An Assessment of Dog Behaviour with Regard to Scientific Research Findings

Dogs have been used in the field of law enforcement for over 100 years . Despite advances in the overall performance of police officers due to improved training methods and use of various innovative devices, it is hard to imagine a fully effective police force operating without the involvement of specialist dog - handler teams. T he uniformed services generally hold in high regard the role that a well - trained canine team can play, serving as an essential deterrent to criminal activity, as well as assisting police departments in the locating of illegal drugs and explosives, in track ing fugitives and with finding missing persons or locating bodies . An understanding of general dog behaviour and interaction with different environments are essential elements, not only in the case of assessing candidate suitability for different types of training programme but also for behaviour evaluation of a companion animal. The ever - increasing demand for both working and pet dogs has seen the study of dog behaviour find itself a niche position in the realm of scientific research.