Dogs specifically trained for law enforcement agencies and Police are called as Police dogs. Hurting or killing a Police dog is criminal offense under various acts and statutes. Various acts and law by various countries have set out stringent punishment for such offences under criminal acts. Punishments are in addition to the punishment prescribed under animal cruelty prevention laws.

Police or other law enforcement agencies are empowered to use lethal force for protecting the life of a Police dog. In many countries, Police dogs are dressed with Bullet proof vests. Police dogs that die while on duty are considered as martyrs and given full honors associated with martyrdom of any Police personnel. Police dogs are used for many services such as enforcement of public order, illicit substance tracking and narcotics related crimes, tracking missing persons or dogs, bomb detection and tracing dead bodies by sensing odor of decomposing bodies.

Few popular varieties of dogs preferred as Police dogs: German shepherd, Dutch shepherd, Labrador retriever, Doberman, American pit bull terrier and Belgian Malinois.