Dog handler
Career outlook for dog handler
UK Salary Ranges
Entry-level
£16,000
£16,000
Experienced
£30,000
£30,000
Currently employed in Scotland
6,400
Salary information is provided by the "National Careers Service". "Oxford Economics" supplies job forecasts and employment figures. Due to COVID-19 the jobs market is constantly changing. Some of the information may not reflect the current situation.
What's it like?
You and a dog would work as a team, to prevent and detect crime, find lost or missing people or protect property, depending on where you work.
You’d work with a specially trained dog, care for it and be responsible for controlling it. You would need to be confident and patient with the dog.
Dog handlers mainly work for the police, the Army, the RAF, the UK Border Agency, HM Revenue and Customs and private security firms.
In the police service you would work with your dog to:
- Track missing people
- Control crowds, for example at football matches
- Search for explosives or illegal drugs
- Chase armed criminals
- Guard prisoners
- Search for stolen property
- Search for human remains
- Support armed officers
In the Army and RAF you’d work to:
- Guard military bases and aircraft hangers
- Locate land mines and other explosives
- Search for casualties
Customs officers use dogs at ports, airports and large railway stations to detect:
- Drugs, tobacco and cigarettes
- Food products being brought into the country illegally
In the security industry, you and your dog would:
- Patrol and guard property
- Guard construction sites
- Search for explosives or illegal drugs
- Provide security at events
You could also work for other services, such as the Fire and Rescue Service and HM Prison Service, or for a mountain rescue team.
Working conditions
Hours
Environment
UK employment status
Full-time
54%
Part-time
23%
Self employed
23%
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- Positive attitude
- Reliable
- Attention to detail
- Cooperating
- Social conscience
- Empathising
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Qualifications
Although you do not need formal qualifications to train as a dog handler you usually need to be employed within the police, armed forces, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) as a Revenue and Customs Officer or within the security industry.
See police and armed forces profiles for the entry requirements.
Entry to HMRC as an assistant officer requires qualifications at SCQF levels 4-6. Entry to graduate training usually requires an honours degree (SCQF level 10). Within HMRC you could apply to train as an Anti-smuggling Dog Handler.
The security dog handler route would usually require qualifications at SCQF level 4/5, relevant experience and must hold your Security Industry Authority (SIA) licence.
Useful subjects
- English
- Maths
Helpful to have
Qualifications that demonstrate experience with animals and knowledge of security such as a Scottish Vocational Qualification in Animal Care (SVQ level 2/3) or Skills for Work Uniformed and Emergency Services (SCQF level 4).