About us 

Dog Section

The Dog Section provides the Force with specialist canine support to detect and prevent crime and save life.

There are 30 general purpose police dogs in Thames Valley. All general purpose dogs are German shepherds. Nine of our general purpose dogs are trained to work in a tactical firearms environment to assist with resolving armed incidents. In addition to the tactical dogs, there are currently 11 ‘intermediate’ dogs that can also support spontaneous firearms incidents.

The Dog Section has 11 specialist search dogs. They are usually springer spaniels and labradors. Specialist search dogs are used to search for and locate all known illegal drugs, firearms, ammunition and cash (anywhere where there is a lawful power to do so).

All operational Dog Section police officers have a general patrol dog. There are 12 officers who have a specialist search dog as well.

Dog skills

Tracking of offenders
Police dogs can track offenders who leave the scene of a crime on foot. The dogs are trained to follow the trail of recent human scent.

Tracking of missing people
General purpose police dogs can locate missing people in outside areas. However, they are not trained to search for dead bodies.

Searching of buildings and outside areas
Police dogs are trained to locate suspects by detecting their airborne body scent.

Searching for property
Police dogs can indicate or retrieve property which has recently been handled by humans. This could be stolen items or criminal evidence.

Area containment
If police need to execute a warrant, police dogs and handlers can wait outside to stop any suspects from escaping. Sometimes, the presence of a dog can deter an offender from making off.

Public order
Police dogs are trained to assist during public order incidents. Dogs can disperse a hostile crowd and just the presence of a dog can act as a deterrent.

Could you be a puppy socialiser?

The Dog Section has its own German shepherd breeding programme and is always looking for suitable volunteers to be puppy socialisers. We are also looking for suitable young adult German shepherds, springer spaniels and collies up to 18 months old to become police dogs.

As a puppy socialiser, you would care for a puppy in your own home. That puppy would potentially become a police dog. You would care for the dog until it is ready for assessment (up to a period of 12 months).

Under the guidance and support of a member of our Dog Section, you would give the dog basic training. There is a monthly puppy socialisers meeting for all volunteers. All vet bills, food and accessories are supplied by the Dog Section.

If you are interested in becoming a puppy socialiser, please email Richard Evans from the Dog Section.