to sleep.

Answer 10

differnt policies exsist in differnt K-9 facilities. you need to check with what your local ordinence is, and work on completing the training for the force. good luck to you and thanks for protecting us.