12 November 2026
On 3 November, Animal Management Level 1, 2 and T Level students were joined by Laura and Paul from Surrey Police’s dog unit to learn more about how the police force and possible career paths working with dogs.
After talking the group through what a typical day in the life looks like for a police dog and their handler, Laura and Paul were joined by a line-up of special four-legged guests for some demonstrations: Police dogs Lando, Genie, Jilly and Fleur.
Each with different specialities, the four dogs were invited into the room to demonstrate their skills and abilities that they’ve gained whilst working in the police force.
Lando was able to locate the hidden toy within seconds of his search, although he made sure to say hello to the group of learners as he went by. Whereas vocal German Shepard Fluer showed off her strength and ability to follow commands within seconds.
With the average police dog serving for 8 years, their focus, professionalism and reaction time are all key parts in keeping their colleague and themselves safe on the job. As said by Laura, “this makes working alongside dogs one of the most challenging yet rewarding in the police force.”
Towards the end of the session, our Animal Management learners had the opportunity to ask a variety of questions. They highlighted key issues that can come up in the role, such as difficulties on the job, how the dogs are looked after during extreme weather, and the qualifications needed to pursue a career as a dog trainer with the police.
Thank you to Laura and Paul (and Lando, Genie, Jilly and Fleur!) for taking the time to visit and speak with our students. It was a session that won’t be forgotten anytime soon!
View our Animal Management courses here.
