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A K-9 Handler Selection Process

By Ed Frawley | Last modified: April 7, 2022

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Ed's Note: The following is a sample of a selection process to pick a new K9 handler for a city police force. This is a pretty good starting point for any city or town that is adding a new K9 handler to their police force. —Ed Frawley

K-9 Interview Questions

Tell us about your experience and training background that prepares you for the K-9 position. (Please include any public speaking and dog training.)
What are the most important character traits of a K9 handler? Why? (Maturity, Patience, Initiative, Flexibility, Dependability, Emotionally Stable, and Communication Skills)
What do you see as the purpose and duties of the K9 handler? (See Policy)
As a K-9 handler, you may be asked by a supervisor to perform an assignment that you and your dog are not ready or qualified to complete. How might you handle this situation?
As a K-9 handler, you will be asked to speak publicly and give presentations about the dog. Describe how you will meet the needs of the different audiences you will encounter.
As a K-9 handler, you will be involved in some of the most dangerous situations our Department encounters. Have you discussed this added danger with your family and how do they feel about it?
Why is a K9 program important to the Department and Community?
What are the Organizational Core Values for the this city's police department and how do they fit into the position of K9 handler? (Honesty/Integrity, Dignity/Respect, Commitment, Service/Caring, professionalism, and Lawful Behavior)
By policy, whose decision is it to utilize the dog in a given situation and why?
A K9 handler becomes incapacitated or injured during a call, what should be done to handle/secure the dog?
In the Use of Force Continuum, where does deployment of the K-9 fall? Explain why.
Beyond the six-week Basic Handler Course, K9 handlers must train their dogs nearly every day. How will you incorporate this training into your schedule?
Do you understand the commitment, hours, training, and home care that are involved with being the K-9 handler, have you discussed these with your family?
Why do you wish to be a K-9 Officer? Anything else we should consider as we go about making recommendations to the Chief?

Announcing the K-9 Handler Opening

This is an example of an email announcement you can send to your department about an opening for a K-9 handler. The K-9 school in this email refers to Kevin Sheldahl's K-9 Services.

To: All Police Personnel

From: Selection Process for K-9 Officer

Our K-9 is scheduled for retirement in DATE. An opening has been reserved at the K-9 Services school in Albuquerque, New Mexico beginning in DATE for the training of an officer and new dog. The exact date has not been established, however, the school is anticipated to begin in the first or second week in DATE. Officers that have attained the rank of First Class Police Officer by DATE, and are interested in filling the K-9 vacancy, should submit a letter of interest along with a resume to the Chief's Secretary by DATE.

As this is a unique position with the CITY Police Department, the following should serve as basic information pertinent to any officer considering applying for the K-9 Officer position. Officers should closely review the following information and consider all of the aspects listed prior to applying to the position.

Applicants should be in good physical condition. If selected for the position, the applicant will attend a 6-week school in Albuquerque, New Mexico that is physically demanding. Monthly training and adequate job performance requires above normal physical preparedness.
The officer must be willing to have the K-9 live in the officer's home. The conditions in the home must be conducive to a healthy environment for the K-9, as well as the family members. Consideration should be given for allergies, fears of other family members as they relate to animals, as well as enough space for the K-9 and the officer's family to interact appropriately. If there are other pets in the home, the officer must agree that if conflict occurs between the department's K-9 and the pet, the pet must be removed from the home.
Off-street parking must be readily available at the home for the department K-9 vehicle that will be assigned to the officer.
The officer should be prepared to consider the assignment to be a long-term assignment. The average length of service for a dual-purpose dog (drug and apprehension) is five to nine years.
The K-9 Officer will be a position assigned to the Night Overlap shift and will be supervised by a patrol sergeant. The K-9 Officer must be willing to work flexible house and be on-call via pager when off-duty. Other contractual specifics are listed in "APPENDIX - C" of the Local 9 Union Collective Bargaining Agreement. Applicants should also review Policy 4-3200 regarding the K-9 program.
The position of K-9 Officer requires that the officer spend a considerable amount of time training with the K-9. This includes both on-duty and off-duty training depending on the officer's schedule for a particular month. Officers applying for this position should be aware of the commitment to training no matter what their work schedule will be.
Public relations will be an extremely important part of the position of the K-9 Officer. The K-9 Officer and dog are one of the most requested units from the police department for public presentations. The K-9 Officer will be involved in public speaking and be responsible for developing presentations appropriate for different speaking engagements.

If you are interested in this position, please send a letter of interest and resume to the Chief's Secretary by DATE. An extensive interview process including a home visit will be conducted.

The K9 Handler Selection Process

Review letters of interest and resumes.
Selection of potential candidates and schedule a home visit and oral interview.
Conduct Home Visit(s) with candidate(s).
Interview affected family members and observe living arrangements for the K-9.
Conduct an oral interview with candidate(s).
The interview panel should consist of the following people:
- A member of the Chief's Staff
- K-9 Patrol Supervisor
- Previous/current K-9 Officer
- An outside agency K-9 Officer

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About Author

Ed Frawley

Ed Frawley is the founder and owner of Leerburg.com and has been producing professional dog training videos since 1982. Over the years, he has collaborated with some of the most respected dog trainers in the country. His body of work includes 194 full-length training DVDs and 95 comprehensive online courses. In addition to these, he has produced and published over 4,000 short training videos available free of charge on Leerburg.com and across the company's social media platforms.

Ed and his wife, Cindy—also a professional dog trainer—bred working-line German Shepherds and Belgian Malinois for more than 35 years. Although they retired from breeding in 2009, they had produced over 300 litters by that time.

Ed also served as a K9 handler for the local sheriff's department for 10 years, working in partnership with the West Central Drug Task Force. During his time in law enforcement, he handled multiple narcotics and patrol dogs and conducted more than 1,000 K9 searches. If you want to learn more about Ed, read about his history here.

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