Dogs, often referred to as "man's best friend," have long played a pivotal role in human society. They are incredibly smart, loyal, and strong, making them perfect for important jobs. Among these roles, serving alongside the police stands out! These breeds are more than just pets; they are real-life superheroes with a mission to protect and serve. This article discusses the 10 Smartest Police Dog Breeds around the globe. Each breed features unique stories, appearance, characteristics, and incredible abilities. Let’s get ready to meet some remarkable crime-fighting canines! 10 Finest Police Dog Breeds Worldwide German Shepherd This breed with a rich heritage, was developed by Max von Stephanitz in 1899. These dogs are known for their remarkable intelligence, adaptability, and impressive work ethic. The average height of male German Shepherd dogs are about 60 to 65 cm and weigh around 30 to 40 kg, while the female dogs are slightly smaller. During World War I, one heroic German Shepherd named Antis served in North Africa and England. In 1949, this dog breed played a vital role in an escape from communist Czechoslovakia. Bing, also known as Brian, served the 13th Parachute Battalion during World War II, displaying courage and loyalty. Irma, another remarkable German Shepherd, rescued people trapped under destroyed buildings during the London Blitz in 1945. Today, security agencies worldwide, including Guard Dog Patrols in Denmark, International VIP Bodyguard (IVIPB) LTD in the UK, and Sparta Security Group, rely on German Shepherds for their unmatched skills and dedication to duty. Read more: Top Super Luxury Cars for 2023 Belgian Malinois It, originally a herding dog from Belgium, has evolved to become a versatile and agile breed. With average height of 56 to 66 cm and weight of 20 to 30 kg, these dogs are known for their hard work and dedication. One outstanding Malinois, K9 Killer, was awarded the PDSA Gold Medal for assisting in capturing 115 poachers at Kruger National Park. Kuga, an Australian Army Malinois, received the Dickin Medal for capturing an insurgent despite being injured in the War in Afghanistan. Mali, a British Army Malinois, also earned the Dickin Medal for completing a mission while injured during the same conflict. IVIPB LTD, a British company, and Integrity K9 Services in the United States, are among the security agencies that incorporate these extraordinary Belgian Malinois into their ranks. Read more: Top 10 Most Valuable Metals in the World in 2023 Bloodhound This is a large scent hound with an origin that remains disputed, but its tracking abilities are legendary. The male bloodhound dogs weigh around 36 to 72 kg with height of 58 to 69 cm on average. Their female counterparts are slightly shorter. Their extraordinary sense of smell and tracking instincts have made them invaluable in police work and search-and-rescue missions. A famous Bloodhound, Tunga, in Karnataka, India, uncovered over 50 murders and 60 thefts during her service. Notably, the Bloodhound played a significant role in history as well. During World War I, they carried messages and pulled ambulance litters in the battlefields. IVIPB LTD continues to incorporate Bloodhounds into its operations. Read more: Top 10 Healthy Seeds to Eat Boxer This breed, hailing from Germany, has a distinctive square muzzle and powerful bite. Male Boxer dogs typically weigh around 30 to 32 kg with height of 56 to 64 cm, while female boxers weigh around 25 to 27 kg with height of 53 to 61 cm on average. Boxers' bright, energetic, and playful nature makes them ideal for various roles, including serving as police dogs. These intelligent animals have also worked as messenger dogs, pack carriers, and guard dogs during times of war. Punch and Judy, two Boxers, were awarded the Dickin Medal for their gallantry in a military conflict. IVIPB LTD recognizes their value and includes them in their list of Police Dog Breeds Used in Law Enforcement and Governments. Read more: Top 10 Most Expensive Water Bottle Brands in the World Dobermann Pinscher It, originally developed by Louis Dobermann, stands out for its intelligence and grace. The male Dobermann Pinscher dogs typically range from 68 to 72 cm in height, weighing 40 to 45 kg. On the other hand, the female Dobermanns have average heights and weights of 63 to 68 cm and 32 to 35 kg respectively. Dobermanns are known for their loyalty and make excellent guard dogs. Their unique characteristics made them popular during World War II, serving as guard dogs and even as messengers. One unforgettable Dobermann, Cappy, saved the lives of 250 U.S. Marines when he alerted them of DWJapanese soldiers. Another, named Kurt, was the first K-9 casualty in the war. Today, IVIPB LTD incorporates Dobermanns into its list of Police Dog Breeds Used in Law Enforcement and Governments. Read more: Top 10 Strongest Currencies in the World in 2023

