How old do police dogs start training?

About K-9s: A police dog, also known as K-9 or K9 (a homophone of canine), is a dog specifically trained to assist members of law enforcement. Dogs have been used in law enforcement since the Middle Ages. They have a variety of duties, ranging from protecting their handlers to searching for drugs and missing people. read more

Most police dogs are coming from working dog kennels where early neurological stimulation begins the day that the puppies are born and progresses to socialization by a few weeks old, leash training at 4–6 weeks, and formal training soon after. read more

The first is a "gift dog" where a dog is donated to the police by a member of the public or purchased at a nominal cost. They will vary in age from 12 months to 3 years old. The second method is to purchase a dog from a specialist breeder. read more

All police dogs must first become experts at basic obedience training. They must obey the commands of their handler without hesitation. This is what keeps the inherent aggression of the dog in check, and allows the officer to control how much force the dog is using against a suspect. read more