The Poodle in law enforcement

Sacramento County District Attorney Jan Scully has introduced Reggie, a purebred standard Poodle, who will work in her office as a compassion dog.

In a press release Scully said,
 “Reggie provides victims and witnesses with support and peace during their involvement in the criminal justice process - from taking interviews to providing court testimony. He is a valued member of our office, lifting the spirits of those who are often facing the most harrowing time in their lives.” Source

The Poodle as Police Dog. Although they are intelligent and easy to train, Poodles seeking a career in law enforcement serve better as compassion dogs for the DA than working cops on the street for several reasons.

Poodles have been bred to be companion dogs through the centuries and going into an attack mode is not in their natures as a breed. 

Poodles have a low boredom threshold and love attention. The repetitious training sessions with a handler would not satisfy the social needs of a Poodle.

Frequent trips to the beauty shop would not fit the image of a police dog.

But probably the main reason is one of perception. Even the mildest Belgian Malinois and German Shepherd dog looks intimidating. Even the nastiest Poodle seldom does.

Comments

[Khyra]

JAN:

Do woo realize Misty keeps hijakhking your blog and posting Poodle stories?

Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra

[cube]

I agree. Compassion dog works better for a poodle than a job as a police dog.

[sam]

a poodle police dog? I'm laughing just thinking about it. Would it have to have a rhinestone collar?

[John]

A poodle police dog would be cool. While bad guys were laughting, the cops would slap on the cuffs. lol

[Ann Cosby]

I train poodle puppies to be guide dogs. They could learn to be police dogs or anything people wanted them to be.

[Jimmy]

Nasty Poodle = Pitbull in disguise!!!! Trust me!!!

[Joe]

There is no reason that a poodle can't be a police dog. They are smart and learn easily and don't have to be groomed that often.

[Jeanette]

I've always thought it would be hard to take all those curls seriously, however the person I got my delightful standard poodle from trains them for police work. Mine wouldn't do...he's too...bashful, but maybe that's why he owns me :)

[GermanCarDepot.com]

Our LuLu and GiGi are the toughest poodles around :) A poodle is a great dog to wake up a real guard dog.It is hard to sneak up to my door without the Poodle alarms going off.I think the term companion dog fits perfect. My poodle LuLu Loves going to work. She greets all the customers.

[m engelbrecht]

wake up sam you you dont know poodles or dogs for that matter poodles are more intelleligent than a lot of people!!!!

[Nimi]

Poodles are the second most intelligent dog breed and are very easily trained; also I own a littermate of the Poodle, Reggie, in the above mentioned article and she has the qualities that I believe would make for a wonderful police dog.