Expert: PaulKoinig - 10/30/2007

Question
hi i am 14 years old in the 10th grade and i have wanted to work with K-9 dogs and swat all my life. just watching the shows and videos makes it looke cool. i wanted to know if i could still be a K-9 officer and go into swat? also how long does it take to become a K-9 officer and what are the requirements?my last question is am i able to choose my own K-9 dog or am i given one? i plan to do police work around california, new york, georgia, or florida. do u know anybody who can help me reach my goal or someone i can talk to. thank you

Answer
Spencer, you seem to have some serious goals in mind!! First you need to go to college and take classes involving animal behavior along with your criminal justice classes. Get hired by an agency and work the road for a few years. We have swat k9's that do both jobs. Finally, dogs are selected for the handler based on his experience and size.
Good Luck
Paul