Police K9s and military working dogs are an invaluable asset at the disposal of law enforcement teams across the globe. These highly-trained dogs take on some of the most formidable tasks you can imagine, including apprehending dangerous suspects and detecting the faintest trace of illegal substances.
Behind almost every great K9 team is a great K9 trainer – or team of K9 trainers – that helped them reach those goals. A well-trained dog is important in many aspects of life, but that importance is heightened when it comes to law enforcement operations. Police K9s are tasked with helping to remove harmful narcotics from society, and chasing suspects to prevent them from evading justice. The stakes are high, and it is no exaggeration to say it can be a matter of life-and-death.
With such high stakes comes immense responsibility on the shoulders of a K9 trainer. However, the benefits of training these exceptional dogs for such important work can bring incredible rewards, too. Successful K9 trainers can take pride in knowing that their work has contributed to improved K9 teams who protect and serve our communities.
Different types of Police K9 training
It should be noted that the term ‘Police K9 training’ is actually a catch-all term, under which there are many different types of training that can be offered. The types of training will depend on the needs of the K9 team. Some examples include:
- Detection dogs – Typically used to detect illegal substances such as narcotics, or dangerous materials like explosives.
- Patrol dogs – Used for criminal apprehension and handler protection. These dogs can also be cross-trained in other disciplines such as narcotics or explosives detection.
- Tracking dogs – Trained to follow human scent, enabling them to locate criminal suspects, Alzheimer’s patients, or lost children.
- Cadaver dogs – Trained to locate deceased individuals, which can assist with law enforcement inquiries and bring closure to families.
Police K9 training should also include handler training, in order to ensure that the handler is able to deploy the K9 correctly.
What is the average salary for a Police K9 trainer?
There is very little reliable data available on the average salary for Police K9 Trainers. The recruitment website ZipRecruiter estimates that the average salary for a Police K9 Trainer is $56,233/year, based on third-party data and job postings. Other online estimates indicate that the range could be as low as $40,000/year or as high as $75,000/year.
The average salary can be influenced heavily by location, demand, and the employment status of the individual (for example, Police K9 trainers are more likely to be self-employed than W-2 employees of a larger organization). In addition, for trainers who offer other dog training services in addition to working dog training, it can be hard to break out the precise amount of money made from working dog activities (or, at least, the data is not easily available publicly).
What influences your earning potential for Police K9 training?
As with any career path, there are several factors that can influence the amount you can make as a Police K9 trainer. Some of these factors include:
Education
Dog trainers who have undertaken formal education are more likely to earn more money than their counterparts who have not taken any formal studies. This isn’t just supposition – our 2020 Dog Trainer Survey supported this finding, demonstrating that dog trainers with formal education make up to 40% more. Due to the complexity of the behaviors that must be taught to a Police K9, having a fundamental knowledge of canine learning theory is essential.
Experience
Building up a reputation as a well-established, successful Police K9 trainer gives you the opportunities to build a network of contacts in the industry. As your reputation grows, so will the potential to work with new departments and train new dogs. With a proven track record behind you that can only come with experience, law enforcement departments will be more willing to invest in training with you.
Communication
Training a Police K9 isn’t just about training the dog to perform given commands in certain situations; it is just as important to train their handler, too. If the handler doesn’t understand how to utilize the dog, or how to maintain their training, the danger is that the dog will not be successful on deployments. With the potential liability involved, it is essential that the dog’s behavior remains at a high level. Being able to clearly communicate training concepts and instructions to K9 handlers is a pivotal aspect of being a Police K9 trainer.
Your service offerings
As we mentioned at the outset of this article, a Police K9 trainer can cover very different aspects of training. Will you just offer detection functions? Will you specialize in tracking? How will your training programs be structured – and how long will you need to work with the dog? All of these factors can play into the considerations of law enforcement teams when selecting a trainer to work with.
Location
Police K9 trainers can – and do – travel across the country (and sometimes even further afield) to train Police K9s and their handlers. However, it is worth looking at your immediate location and determining the viability of the career path. Is there a need for trained K9s for local teams? Do they have the budgets available to afford your training program? What does your competition look like, and how established are they? These are the same considerations that should be thought out prior to embarking on any career path.
Education options for Police K9 trainers
Whether you’re a complete newcomer to the world of Police K9 training, or an established dog trainer looking to expand their knowledge in this area, there is no substitute for getting a foundation of education under your belt.
At the School for Dog Trainers, we offer our Police K9 Trainer program at our Southeast Campus in Hanceville, AL. The duration of the program varies, with 6, 8 and 12 week options available, and regular start dates throughout the year. In this course, you will learn everything you need to equip yourself with the knowledge to become a Police K9 trainer. You’ll learn the fundamentals of dog behavior and learning theory, before understanding the critical nuances of K9 training and how to communicate effectively with K9 handlers.
Our Police K9 Trainer program was developed by former law enforcement K9 handlers, and is taught by a staff of professional dog trainers who are committed to excellence. For more information on our Police K9 Trainer program, please contact us today.