Information about the role of a dog handler, including the role purpose, key responsibilities and the skills required.
About the role
A dog handler is a specialist operations position within the operational support sector of policing. It's a service deliverer role in the policing professional profiles.
Role purpose
To provide proactive and reactive assistance in support of all operational officers and specialist departments by appropriate use of police dogs; to locate and retrieve evidence or offenders, to control potential and actual disturbances, and to enhance officer and public safety.
Key responsibilities
Key responsibility statements show the accountabilities for someone in this role. They focus on what is done, not how it is done.
- Respond promptly to requests for a police dog, supplying professional expertise, tactical advice and operational support to front line officers to deliver an effective response which supports law enforcement and enables public safety.
- Conduct searches using dogs in support of local officers; to expedite the location of missing persons and the arrest of offenders; and to support local officers in their investigations and responses to incidents.
- Support the containment of dangerous dogs out of control including inter-familial dog attacks and cases on private property, to protect public safety.
- Conduct directed patrols in response to local priorities and in support of divisional and area officers, to detect and prevent crime in line with force objectives.
- Support front line officers in the capture and control of dogs on premises to enable a safe working environment when conducting search warrants or interventions into premises.
Provide a source of specialist advice to operational policing units on the deployment of dogs, to contribute to the development of appropriate strategies and tactical plans in support of front-line initiatives.
Promote and deliver educational talks and displays to colleagues and members of the public; to acquaint them with the roles and skills of police dogs, and to support the development of positive relationships between the police and public.
Undertake the proper care, training and handling of police dogs; to ensure the health, wellbeing and operational effectiveness.
Competencies, values and core skills
The competency and values framework (CVF) provides clear expectations for everyone working in policing. It describes the behaviours required by police officers and staff to be effective in their roles and uphold the Code of Ethics for policing.
Competencies
The CVF has six competencies, which are split into levels. These levels can be used flexibly to allow for a better fit with frontline and non-frontline policing roles, and at different levels of seniority. This ensures that there is consistency throughout all the policing professional profiles. Some roles may contain different CVF levels due to the specialist nature of the role. Those working at higher levels should also fulfil the requirements of the lower levels.
This role should be operating at or working towards the following competencies.
- We are emotionally aware – Level 1: practitioner
- We take ownership – Level 1: practitioner
- We collaborate – Level 1: practitioner
- We support and inspire – Level 1: practitioner
- We analyse critically – Level 1: practitioner
- We are innovative and open-minded – Level 1: practitioner
Values
The CVF has three values that apply to everyone in policing, regardless of their role or seniority.
Core skills
All roles in policing have nine core skills in common. These are split into levels that represent the different levels of policing. This role should be operating at or working towards the following core skills.
- Communicating and influencing – Level 1
- Problem solving – Level 1
- Performance management – Level 1
- Relationship management – Level 1
- Change management – Level 1
- Managing people – Level 1
- Managing resources – Level 1
- Planning – Level 1
- Use of IT – Level 1
Education, qualifications and experience
To achieve effective performance in the role, the following standards, training and qualifications should be met.
Previous education, qualifications and experience
- Completed initial training and passed probation period.
- Completed relevant dog handling course.
- Meet force specific fitness requirements for role.
Continuing professional development
Continuing professional development (CPD) enables everyone in policing to develop and gain recognition for their professional skills, knowledge and competence. CPD ensures that we continue to provide high-quality policing to keep the public safe and help to drive career aspirations. Discussion of CPD is usually included as part of professional development review (PDR) conversations.
Learning and accreditation
- Complete all core training and learning required by the force.
- Relevant National police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) Police Dog Licence
- Any exemptions to learning and accreditation requirements are at chief constable discretion, in line with the local force policy.
Professional development
This role should consider the following CPD:
- maintain and update key knowledge, understanding and skills relating to legislation, policy and practice in the dog handler function and area of policing operational responsibility
- maintain knowledge and understanding of new approaches identified by evidence-based policing research relating to the dog handler function, including problem solving and team working, and synthesise these into working practice(s)
- maintain a working knowledge and understanding of new and evolving crime threats and priorities that impact the role of dog handling teams; and current best practice to tackle these in order to enable a pro-active and preventative approach
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