What Are The Most Important Skills Of A Dog Handler?

As a dog handler, you’d be teamed with a specially trained dog and would be liable for its control and care. The Army, RAF, HM Revenue, Customs, Police Service, search and rescue organizations, and personal security firms all offer dog handlers job opportunities. If you’re keen on dogs and you’re eager to use your observation skills, this might be just what you’re trying to find.

In the police dogs, not only play a neighborhood in specialist work like checking out explosives detection and armed suspects or drugs but also as a part of the day-to-day routine work like patrolling at football matches.

In the Army, dogs are utilized to protect/guard roles or detect roles – checking out explosives or drugs, etc. They’re utilized in most Army branches; those entrants joining the Army Veterinary Corps can become dog handlers. The dogs and the dog handlers have a uniquely close relationship both in barracks and when deployed on operations. 

In the RAF, the dog’s leading role is to protect aircraft on military bases and hangars. Entrants need to join the RAF Police to become dog handlers. As an army dog handler, you’ll specialize in Arms & Explosive Dogs, Drug Detection Dogs, Vehicle Search Dogs, and Patrol Dogs.

HM Revenue and Customs use dogs to seek illegal substances like tobacco, drugs, and explosives at airports and ports. Some work experience working for HM Revenue and Customs is required before becoming a dog handler. 

The fire service sometimes uses dogs to look at burning and collapsed buildings for signs of life. Search and rescue organizations use dogs for mountain and cave rescue. Private security companies may use dogs to help within the protection of property. 

Personal Qualities: Dog care skills list

To be a successful dog handler, you’ll need patience and confidence to work independently with your dog. You furthermore may get to be ready to judge situations accurately and react instantly to any given situation. Moreover, you’ll need:

  • An experience of having an affinity with them and caring for dogs to be physically robust and fit.
  • Ability to demonstrate consistency.
  • Ability to demonstrate empathy.
  • Ability to show confidence to attract clientele.
  • An Intensity for dogs or a love for animals.
  • Ability to practice tolerance.
  • To twiddling my thumbs and self-confidence.
  • The ability to figure a dog efficiently with minimum supervision.
  • A stable home life – in some positions, your dog will sleep in your house.
  • To be responsible, alert, and observant.

Working Conditions

Being a dog handler may be a physically challenging job where you’ll get ready to continue with your dog during tough training sessions where tons of walking and running are common practice. The work could also mean you encounter rugged terrains and weather working outside within the elements.

The hours are often long and variable and include weekends, evenings, and nights. In the Army and RAF, it’s common to call out at any time in emergencies. And it involves long hour’s service in operation.

In some organizations, like the police, you’d take care of your dog in your house. Therefore, you would like to possess a stable home life, and if you’ve got a family, they might have to comply with having a dog sleep in the house.

Qualifications and Training

Once you’ve secured a task as a dog handler, you can get training from your new employer. Moreover, it consists of initial training, followed by specialist training in your chosen area. It varies on the organization you intend to join, so it’s best to contact them for further information using the links and other information section at the page’s rock bottom. 

Skill Needed For Working with Animals

Each organization sets its entry requirements for the role. So you’d got to meet these to be eligible for the appliance process. For example, to become a working dog handler, you’ll usually need a minimum of three years’ experience in the police investigation before having the ability to transfer to the dog section. Within the Army, you’d undergo basic soldier training before joining the Military dog handler.

The NSARDA is formed from search and rescue dog units in England. Their entry requirements are varied, but generally, they invite year as a full-time member of a lowland rescue and mountain rescue team. You’ll also need proper search and rescue skills. Moreover, your team is to be supported and nominated when you are applying to become a dog handler. However, if you’re not part of a rescue team, you’ll begin by volunteering as an ‘animal’s body,’ literally acting as a casualty in rescue dog training programs. After around six months with a team, you’ll enter dog support/navigation work, where you’d get training in care, equipment handling, and radio operations. With this experience, you’ll then apply for dog handling training.

You’ll also have to have a cleared Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) certificate for a service’s role.