| Working dogs have been used by police forces for | | | | intelligence and loyalty, the German Shepherd, Belgian |
| over a century. In the late 1800s, Belgian police officers | | | | Malinois and Dutch Shepherd are the most common |
| were under frequent attack during their nightly urban | | | | breeds used for this purpose. While these breeds are |
| patrols. The unlucky officers demanded that additional | | | | fully trained and capable of sniffing and tracking, certain |
| forces be hired and trained to assist them. | | | | situations sometimes require the use of other breeds |
| Unfortunately, lack of funding made this impossible. The | | | | by police. For example, Beagles are sometimes used |
| Belgian government's solution was to, instead, train | | | | to sniff baggage in airports, due to their friendly |
| working shepherd dogs to assist with patrols. To the | | | | appearance. While a properly trained German |
| Belgian police, this was hardly an ideal solution. The | | | | Shepherd is no less dangerous than a Beagle in reality, |
| intimidating size and ferocity of the dogs was effective | | | | the smaller Beagle is used to avoid unnecessarily |
| in deterring attacks against the police officers, but | | | | worrying airline customers who may have a fear of |
| there were often cases of the dogs attacking the | | | | large dogs. Bloodhounds are also sometimes used due |
| officers themselves. However, through persistent | | | | to their reputation as exceptional trackers, especially in |
| training, the Belgian police were soon able to mold | | | | missing persons cases where police are in search of a |
| these working dogs into loyal, obedient, and highly | | | | body. It is important to note, however, that these |
| effective protection dogs. The use of working dogs by | | | | smaller breeds should only be used in situations where |
| police forces soon spread through Europe into | | | | there is no possibility of confrontation with a dangerous |
| Germany, Austria, France and The Netherlands. Today, | | | | criminal. |
| police dogs are in use all over the world. | | | | In the past century, police dogs have played an integral |
| The roles of police dogs have changed considerably | | | | role in helping to maintain law and order in society. So |
| since their early use as a criminal deterrent. Protecting | | | | valued are police dogs for their bravery and loyalty, |
| police officers is still top priority for police dogs, but | | | | that many are sworn in as official officers, and even |
| aggressive attacks against police officers is an | | | | given full police funerals in the event that they are killed |
| increasingly rare phenomenon. Often, these dogs are | | | | in the line of duty. For the work they have done and |
| released to pursue and detain suspected criminals who | | | | the lives they have saved, police dogs have truly |
| are attempting to flee from police. Due to their size, | | | | earned that honor. |