Qualified Police Dog Handler, 1980s

RAF Police Military Working Dogs have two primary roles, protection and detection. They assist personnel in protecting, locations, assets and personnel and in the detection of explosives, arms, drugs and missing persons.

The RAF currently has approximately 180 dogs and 135 dog handlers. The RAF employ a variety of different breeds, exploiting the differing natural abilities of the breed, for example German Shepherd dogs for tracking, pursuing and protecting, while Spaniels and Labradors are used in detection work. A dog’s working career will be 6-8 years, dependant on health and performance, after which they are often adopted by their handler or by other RAF personnel.