How to Pick the Right K-9 Handler

A willingness to wear a bite suit to help dogs train is a prerequisite for good handlers.IMAGE: Dothan Police DepartmentBehind every successful K-9 unit lies a meticulous process of selecting the right handlers, according to Ken Wallentine, West Jordan (Utah) Police Chief.

Wallentine underscores a patrol dog is an additional use-of-force tool. “Most of the time the dog is a locating tool that helps find suspects, articles, and lost persons,” he says. “But it also can be an apprehension tool, where the dog apprehends by biting.”

“Here, we are entrusting an officer with a unique and additional tool that has the capacity to think for itself,” he says. “Unlike a TASER, firearm or baton, a dog has some autonomous decision-making ability. Considering this, we require a handler who comprehends the dogs’ capabilities and can make sound decisions in high-pressure scenarios.”

According to Wallentine, a K-9 handler will determine when, how, and to what extent force should be utilized, as well as when it should be discontinued.

“You want an officer who is well schooled in the Constitutional and administrative restrictions and parameters of using force,” he says. “The officer needs to be adept and trustworthy at making decisions and perceiving situations accurately.”

Sound handler selection is vital. But all too often, agencies do not consider handler selection at all, adds Lt. William Wozniak, 3rd Squad Patrol/K-9 Commander for the Dothan (Alabama) Police Department. In many agencies, he says the first officer to raise their hand gets to handle the dog.

“But without a sound selection process, they’re going to get the guy who never really thought about it seriously. Now, he is unwilling to dedicate time for training. The dog’s just an afterthought that gets worked when he has time.”

Choosing the right handler demands a formal process, he says. One that considers a range of factors, including the candidate's use-of-force record, personality traits, and prey and play drive.

The Ideal Candidate Profile

Wallentine outlines several key characteristics he looks for in an officer destined to become a K-9 handler.

One is a high play drive. This is a handler who exhibits a playful nature and enjoys engaging with others, reflecting the importance of bonding and rapport-building with the K-9 partner.

“I want a handler who would see a bunch of kids on the street playing basketball, get out of his car and play a pickup game,” Wallentine says. “That shows me this is someone who wants to play and will be playful with their dogs.”

He compares dogs to two-year-old children, who love to play. Despite being service dogs, he says these animals still crave love, appreciation, and playfulness.

Wallentine also searches for an officer he refers to as a "hunter,” that is, someone who shows up ready to work and doesn’t take a lot of sick days.

He explains, “I want that dog on the street. It’s not like a shield or shotgun that you can pick up and work with any day. It’s a tool unique to that handler. I need to see a history of responsibly using sick time.”

Robert Eden, owner of Eden K9 Consulting & Training Corp and author of the K9 Supervisors Manual—Dynamics in Developing and Managing Police K9 Units, says the right officers are true hunters looking for the bad guy. “They are the officers working dark back alleys where burglaries and assaults are common. The ones hunting for crimes in progress,” he says. “These are the guys who will put in the time and effort to work their dogs and keep them up to a high standard.”

The right officer also rarely and responsibly uses force, he adds. Reviewing their personal file shows minimal use-of-force complaints and consistently sound judgment. Wallentine asserts a history of using force sparingly shows the officer can think on the fly and remain calm in tense situations.

Wozniak states the right officer also possesses a deep understanding of the law.

“Is the officer well versed in case law? Does he understand the Fourth Amendment? Does he understand use of force?” Wozniak asks. “Finally, is he coachable?”

Wozniak adds handlers also must be team players and willing to work. “The dog will suffer with an officer who is not willing to work and is not a team player,” he says. “The training won’t get done.”

The right officer also drives safely behind the wheel, according to Wallentine. K-9 teams are often deployed to active incidents, he explains, meaning the officer must drive at high speeds, with an excited and barking dog in the back.

 “You want an officer who can drive responsibly and deal with the distractions of the police radio, the siren, and the dog barking,” he says. “They need to get to the scene without crashing the patrol car and injuring themselves or that $15,000 dog.”

