Dog handlers work with specially trained dogs to help prevent and detect criminal activity and search for missing persons. They are responsible for looking after, feeding and keeping the dogs under control.
Dog handlers mainly work for the police, the Armed Forces, customs and excise or private security firms, although they work for other organisations such as the fire and rescue and prison services.
The Work
Police dog handler Police dogs are trained in police dog training centres. The dogs live at home with their handlers. You could be:
searching for a missing person across open country or within buildings using a trained victim recovery dog
tracking a criminal who may be carrying a knife, gun or other weapon
searching for evidence
guarding prisoners
controlling a crowd, perhaps at a football match or other sporting fixture
searching for explosives or illegal drugs
making sure your dog gets regular training to maintain high standards
feeding and exercising the dog
looking after your dog in your own home, after it is ‘retired’ from work.
Army and RAF dog handler Army and RAF dogs are trained at the Defence Animal Training Regiment. The dogs live in kennels. You could be:
guarding military bases or aircraft in hangers
tracking down terrorists
locating wounded casualties
searching for landmines and other explosives
making sure your dog gets regular training to maintain high standards
feeding and exercising the dog.
UK Border Force anti-smuggling detector dog handlers Detector dogs are trained in-house, by the Metropolitan Police or the Defence Animal Training Regiment. The dogs live in kennels. You could be:
detecting tobacco, illegal drugs, such as heroin, cocaine and cannabis or banned food substances or animals
watching passengers at a sea port or airport, with a 'passive response' dog trained to sit when it detects drugs
working with a 'pro-active' dog trained to find illegal items, including people being smuggled, hidden in aircraft, boats, cars or lorries
making sure your dog gets regular training to maintain high standards
feeding and exercising the dog
looking after a 'retired' dog in your home when it stops working.
Private security firms The firm would train you to work with your dog. You could be:
guarding a building or building site, possibly overnight
walking round site boundaries looking for intruders
responding to and investigating reports of intruders
asking for police help when intruders are found
guarding valuable goods when they are being moved
making sure your dog gets regular training to maintain high standards
feeding and exercising the dog.
Pay
The figures below are only a guide. Actual pay rates may vary, depending on:
Starting pay rates for new entrant trained dog handlers with a private security firm in the UK vary, but tend to be in the range of £18,000 to £20,000 a year. Experienced or specialist dog handlers would expect to earn up to £26,000 a year or more.
Conditions
Conditions vary according to the organisation you work for. These are detailed in the job profiles mentioned under the 'Pay' section above.
In private security work, you would be active most of the time. You may have to work shifts including nights and weekends, and be on call for emergencies.
In all cases you would develop a very close working relationship with your dog.
There is always some risk of being injured or bitten by a dog.
Getting In
Police dog handler
You must first join the police force.
The entry requirements are in the job profile on Police Officer
You must work a 2-year probationary period before you can apply to join the dog section.
Entry to the dog section is competitive and there is sometimes a waiting list.
You would spend a number of weeks doing specialist training with your allocated dog.
2025
