The Police Dog Service Unit has provided support services for the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary and partner law enforcement agencies since 1992.

Today, the RNC has four teams, each consisting of a dog and a handler who are on call 24 hours a day and available for assignment anywhere in the province.

Current Police Service Dogs include; Paige, Cabot, Kolt, and Seaforce.

Police Dog Services provides canine support for search and rescue operations, tracking persons suspected of committing a crime or persons who are missing, detecting narcotics, explosives, firearms, cadavers, and physical evidence. Police Dog Services also works jointly with the RNC Public Order Unit and the RNC Tactics and Rescue Unit. The teams are also involved in community service work and public demonstrations.

Careful consideration is given to the selection of both dog and handler. Canine teams undergo an intensive five month training course at the Police Dog Service Training Centre in Innisfail, Alberta. This course includes promoting obedience and exposing the dogs to obstacles such as stairways, heights, and water, with a major emphasis on tracking and searching. Training the dogs to follow specific human scents over various terrains in all weather conditions requires commitment, focus and patience. The RNC have chosen German Shepherds for their Police Service Dogs. This breed is renowned for its keen sense of hearing and smell, its even temperament, stability, alertness, loyalty, and for its dependability in various weather conditions. The dogs usually work until they are eight-years-old before they retire with their handler’s family or another suitable and approved home.