Placement Overview

This placement is a Dog Handler in the Surrey Police Force.  Surrey Police is one of the leading forces in the world on police dog training, and has provided explosives dogs to Russia and Singapore and drugs dogs to Hong Kong in recent years. Each year, drugs, search, and explosives dogs are trained for work within the county and many more are trained for other forces in England and Wales.

Generic Job Description for a Dog Handler

Dog Handlers are employed by private and public security organisations such as the Police force, the Armed Forces, Customs and Excise and private security companies. They work with Dogs, which they have trained in order to provide security and prevent crime.

Some specific purposes of Dog Handlers and their dogs include; searching and tracking criminals, detecting explosives, drugs and other illegal substances, patrolling and guarding.

The work of a Dog Trainer involves using a serious of commands to instruct their dog.

Skills:

• Patience
• Confidence
• Physical fitness
• The ability to work alone or as part of a team
• A fondness of animals

Pay:

• Entry £14,000
• Experienced and specialist Dog Handlers £20,000 or more 

Please note that salary figures are only as a guide. Actual salaries may vary depending on organisation and geographical location

Hours:

• Hours vary depending on the purpose of the Dog Handler
• Hours typically involve evenings and weekends
• Shift patterns are common in some settings

Environment:

• Work can be indoors or outdoors in all conditions
• Conditions can typically involve lots of standing, walking and even running 

Qualifications:

• No set academic entry requirements
• Experience within the organisation is often necessary i.e. Police and Customs and Excise
• In private security organisations it is necessary to hold a Security Industry Authority Licence (SIA)

Training:

• Training is on-the-job and typically lasts a few weeks in the public sector
• There are specific courses available in the private sector
• NVQ qualifications are available in Animal Care and Providing Security Services 

Opportunities:

• Opportunities exist across the UK, in public and private sectors
• Employers include the Police Force, Customs and Excise, the Armed Forces, Fire and Rescue, prison services and private security companies
• Many Dog Handlers are self-employed

Links:

www.nasdu.co.uk - The National Association of Security Dog Users