K9 Cops: Police Dogs of the World

by Nigel Allsopp

Dogs are not called ‘man’s best friend’ for nothing. Over the centuries, we have enjoyed a close connection with canines: they have provided invaluable help with hunting, tracking, guarding, haulage and rescue work, and have been affectionate and loyal companions without peer.

In this fascinating book, Nigel Allsopp lifts the lid on the world of police dogs, examining the vital roles they play both in Australia and around the world. Despite the numerous high-tech devices now available to law-enforcement officials, ‘K9’s – as they’re known in the trade – remain an indispensable part of police work in a range of fields, notably terrorism and border protection. K9s may sometimes be sent into difficult and dangerous situations, but this is never done without care and concern, for at the heart of their role is the intimate and symbiotic relationship between dog and handler.

K9 Cops explores the history, training and current use of police dogs, as well as considering what future dogs have in modern law enforcement. It also includes an A–Z of police canine units in 47 countries.

For all police and military personnel, K9 Cops is an informative, must-read book. For the rest of us, it is an entertaining and heart- warming account that dog lovers the world over will enjoy.

Genres: Nonfiction, Dogs

280 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 18, 2012

About the author

Nigel Allsopp is a world authority on canines. He spent 15 years as a military working dog handler in the Royal New Zealand Air Force Police, responsible for all aspects of Canine Operations and training within the NZ Defence Force.

He has trained personnel from numerous government agencies – including Customs, Police, Corrective Services and Federal Aviation Security – in the use of specialist dogs. After leaving the military to pursue an interest in wild canine research, Nigel migrated to Australia, where he has worked with manned wolves, timber wolves, dingoes and African Cape hunting dogs at several zoos and wildlife parks. A yearning to work with dogs again led Nigel to join the Queensland Police Service, where he currently serves as a senior constable in the Dog Section, working with a firearms/explosive-detection dog. He also trains numerous Specialist Detection Dogs for various Federal and State government Departments.

Nigel has written several books on War dogs and Police Dogs including the best sellers two Australian War Dogs and Cry Havoc: The History of Military War Dogs and his new release K9 COPS. Nigel has written numerous articles on Canine training for International Law Enforcement Magazines and has been a contributing author to the prestigious British Royal Army Veterinary Corps Journal and other Military journals in the United States. He has been the Canine subject matter expert on TVs Mastermind. He has also appeared on the TV series Who Let the Dogs Out. Nigel is a vocal ambassador for the establishment of Animal Memorials to recognise their role and contribution in all Wars.
Nigel lives in Queensland, Australia.

Reviews

[Lisa Famler · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was an okay book but not what I expected from the blurb on the back of the book. It is interesting to start with but quickly becomes repetitive, ended up skimming the majority of the book which was the A-Z of Police Canine Units around the world - they tended to blur together after a while. I would have liked to have had more anecdotes and found that the majority of the anecdotes that were included weren't that interesting. If you are contemplating a career in a K9 unit then this book might be of greater interest to you, if you are a dog lover then I wouldn't recommend, there are much more interesting books about police dogs out there.

[Jordan Larsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

“K-9 Cops: Police Dogs of the World” is a no-holds barred unflinching look of life on the beat with the world’s police K-9 units. Australian Journalist and former police officer, Nigel Allsopp delivers a one-of-a-kind firsthand account into the world of police canines and their handlers. He takes readers on an unprecedented journey around the world to explore how internationally renowned police departments employ highly trained and dedicated police K-9 units in the never ending fight against crime and the sinister scourge of terrorism. Travel from the streets of Toronto, Canada, the bustling sites of London, England and New York City, to the tumultuous battlegrounds of Israel and the sands of Iraq. This book explores every aspect of life as a K-9 Officer, from unique training techniques, handler and canine selection, as well as harrowing firsthand accounts of real-life police K-9 situations. This book is a must-have item for dog lovers and anyone interested in a career working with police dogs.

As a big fan of police dogs and their handlers, I’ve seen all the movies and watched every documentary on the subject. After reading this book, I have to say that this is one of the best works of literature that I’ve read documenting the reclusive world of police dogs. Mr. Allsopp has done an exemplary job in examining every detail of the police canine profession. I would recommend that everyone buy this book when they get a chance, it's well worth the time to read it.