:quality(75))
:quality(75))
Every now and then, police forces around the country call on volunteers to apply to foster trainee police puppies. These volunteers are given the chance to raise and help train a future police dog.
Volunteer carers play a crucial role in police puppy training, helping young dogs develop into confident crime fighters.
Taking care of our future canine heroes is no mean feat. While there are some hoops to jump through, it really comes down to being the connected, empathetic pet parent you are.
:quality(75))
What does a police puppy carer do?
:quality(75))
As a police puppy carer, you’re more than just a foster parent; you’re essential to the puppy’s police dog training journey.
Full-time carers are expected to bring the puppy in for regular training sessions and follow a structured development plan. They're also instructed to let the puppies spend time with different people and experience a variety of activities.
It helps them to feel comfortable and confident in any situation they may find themselves in as operational police dogs.
So, even though it's a volunteer role, being a puppy foster carer comes with more responsibilities compared to raising a non-police dog.
Who can be a police puppy foster carer?
:quality(75))
Since the carer must supervise the dog most times during the day, this role is suitable for a person working from home, a freelancer or someone with a lot of spare time.
The puppy is not meant to be left without supervision for longer than four hours a day. It's important that if you work full-time and are out of the house all day, you may not be a suitable candidate.
Although some police departments request experience or “a very keen interest in training dogs”, this is not essential.
For example, the Surrey and Sussex joint police dog unit set out the following essential criteria:
Be 18-years-old or over.
Be available to attend scheduled puppy training classes as often as required.
Drive or have access to a car daily.
Not be absent from home for more than four hours per day.
Have their own secure garden where the puppy can go outside.
Have time to devote and a lot of patience.
In addition, being a police puppy is unlikely to cost you money as the police will cover all basic costs related to looking after your pet. That includes:
Crate(s).
Flea and worming treatment.
Food.
Kennelling.
Poo bags.
Puppy insurance.
Training equipment.
Vet costs.
Am I right to foster a police puppy? Questions to ask yourself
:quality(75))
Fostering a police puppy isn’t for everyone. A police force would expect a fosterer to answer “yes!” to all of these questions:
Are you able to make sure the dog is not left home alone, and will you supervise them for most of the day?
Can you attend regular training sessions with the dog?
Can you live with an energetic, large young dog for a year?
Do you have a dog-safe vehicle (e.g., with a crate or guard) for daily transport to training sessions?
Does your home have a secure garden with fences (at least six feet)?
Will the dog have chances to see as many new environments and experiences as possible?
Can families with children or pets apply to be police puppy carers?
Yes, families with children and other pets are encouraged to apply!
Interactions with children and other animals are beneficial for a police dog puppy's socialisation and help build resilience.
Socialising with other animals is also encouraged as long as they have a good temperament. If you already have a dog, it needs to be at least a year old before you can take on a police puppy.
What breeds are usually police dogs?
:quality(75))
In the UK, police dogs are usually:
Belgian Malinois - general purpose
Cocker Spaniels - detection work (sniffing)
Dutch Shepherds - general purpose
German Shepherds - search and rescue, general purpose
Labrador Retrievers - detection work (sniffing)
Springer Spaniels - detection work (sniffing)
Police puppy v regular pet: the differences
:quality(75))
| Age | Main goal | Key activities |
|---|---|---|
| 8–12 weeks | Laying foundations | House training, crate training, and "environmental neutralisation" (exposure to household noises, sirens, and varied surfaces). |
| 3–6 months | Focus & scent work | Introduction to basic scent detection, focus exercises in high-distraction public places, and attending weekly supervised training sessions. |
| 6–12 months | Operational readiness | Advanced socialisation and "Puppy Development Days" with police instructors to assess temperament, drive, and physical progress. |
| Over 12 months | Final assessment | Formal evaluation of the dog’s suitability for full-time service before being handed over to a permanent Police Handler. |
How to apply for a police puppy carer role
:quality(75))
Your local police department is the best place to start. You can contact them to find out if they’re currently accepting applications. If they're not, they may be able to put you in touch with other police departments or organisations in your area that do.
Once you’ve found a department looking for puppy foster carers, it’s time to start the official application process. You'll fill out an application form and be invited for an interview. But don’t be daunted, interviews are usually quite informal.
If you meet the essential criteria, the next step would be a home visit to ensure that your home is safe for raising a puppy, much like adopting a rescue dog.
