Dog handler

Dog handlers work with specially trained dogs to help detect and prevent crime, find lost or missing people and protect property.

Also known as: Police dog handler, detection dog handler, security dog handler

• Starter salary£23,000 a year
• Experienced£34,000 a year
• Typical hours36 to 40 a week

What you'll do

As a dog handler, you could:

• patrol premises and protect property
• search for lost or missing people
• detect drugs, firearms or explosives
• support colleagues on operations and investigations
• guard military bases and important infrastructure sites
• control crowds on marches and sporting events
• look after your dog in your own home
• attend training courses with your dog

Working environment

You could work in kennels.

Your working environment may be outdoors in all weathers and physically demanding.

You may need to wear a uniform.

Skills and knowledge you'll need

You'll need:

• the ability to teach people and animals how to do something
• physical skills like movement and co-ordination
• excellent verbal communication skills
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• the ability to work on your own
• the ability to work well with others
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• the ability to learn through your work
• to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

How to become a dog handler

You can get into this job through:

• a college course
• an apprenticeship
• working towards this role
• applying directly

College

You could take a course to learn some of the skills and knowledge you'll need to work with dogs.

Courses include:

• animal care
• animal management
• T Level in Animal Care and Management

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level

Apprenticeship

You could apply to do a Detection and Protection Working Dog Specialist Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship, or an Animal Training Instructor Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship.

These take around 2 years to complete.

Entry requirements

Employers will set their own entry requirements.

Work

You can train to be a dog handler if you work or have worked in the uniformed services.

Check the entry requirements for applying to be a dog handler in the:

• police
• British Army
• Royal Air Force
• Ministry of Defence Guard Service

Volunteering

You can gain confidence with dogs and develop your training skills through volunteering.

Organisations like the National Search and Rescue Dog Association and dog rescue charities can be useful places to search for opportunities.

Direct application

You can apply to work with a private security firm, as a dog handler. You'll need a Security Industry Authority licence to do this.

You'll have an advantage when you apply for jobs if you've got experience of working with dogs.

Restrictions and requirements

You'll need to:

• pass enhanced background checks
• have a good level of fitness

Career path and progression

Promotion opportunities will depend on the service or organisation that you work for.

In security, you could go on to be head of canine services, where you lead teams of dog handlers.

You might also become a trainer, working with organisations like search and rescue, to help train dogs and their handlers.

Professional and industry bodies

You could join the National Association of Security Dog Users for professional development opportunities and industry news.

Guides for this industry

• Animal Care: pay, interviews and getting started →

Related roles

• Job roleAssistance dog trainer
• Job roleSecurity officer
• Job roleKennel worker
• Job roleAnimal care worker

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0