Police Service Dogs in Thuringia Deployed More Often - Thuringia's Police Dogs Handle Record 1,312 Cases in 2025
Police dogs in Thuringia played a bigger role in operations last year. In 2025, they assisted in 1,312 cases, up from 1,072 the year before. The force currently relies on 75 service dogs, handled by 58 trained officers.
These animals are considered essential in investigations, often providing key leads. Their workload has grown, with more hours logged in 2025 than in previous years.
Thuringia's police dogs are trained for a range of tasks, including tracking suspects, finding missing persons, and detecting narcotics or explosives. Some also specialise in recovering digital evidence. Among them, tracking and search-and-rescue dogs were the most frequently deployed in 2025.
The force does not breed its own dogs but purchases them instead. Once selected, the animals undergo basic protection training before specialising at the Police Dog Handler School in Pretzsch, Saxony-Anhalt. The most common breeds used are German Shepherds, Belgian Shepherds, and Dutch Shepherds. A police dog usually serves for about eight years before retiring. Thuringia does not have its own dedicated training centre, so handlers and dogs travel to external facilities for advanced instruction. While detailed statistics on search-and-rescue missions over the past five years are not publicly available, officials confirm the dogs' growing importance in daily operations.
The rise in deployments shows how much Thuringia's police rely on their canine units. With more operational hours and a steady team of handlers, these dogs continue to support investigations across the region. Their training and specialisations ensure they remain effective in a variety of critical tasks.
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