Dogs have been a critical part of law enforcement for hundreds of years. The Ancient Romans used dogs to guard their livestock and help them hunt. In the colonial era, Spanish Conquistadors brought mastiffs and hounds over to help them claim land. To assist soldiers fighting in unfamiliar territory, dogs were used in the Korean and Vietnam wars to uncover traps and help scout the area for enemy soldiers.

Today, dogs are used by law enforcement in many countries, where they assist in identifying drug smugglers, sniff out explosive devices and help officers conduct raids of dangerous areas. Dog officers – commonly known as "K9s" – have even earned portrayal in popular media: everyone remembers the brave Rin Tin Tin and Hooch the Dog. 

Though dogs assisting with law enforcement is exceedingly common, the kinds of dogs that serve successfully are not. For a dog to be suitable for service in law enforcement, he or she must be brave, obedient, strong, and courageous, even in the face of tremendous danger or uncertain circumstances. If you've ever wondered whether your dog has what it takes to become a distinguished K9 officer, tell us a bit about their personality, and we will give you intel on how well they could control crime on the ruff streets.