Police Dogs in Europe
A look at the development of police dogs in Europe.
Note: This article has been excerpted from a larger work in the public domain and shared here due to its historical value. It may contain outdated ideas and language that do not reflect TOTA’s opinions and beliefs.
From Police Dogs in Europe By Consul-General Henry W. Diederich, of Antwerp, Belgium.
While bloodhounds have been used from time immemorial to trace murderers and other criminals, regular police dogs have been used, only very recently. The first idea of training dogs for police service was suggested by Dr. Hans Gross, in 1896, in an article entitled "An assistant to constables," published in the Year Book of the Austrian Constabulary, in which he says: "The dog should, above all things, be a faithful, ever-watchful, and attentive companion to the constable on his arduous official rounds, a companion gifted with senses far more acute than those of his master."
The first dogs used in Europe for police purposes were engaged for night service in November, 1896, at Hildesheim, Prussia. It was not, however, until April, 1899, that a police commissioner of Ghent began to supply his night watchmen with dogs. In Germany police dogs became popular through the efforts of the chief police officials in the Rhenish-Westphalian industrial districts; but no man did more for their introduction in the police service, and for arousing interest in the subject among city officials, than did Director Robert Gersbach, of Berlin, who a few years ago delivered a lecture on police dogs before the ministry of the interior department in the presence of the Crown Prince.
“Off to Duty," image from text, 1903.
To-day there are in Germany almost 500 police departments that keep dogs for assistants. An association in the interests of such animals has been formed, which has more than 1,500 persons as members. Thus the police-dog question increases in interest by reason of the excellent results obtained in various countries of Europe with different breeds.
In France dogs are now used by the police forces at the following suburban municipalities of Paris: Six at Asnieres, 4 at Boulogne, 8 at Charenton, 6 at Gentilly, 2 at Ivry, 2 at Joinville, 2 at Lilas, 4 at Levallois, 6 at Montreuil, 6 at Neuilly, 3 at St. Denis (North), 5 at St. Denis (South), 2 at St. Ouen, and 3 for the district of Meudon, in all 61. The common council of Paris is now discussing the advisability of spending about $2,500 per annum for the further development of the police-dog system and for experiments in connection with it.
The training of such dogs is very difficult. To begin with, it requires a well-talented dog, and a calm and intelligent official who must go through the same exercises with the dog day after day. The recruits most frequently chosen for these training schools are the keen-scented terrier and the active shepherd dog, but no breed is especially preferred over the other, less depending upon the breed of dog than upon the natural qualifications of the individual animal.
The fancy of the trainer also plays a prominent part in selecting the animal. Only such men as will treat their dogs with affection and know how to enter sympathetically into the life of the animal can expect to be successful.
At present Germany has the largest number as well as the best trained police dogs. Other countries are continually sending men to Germany to buy up these trained animals, but most of the governments are preventing their officials from selling dogs without the consent of their police commissioner, even if these dogs are the private property of the policemen. The object is to prevent good dogs from going out of the country.
United States Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, H. Albert Johnson, and Henry W. Diederich. Police And Work Dogs In Europe. Washington: Govt. Print. Office, 1909.
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