A statue has been standing — in remembrance to his loyalty towards his owner — outside Shibuya Station in Tokyo since 1948. The cream white Japanese Akita Inu — popularly known as “Hachiko” — has been memorialized in everything from books to movies to the cult science fiction for his loyalty. All these movies, books tell the true story of Hachiko, the faithful dog who continued to wait for his master at a train station in Japan long after his death. Hachiko was born in November 1923 in the city of Odate in Akita prefecture, the original home of Akitas. Read more: Benefits of Pets for Kids: Why Raising Children around Livestock? The Akita is one of Japan's oldest and most well-known breeds. For its calm, sincere, intelligent, and brave personality, they used to be taught to hunt animals like wild boar and elk. The breed was designated as a national icon in 1931 by the Japanese government, according to the BBC. The famed puppy arrived at the Ueno residence in the Shibuya neighborhood on January 15, 1924. Ueno named him Hachi, or eight in Japanese. Ko is an honorific bestowed by Ueno's students, according to the BBC. Read more: 10 houseplants that are bad for your pets Hachi’s owner took a train to work several times a week. He was accompanied to Shibuya station by his three dogs, including Hachiko. The trio would then wait there for his return in the evening. When Ueno died of a cerebral hemorrhage at the age of 53 on May 21, 1925, Hachiko had been with him for just 16 months. "While people were attending the wake, Hachi smelled Dr Ueno from the house and went inside the living room. He crawled under the coffin and refused to move," Prof Mayumi Itoh wrote in a biography about Hachi. Hachiko spent the next few months with different families outside Shibuya but eventually, in the summer of 1925, he ended up with Ueno's gardener Kobayashi Kikusaburo, according to BBC. Read more: First all-female police dog handler team introduced today After returning to the area where his late master Ueno lived, Hachiko soon resumed his daily commute to the station, rain or shine. According to Hachiko’s biographer, Hachi used to stand on four legs at the ticket gate and look at each passenger “as if he were looking for someone." He gained nationwide fame after Japanese daily Tokyo Asahi Shimbun wrote about him in October 1932. The station started receiving donations from across the country. Later, a fundraising event in 1934 to make a statue of him reportedly drew a crowd of 3,000. Read more: Gulistan blast: RAB dog gets award for heroic role Hachiko's eventual death on March 8, 1935 made the front page of many newspapers. At his funeral, Buddhist monks offered prayers for him and dignitaries read eulogies. Thousands visited his statue in the following days. Every year on April 8, a memorial service for Hachiko is held outside Shibuya Station. His statue is often decorated with scarves, Santa hats and, most recently, a surgical mask.

A dog of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has been awarded for its heroic role in rescue operation after a massive explosion in a 7-storey building in the capital’s Siddique Bazar area recently. For the first time in Bangladesh, ‘Cheetah’, a member of the Dog squad of the RAB,  received RAB Director General Award for its heroic role, said ASP Imran Khan of Media wing of RAB headquarters. Earlier on March 7, three teams of RAB dog squad along with other members of the elite force joined the rescue operation following the deadly blast. Also Read: Gulistan blast: One more victim succumbs to injuries, death toll now 24 The dog had important role in recovering three bodies from the damaged building, Imran Khan added. Earlier, on March 7, a massive explosion in the 7-storey building near a BRTC bus counter in the capital’s Gulistan area left at least 24 people dead and over 100 injured.    

Bangladesh Police today introduced the first female police dog handler team — comprising members of the female Airport Armed Police Battalion — to make the operational activities more dynamic.Seven female APBN members have been included in the police dog handler team after getting training from the K9 dog handler course. They received training from professional dog squad trainer Tony Brison (UK) and Melin Broadweek (New Zealand). The US embassy and Airport Armed Police jointly organised the training.Commanding Officer of Airport Armed Police Battalion-13, Tofail Ahmed, handed over the certificates to them after the conclusion of the training course today.Airport Armed Police Battalion started the K9 Dog Squad unit with two labradors, two German shepherds and four malinios dogs in 2017.The dog squad unit has been used for checking passengers and screening luggage.Mohammad Ziaul Haque, additional superintendent of police (media) of Airport Armed Police Battalion, said the government has taken a step to upgrade the number of dogs to 66 in the dog squad group by 2025.The government took the steps considering the operations of the third terminal of the airport, he said.Fifteen more dogs will be attached to the dog squad in 2023.A full-fledged dog squad can play an important role in preventing sabotage, drug smuggling and currency smuggling, said speakers at the programme.

