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Why do K9s wear a badge?
K9 members of a department have uniforms to help with their important work.
Highly trained dogs are important service animals for some law enforcement, fire, and military departments. The canine and its human handler, or partner, is known as a K9 unit. In this article, we will explain the different parts of the K9 uniform, including the badge, and touch upon some of their duties and functions. The K9 uniform signals to civilians close to the dog that this dog is hard at work and should not be approached or petted.
Why do K9s wear a badge?
K9s are sworn in for duty, with their human partner typically affirming the honorarium. Part of this ceremony is the presentation of a badge to the K9 as they begin work with the department. K9s receive a metal badge mounted on a leather accessory that loops onto their collars because they are working in a public safety capacity. During their working hours, K9s wear a vest with department patches as part of their uniform. Sometimes, the dogs will have other paraphernalia such as a bulletproof vest or a camera mounted onto their vests.
Specialized Training Capitalizes on Sense of Smell
K9s begin their specialized training around eighteen months of age. They train daily and are recertified as ready for duty annually. They are on call 24/7, so the K9 unit is typically ready to go immediately. The dogs work five to eight years with their human partner before retiring to live their lives as “dogs.”
Dogs are particularly valued for their powerful sense of smell and the training will focus on specific tasks. Law enforcement K9 units will go out on patrol and the dogs are trained to find either narcotics, explosives, food, or electronics. K9s trained in search and rescue work with fire departments and the military.
Understanding the European Influence
Interestingly, many of these working dogs understand and respond to commands in a language other than English while working in the US. Often, they are trained using French, Czech, or German commands instead of English. One reason is that many of the working breeds are from Europe, and it also prevents others from easily trying to command the dog.
Breeds of dogs are chosen for their social skills because they typically live with their human partners in their homes. They interact with the officer’s family but have special kennels or separated areas so they can rest and have downtime. The officer is responsible for the care and keeping of the dog.
Do Smith & Warren's badges work for a K9 badge?
Smith & Warren badges are available for K9 customization in VisualBadge. Some departments use their full-size chest badge with a recessed belt clip holder to clip it to the K9 harness. Others will order a miniature badge and a K9 badge holder. We also offer two universal leather K9 badge holders designed to attach to a K9 collar. The non-recessed holder works with a badge under 2.5” in height and a pin and safety catch. The recessed badge holder works with a badge under 2” in height, with a permanent glue-in mount recommended. If you have any questions about how to order a K9 badge or badge holder, please contact us and we will help you get started.