How hard is it to become a K9 officer?

There are also rigorous training and testing requirements for most agencies. A candidate must first pass through the police academy, then must serve with a senior officer for a length of time.

Most agencies will require you to serve as a regular duty officer for three to five years before being able to apply to be a K9 officer. It is important to continually get high-performance ratings during this time.

Volunteering time with the K9 unit is also a great way to work your way into that position. Once you have reached that spot, it is essential to spend time and training with your K9. There are minimum hour requirements for training which typically range from 200-1000 hours.

K9 officers have demanding jobs. Due to the specialty training of the dog, they can be called any time, 24/7. K9 dogs can be trained to search for drugs, bombs, humans, and more. This can mean being called to a crime scene in the middle of the night.

The opportunity to be a K9 officer is a highly competitive field. There are limited openings, and extensive training is required. There are not a lot of openings, even though the position is sought after within the force.