Following a successful six-month probationary period, a mental health center in Chengdu, the capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, has officially welcomed two dogs to carry out psychological assistance therapy through animals. The dogs are part of the animal-assisted therapy (AAT) in the treatment process for emotionally disturbed patients carried out by the Fourth People's Hospital of Chengdu. This marks the first time that AAT has been implemented in southwest China, and highlights the hospital's innovative approach to mental health treatment. According to Chen Jiajia, who works with the hospital, the two dogs, "Lidabao" and "Xuegao," were previously employed in nursing homes for seniors and orphanages before joining the hospital. The dogs used in the treatment have been carefully selected from among family pets that have undergone specialized training to develop strong bonds with humans. Given that they reside with their owners, the therapy dogs are expected to introduce a welcoming and serene ambiance to the treatment process and the dog owners are also allowed on the site. Having passed rigorous evaluations, both dogs were granted official working certificates and currently provide treatment twice a week. "AAT has proven to be a successful method for treating depression and autism, and has been extensively employed in treatment programs overseas, aiding in the recovery of patients," Chen said. Chen went on to share that earlier in January, a severely depressed boy, who didn't talk to anyone and even left a death note, took part in the trial treatment. During their initial encounter, the dog seemed to sense his depression as it instinctively nestled into his arms. The boy who never showed his emotions couldn't hide his surprise, and later shared his story about himself and his pet, Chen explained. The profound experience with the dog had a transformative effect on the boy's emotional state, leading him to open up to the psychologists and engage wholeheartedly in his treatment. As a result, he made remarkable progress and was eventually discharged from the hospital with a newfound sense of hope and optimism. According to Chen, the interaction between patients and dogs can be instrumental in helping patients open up emotionally, and this process is further facilitated by the participation of psychologists who provide timely counseling and treatment. During treatment, psychologists will give careful attention to what the patient is saying in order to identify any topics of interest. By establishing a genuine and trusting relationship with each patient, the psychologists can eventually create a supportive environment that is conducive to follow-up psychotherapy. The hospital said treatment frequency will be adjusted according to each patient's needs and response to therapy, with the goal of providing more effective care for a greater number of patients

Six days after the earthquake that flattened parts of Turkey and Syria, two survivors emerged from the rubble. They were dogs, the focus of a parallel rescue effort underway. “One of the dogs clung to its owner’s corpse, and it was absolutely a miracle that it was rescued six days later,” said Csenay Tekinbas, a representative of the local HAYTAP animal welfare group. “I hope it holds on to life,” Tekinbas said of the dog that finally left its dead owner. “I hope we can give it a new life.” Already, field hospitals have been set up in four cities to care for rescued pets. Read More: Rescuers find more alive in Turkey on 8th day after quake Survival is just the first step. Those hurrying to find and care for pets also struggle to give them proper care. “There is no food, bird food, chicken feed or anything in any pet shop at the moment. Because everywhere is either closed or collapsed,” Tekinbas said. Large bags of pet food are stacked at a relief station in one Antakya square, their crisp images of green lawns and happily panting pets contrasting with the grim surroundings. Nearby, a burly dog nibbles at a bowl. The outreach to save pets goes as far as pounding down doors. After being alerted to a dog apparently left alone on the fourth floor of a building, HAYTAP workers put on hard hats and broke into the apartment to rescue a large, fluffy German shepherd. As the dog slurped noisily at a metal bowl of water downstairs in a crumbling alley, the workers lavished affection on it. ___ Robert Bandendieck in Istanbul contributed to this report.  

And it wasn't a Saint Bernard. Croatian rescuers are praising a dog who protected his injured owner from freezing high on a snowy mountain, keeping him warm for 13 hours in the dark until he could get medical attention. “Friendship and love between man and dog know no boundaries,” the county's mountain rescue service wrote on Twitter Tuesday, with a photo of the dog lying on top of his master on a stretcher. The accident occurred late on Jan. 1 more than 1,700 meters (5,600 feet) up Mount Velebit, that stretches along Croatia’s Adriatic Sea coast. Rescuers say both man and dog — an Alaskan Malamute called North — slipped and fell about 150 meters (500 feet). READ: Bidens’ older dog, Champ, has died; German shepherd was 13 The hiker seriously hurt his leg but the dog was uninjured, and used its body heat to keep him warm as temperatures dropped after nightfall and rescuers strove to locate them. “(North) curled beside him and warmed him with his body," the rescue service's post said. "His loyalty didn’t stop even when the rescuers came, he was one of us, guarding his man for 13 hours.” Rescuers said the overnight operation was particularly difficult because of snow, ice and broken tree boughs that blocked access to the spot. A team of 27 took part in the rescue, reaching the pair around midnight and handing over the hiker to medics about 8 a.m. on Tuesday. “This example could teach us all how to care about each other,” the rescuers said.

The Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport's security is in safe paws -- thanks to a pack of specially trained dogs that keeps a strict vigil on the country's busiest airport 24*7. These energetic dogs -- mostly German Sheprador, a cross between the German Shepherd and Labrador Retriever dog breeds -- help the Airport Armed Police (AAP), which handles the airport security, in detecting smuggled drugs, firearms and explosives. AAP set up its dog squad, called K-9, with just four dogs imported from the UK in 2017. The squad got more teeth with the entry of four imported dogs in 2018 and five more a year later. K9 is a homophone of 'canine', popularly used in English-speaking countries. Also read: No compromise over airport security: State Minister The primary duties of the K9 members include searching for drugs and explosives, finding crime scene evidence, and attacking people targeted by the police. The dogs are also trained to remember several verbal cues and hand gestures. "Eight members of the dog squad, part of the first two batches, have already been given special training to use their senses to detect explosives to keep the airport safe," AAP's Additional Superintendent (Operations and Media) Alamgir Hossain Shimul told UNB. Read Dhaka airport: Man held with 2,000-plus yaba tablets inside stomach

A baby giraffe that was befriended by a dog after it was abandoned in the wild has died, a South African animal orphanage said Friday. "Our team is heartbroken," the orphanage said.