How to adopt dogs ‘not brave enough’ for police front line

Not all dogs are destined to support police officers on the front line.

For every German Shepherd you see chasing down a criminal, several more will be tucked up on a sofa just like any other pet.

That’s because many dogs do not make it through the rigorous police training.

In Scotland
This police dog will have certainly made it through the rigorous selection process (Picture: Getty)
A British police dog at work, sniffing for explosives - he didn't find any! (Motion blur.)
Not all dogs have what it takes – this one clearly does (Picture: Getty)

It’s a highly selective process that finds the right dog for every situation within a police force.

But it’s not all doom and gloom for the dogs that don’t make it, as they can re-join civilian society as adored pets.

Some police forces even have dedicated pages for the dogs that didn’t make the cut.

Dog lovers take notice – this is where you can apply to re-home all the so-called rejects.

And as you can expect, the reasons for some of the dogs not making it are pretty adorable.

Cairo was not brave enough for the front line (Picture: Northumbria Police)
Nell is the definition of a big softie (Picture: Northumbria Police)

Take Cairo for example. This one-year-old German Shepherd was ‘not quite brave enough’ forNorthumbria Police, and he had to be put up for adoption.

Just like Cairo, seven-month-old Nell was a big softie who was afraid of the dark. Not ideal for any police dog working round the clock.

Emma the Springer Spaniel failed her police dog training as she would ‘not concentrate on searching’.

As you might agree, that’s a very important skill for any sniffer dog to have.

Emma likes to sniff, but can also get easily distracted (Picture: Northumbria Police)
Poor Jay was medically retired after being diagnosed with epilepsy (Picture: Northumbria Police)

Northumbria Police had to re-home police dog Jay at just two-years-old after he sadly developed epilepsy.

Fortunately, Jay found the right owner who could provide him daily medication to stop his seizures.

West Midlands Police proudly boasts to having a ‘flourishing dog breeding programme’ on its website.

They produce twelve litters annually, made up of both German Shepherds and Springer Spaniels, but not all dogs make it through training.

‘Unfortunately, some dogs, although healthy, fail to make the grade to become police dogs,’ the force wrote.

Explosives sniffer dog at Counter Terrorism Check Point at Gatwick Airport, South Terminal organised by Sussex Police. (Photo by Neville Elder/Corbis via Getty Images)
Police forces have to put up the dogs that didn’t make it up for adoption (Picture: Getty)

‘These dogs and surplus puppies from litters are offered for sale, either to other police forces or to members of the public.’

If you keep an eye on WMP’s website, you’ll find out when these dogs come up for adoption.

Over at Thames Valley Police (TVP), another exciting opportunity awaits.

Before any dog can start its training, there is of course, the puppy stage.

For this crucial part of a potential police dog’s life, TVP is recruiting volunteer puppy socialisers to take on dogs at 6-8 weeks old.

You’ll need a nice big fenced garden and lots of experience handling dogs, but this can be a great opportunity for any dog lover to help nurture them onto the front line.

It’s not for everyone, though. You will have to forever part ways with the dog you raised yourself when they reach 18 months.