What does it take to become a GP dog handler?

I get asked this question so often, I thought “why not make a quick post for people to refer back to?”. I’m never going to pretend to be the oracle for all things GP dog, HOWEVER, I’m happy to share my knowledge, and if I’ve missed anything give me a shout and we’ll get it added! To start with, you need an SIA license, and I always recommend the Door Supervisor license. Cost will vary from different companies and areas, but generally to sit your course, first aid and get your first badge it will cost you approximately £500.

Courses are in the region of £300, and the actual badge itself is £210, and then £190 each time you renew (which you need to do every three years). The courses usually lasts 5 days. I understand that’s a lot of money for everyone at the minute, so if you are eligible for Jobseekers Allowance, ask your work coach to refer you for a funded course/badge. That course generally lasts a bit longer, but hey, it’s free and it’s getting you where you want to be!

Now the most important part; the dog!

There’s two routes you can go, you can start from scratch with a puppy or buy an older dog with some training. Neither will be cheap, but you get what you pay for, and if it all goes wrong you want a decent dog by your side. Currently, the breeds that can be used are the German Shepherd, Belgian Malinois, Dutch Shepherd, Rottweiler and Doberman, so bare that

in mind when looking at breeders or private rehomes.

Once you’ve picked what you want to do, you need to decide which certification you want to pursue. As it stands, NASDU is the most widely recognised, but there is also NTIPDU and BTIPDU. While the same in essence, each certification puts emphasis on different areas. NASDU is more welfare focused, while I’ve found NTIPDU to be more focused on the control of the dog, in my experience at least. None are ‘better’ or ‘worse’ than the other, but it may be there are only trainers of NASDU in your area, so it would be easier to get that certificate for example. Either way, speak to a few trainers and get a feel for their methods. You will see them minimum of once a month for your working career for CT (continuation training) so you want to make sure you’re comfortable with them.

So, you’ve found your trainer and you’re happy, excellent! Next step is having them assess the dog/puppy of your choice and seeing if they are suitable for work. Just remember, just because your dog is working line or a working breed doesn’t mean they are guaranteed to be suited to a working role. Generally, it takes around 12-18 months to fully train a GP dog, some may take less time, some may take longer, but the youngest you can certify is 12 months.

You’ve got the dog, you’ve got the trainer, you’re good to go! You’ve passed your assessment and you’re ready to start. Now what? You NEED a suitable vehicle. I prefer a van, but many people are happy with a car. Ex-police vehicles are popular as they tend to come already fitted with everything you need, and for fairly cheap! Failing that, you will need a compliant cage. TransK9 and Lintran are good, usually ranging from £700-£1000 brand new, but you can grab a second hand one for a bargain. You can also get custom cages installed in your vehicle, usually in a similar price range, but I prefer to have my cages be removable if needed. That’s all down to personal choice! You will also need Public Liability insurance, and I cannot stress enough the importance of this. It’s better to have it and never need it, than to need it and not have it. Usually it’s around £40-50/month depending on provider and the fine details of your policy.

Now, when it comes to equipment for the dog/van etc, well…. I think that needs another post 😂 Remember to have fun, because if you aren’t, your dog won’t either. Hope this helps!

K9Katie xox