Dog handler
Dog handlers work with specially trained dogs to help detect and prevent crime, find lost or missing people and protect property.
Typical Salary
£21,000 – £30,000
per year
Working Hours
36–40
hours per week
Day-to-day tasks
Depending on the service you work for, you could:
- patrol premises and protect property
- search for lost or missing people
- detect drugs, firearms or explosives
- control crowds
- look after your dog in your own home
- attend training courses with your dog
Skills needed
- the ability to teach pupils how to do something
- physical skills like movement, coordination, dexterity and grace
- the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
- 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
- excellent verbal communication skills
- to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
How to get into this role
You can get into this job through:
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
- applying directly
Career progression
Promotion opportunities will depend on the service or organisation that you work for. In the police and armed forces, you may have to move out of dog handling to get promoted to the higher ranks.
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.