The officer also needs to be in good physical condition, Wozniak adds. “These dogs move quick and require an officer who can keep up with them,” he says. “That requires a high level of fitness.”

Wallentine also seeks an officer who embraces the spotlight. Dog handlers often must take their K-9s into community policing efforts, such as schools, Chamber of Commerce meetings, and other local events. “You need someone who can engage with the public while keeping a close eye on the dog to make sure there are not any unintentional bites,” he says.

Exceptional handlers are also exceptional report writers, according to Wallentine. For example, the officer must provide the best evidence for prosecution if a dog detects drugs in a car. “It often comes down to the evidence and not the case,” he says.

A Happy Home

Selecting a handler extends beyond professional qualifications, Wallentine adds, noting agencies must carefully consider the officer’s home life. West Jordan PD evaluates potential handers’ home environment, family dynamics, and overall support system.

“We look for officers who have their partners’ total support to have the dog in their home,” he says. “We provide a nice outdoor kennel with a concrete pad and a roof, but most times, officers have the dogs inside.”

West Jordan PD hosts a K-9 demonstration for officers and their families. “We often have spouses who joke that the officer seems to care more for the dog than them,” he says. “That’s an extreme example, but the dog will be a huge part of the officer's life.”

Eden agrees, stressing officers must understand the expected schedule both on the job and after work. Handlers must care for the dog, get them a bath or clean up after them. Being very upfront, he says, “helps officers self-select before they turn in their applications. They realize there’s a lot more involved than they expected.”

Handlers who will keep the dog at home also need a good-sized, fenced-in yard with room for a concrete pad and large kennel. The officer can have other pets but that depends on the size of the pets and if they get along with the new dog.

Wallentine underscores the right handler is willing to wear a bite suit and act as a decoy during training. “I want a handler who sees that dog as a tool, not one who sees it as a pet and a friend,” he says. “Last year, we lost a dog to gunfire, when the dog took a bullet for the handler. That’s incredibly sad, but I can spend $15,000 for a new dog. I cannot buy that officer’s wife a new husband. We seek an officer who recognizes the importance of sending dogs in dangerous scenarios to protect officers.”

Dothan PD officers must pass a physical training test, oral interview and be approved by all members of the K-9 unit to become a handler.IMAGE: Dothan Police DepartmentFollow a Selection Process

Every agency should have a standard selection process that is followed the same way every time a handler is selected, according to Wozniak.

“if you don’t have a process in place, you will choose an officer who lacks a strong interest in K-9 handling,” he says. “I ask for a three- to five-year commitment from my handlers.”

At Dothan PD, the process beings with a posting calling for candidates. The memo outlines an application deadline, while the application itself includes a section for officers to state their motivations for becoming a handler.

“That explanation needs to be detailed,” he says. “They need to provide the reasons they want to be considered. They also should list their experience with dogs, be it owning pets of their own, training them, etc.”

After their application is approved, Dothan officers must pass a physical abilities test and an oral interview. The physical doesn’t require officers to meet SWAT standards, he says, but it makes sure they can run 1.5 miles, do 25 pushups and 25 sit-ups in a minute and things like that.

“We had someone make a fake dog that weighs about 62 pounds,” he says. “We make the officer carry the dog through an agility course where they have to go over a fence and across a balance beam through a window.”

The department’s oral interview comprises 12 standard questions, he adds. Candidates receive a score between one and five for each question to calculate a candidacy score. Those with higher scores move on to the next level.

Here, candidates must don a bite sleeve or suit and catch a dog. “If they don’t want to do it, they will not do it when it’s time to train,” he says.

Finally, the entire Dothan K-9 unit, which comprises nine handlers, a commander and a trainer, votes on the candidate. “We require a 100% confidence vote across the board; everyone has to say ‘yes,’” he says. “We are a small unit, and we have to make sure everyone is on the same page and gets along.”

Eden says the approval of supervisors and the officer’s peers is vital. “Everyone needs to agree that this person is a good fit for the unit and for the dog.”