If all goes well and you’re approved, you'll join a waiting list and be contacted when a litter is born. You might be invited in to meet all of the puppies before one is allocated to you when it turns eight weeks old. The puppy is likely to remain in your care until they’re around 12 months old.
What happens next?
When your foster puppy reaches around 12-15 months, the police unit will assess whether it’s ready for further police dog training. They will check to see if the puppy is happy in all places, has a desire to interact with a toy, is ambivalent towards other dogs and can problem-solve.
If successful, police training will go ahead, and the dog will move in with its handler. Your former foster puppy will be on its way to becoming a fully-fledged crime fighter!
If you're interested in the dog's progress, you'll be offered updates on the heroic accomplishments your pup is making during its training and when in service.
The training timeline: what to expect
:quality(75))
Most police forces will have a structured development and training programme for their puppies. As a foster carer, it’s your responsibility to follow this and give your pup the best chance for success.
From birth, these puppies are given high levels of desensitisation and stimulation to build a solid platform to train from. Police forces expect foster puppies to have:
A calm attitude towards other dogs
Happy with most environments
Problem-solving skills
Strong desires to play and interact with toys
After they’re sent to live with their foster carer, puppies will follow a development plan, and you’re expected to take them to regular (usually weekly) sessions to fill in the gaps.
These sessions will feature a police professional who will show you various exercises to level up your puppy’s police skills, like obedience, loose-lead walking, tracking games and search tasks. They’re pretty fun and built around positive reinforcement, and they should deepen the bond you have with your foster pup.
Alongside this training, puppies can be kept in kennels for a few days to undergo more formal training. While we know you’ll miss your pup - and they’ll miss you - it’s an essential step to give them independence and get them used to kennel life.
Police forces will assess the pups throughout the process, and we’re sure yours will pass with flying colours.
The police puppy development timeline
| Feature | Fostering a police puppy | Parenting a pet |
|---|---|---|
| Primary goal | Operational readiness, foundational training and "readiness". | Companionship & basic obedience. |
| Financial cost | Zero. Food, vet bills, and gear are typically covered. | Full responsibility for all costs. |
| Time commitment | High. Can't be left alone for long. | Moderate. Varies by breed and owner lifestyle. |
| Training style | Structured "work-drive" development and socialisation. | General manners and "trick" training. |
| Socialisation | Intentional exposure to sirens, crowds, and diverse flooring. | A more casual exposure to pets and people. |
| Medical care | Managed by Police Force vets/approved providers. | Managed by your choice of vet. |
| End of tenure | Moves to a professional handler at around 12 months | You're their pet parent for life! |
How to handle the handover
:quality(75))
We know handing the dog back at the end of the fostering period is going to be hard. After all, they’re your tailmate now, and you would have had a memorable year or so together!
But giving them back isn’t something you should feel guilty about. Remember: the goal was to help prepare them for a life in the police forces, and you’ve succeeded in that.
Plus, most forces understand and appreciate the time you’ve put into this, so they’ll share regular updates on the dog’s process, showing off their accomplishments once they’re operational. After all, you’d have played a key part in all the pup’s achievements!
Even though they’ll return to the police forces, they’ll always remember you, and we’re sure you’ll always be tailmates.
What happens if my foster dog doesn’t pass the test?
:quality(75))
A relatively high proportion of potential working dogs fail to meet the required operational standards or are later withdrawn from service due to a lack of desired mental or physical qualities. Police dog puppy training is tough, and not everyone makes the cut.
But it’s not all doom and gloom for the dogs that don’t make it. For them awaits a slightly more relaxed life as a beloved pet and the likelihood of remaining with their foster family forever, as they will be offered the chance to adopt the puppy permanently!
:quality(75))
Frequently asked questions
Can I foster a police puppy if I live in a flat?
Not usually. Police foster puppies need plenty of fenced, outdoor space. Fencing is very important, as some police breeds, like Belgian Malinois, can easily jump over smaller fences.
Instead, it may be better to pick a breed from our list of the best dog breeds for flats.
What happens if I go on holiday?
Most police forces can house the puppy in their kennels while you’re away. Fostering is a full-time, year-round job, but you are allowed breaks!
Do I get a say in which puppy I get?
No. The police force dog unit instead matches puppies with foster parents based on your home, both of your temperaments and other factors.
Is a police puppy different from a regular puppy?
They’re breeds that usually have high drive and energy levels with strong “working dog” instincts. But they’re still puppies at heart!
:quality(75))
:quality(75))
:quality(75))
:quality(75))
:quality(75))
:quality(75))
:quality(75))