A few years down the road...

ummm.....I'd be getting the placement/promotion into the canine unit first before getting the working dog....the unit itself will assist you in getting the right dog and train you both up. Already having a serious working dog in the house might actually hinder you getting the placement... (depending on the individual dog's temperment of course) ...but two hard dogs in the house .....I know I wouldn't want to manage that.

Hope you do get the assignment though...it's great when you can combine skills and passion and get paid to do it

(I'm intending my next dog to be trained and worked in SAR....so I'm joining the team first to get trained (and fit) myself, probably 2 years before I actually get the dog/pup ...knowing the job first is going to help me know what I need in my dog and select accordingly.)

Not sure how things work in the USA, but here you join the police first and do your training, then become a regular officer for 5 years, then you can train to become a dog handler... You will get a dog assigned to you, you don't get to pick.

Yes, my father is an officer, get the job first. My dad wanted to be on the k9 unit. He applied many times, but was rejected.
Otherwise, Wendy Schmitt, Landgrafk9, has amazing working g dobes. I know she has had dogs go to k9 units.

as far as I know, dogs are assigned to you, you don't get to pick.

Good luck Wolfgirl. Very few K9 units in the US use Dobermans and usually the handler and dog (and the dog is generally chosen by the head trainer) go through training together.

Years ago Sacramento PD started a K9 unit using one of their long time policeman who happened to be a Doberman breeder and their first K9 in the unit was one of his own dogs but that rarely is how it works.

Sinister said:

Yes, my father is an officer, get the job first. My dad wanted to be on the k9 unit. He applied many times, but was rejected.
Otherwise, Wendy Schmitt, Landgrafk9, has amazing working g dobes. I know she has had dogs go to k9 units.

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Landgraf has had Dobermans certified / used as K9s? In the US I was only aware of Ascomannis and Cara having certified K9s.

Thanks for all the advice guys!! I've been researching all the regular police stuff and didn't even think to check on the dog stuff till I was able to log on here again. lol
I realized that I would have to wait till I was through training, and that I was gonna have to go solo for a while... I just wanted a good breeder whom I could reccomend to the trainer... since he will most likely be picking the dog. :biggrin:

Thank you for the advice Beaumont67, I'll look into the Schutzhund training.

Hey I misinterpreted something - and I was wrong. Sorry for the confusion.

Wolfgirl_121 said:

So... I want to be a police officer. K-9 unit. I was wondering if anyone knows of a breeder that's known for working dogs around MI... I know it's going to be hard to find a dog with the right temperament for the job, but I really want my life tied to this beautiful breed and have the job of my dreams at the same time. I know dobes aren't used as k-9 officers very often anymore, but I figured if it was possible, you guys would be able to help me!!

Thx in advance for advice!!

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Not sure of any working dog breeders in Mich, but wherever you get your dog from, for training check out Hector Hernandez in Perry, Mich...He trains dogs for the Mich State Police...He has ob classes, and he is a behaviourist, and has classes for all kinds of stuff. He is a civilian-police dog instructor.
I see you live in Leslie, Mi, which isn't that far from him....
His Website is First Class Dog Training LLC | Home
good luck

I forgot to mention, that two of my family members are police officers for the Mich State Police, and I know the K9 officer from the MSP, and he likes Dobes, but he told me that because of the weather conditions in Mich, they use the GSD and coated breeds. If you want his name pm me, and maybe you could ask him some questions....

Thx Retta. I'll be checking out Hector!!!

Wolfgirl_121 said:

So... I want to be a police officer. K-9 unit. I was wondering if anyone knows of a breeder that's known for working dogs around MI... I know it's going to be hard to find a dog with the right temperament for the job, but I really want my life tied to this beautiful breed and have the job of my dreams at the same time. I know dobes aren't used as k-9 officers very often anymore, but I figured if it was possible, you guys would be able to help me!!

Thx in advance for advice!!

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Most units in up north will not use a Dobermann on the notion they cannot work in the cold. They can, but not for the period of time that a GSD or a Mal can. Your best bet is to get involved in sport work for now, IMO some the best PSD trainers started in sport work. Sport work will give you a good back round in building and channeling drives, working OB, and tracking. If you do well in sport work you'll be an attractive candidate for K9 in the future. Getting certified for helper work could also help get you out there training with the unit of whatever dept. you wind up at, which again would really help get you on K9 at some point.

Retta said:

I forgot to mention, that two of my family members are police officers for the Mich State Police, and I know the K9 officer from the MSP, and he likes Dobes, but he told me that because of the weather conditions in Mich, they use the GSD and coated breeds. If you want his name pm me, and maybe you could ask him some questions....

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This was my first thought... I wouldn't think a dobe would be suited for police work in a place that gets that cold.