Name: NSW Police Dog Unit trains new recruits, expands specialist roles
Uploaded: 2025-12-01T06:43:29.074Z
Duration: 1 min 50 s
Description: The NSW Police Dog Unit operates 24/7 with more than 80 working dogs and 20 pups currently in training. Recruits undertake 18 months of preparation before specializing in tactical, general purpose, or detection roles, including locating missing persons and detecting explosives or drugs.

The NSW Police Dog Unit operates 24/7 with more than 80 working dogs and 20 pups currently in training. Recruits undertake 18 months of preparation before specializing in tactical, general purpose, or detection roles, including locating missing persons and detecting explosives or drugs.

Menai

The New South Wales Dog Unit plays a vital role in police operations, with more than 80 working dogs and 20 pups currently in training. These dogs undergo 18 months of preparation before specializing in tactical, general purpose, or detection roles, such as locating missing persons or detecting explosives and drugs.

The unit is notable for its unique training methods, including teaching dogs to bark rather than bite during pursuits unless instructed otherwise. Recently, Cocker Spaniels have joined the ranks alongside Belgian Shepherds and Labradors, further strengthening the unit's capabilities in both domestic and international deployments.

NSW Police Dog Unit trains new recruits, expands specialist roles

Powerful, loyal and loving. But when they're at work, they're a force to be reckoned with. A lot of the work that has to be done would not be able to be done without a dog. The NSW Dog Unit is on call 24 hours, 7 days a week, ready to leap into action when the call comes. The number of deployments that they get to to support the NSW Police officers out there on the road is amazing. The force's elite squad has more than 80 working dogs across the state, with 20 more hopeful pups in development training. But they've got big paws to fill and only 18 months to prove they've got what it takes. They'll start learning new skills that will develop into their career as they become fully fledged police dogs. Successful dogs are then trained in one of two specialties. The Tactical and General Purpose Team. They're used to locate missing people, people who have run away from scenes of crime. Or as a detection specialist. We have blood detection dogs, explosive detection dogs, drug detection dogs, as well as cadaver dogs. Our canine unit also includes one of only two urban search and rescue teams in Australia, trained to find people trapped in disasters. We take turns in being on call so they have the ability to be deployed internationally in the event that they're required. New South Wales police dogs are the only working dogs in the world trained to bark, not bite when in pursuit. But they can bite when instructed to. The bond that they have with each other is one of respect and trust. And that is so critical when you're out there in the field. And a new breed is entering the police doghouse. Cocker Spaniels now joining the ranks, training up alongside Belgium Shepherds and Labradors. Phoebe Murray, 10 News.

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Breakdown