According to official data, based on leads provided by police dogs, a total of 9,272 major criminal cases were solved between 2021 and 2025. Year-wise, 1,268 cases were solved in 2021, 1,577 in 2022, 1,850 in 2023, 2,246 in 2024 and 2,331 in 2025.

The Karnataka Police currently maintains 266 trained dogs belonging to five breeds across 42 units. These include Labrador or Golden Retriever, German Shepherd, Belgian Malinois Shepherd, Doberman Pinscher and Mudhol Hound.

Training and deployment

Puppies procured by the police department undergo six months of training at the State Police Dog Training Centre under the CAR (South) unit. After initial training, they are deployed for duty. Advanced training is also provided at national centres such as Hyderabad, Madhya Pradesh and CRPF facilities.

Each dog is handled by two trained handlers who are responsible for its care and deployment during operations.

Diet and maintenance

The government provides a daily food allowance of around Rs 400 per dog. Their diet includes 1 kg of meat, half a litre of milk, one egg, 200 grams of rice, 200 grams of porridge, 10 ml of shark liver oil, two and a half calcium tablets and 100 grams of cooked vegetables. In addition, 200 grams of liver meat is given twice a week.

The annual maintenance cost for 266 dogs exceeds Rs 1.5 crore.

Adoption after retirement

Dogs that are declared unfit for service due to age or health reasons are retired from duty. They are then offered for adoption to animal lovers. If no one comes forward, they are handed over to animal welfare organisations. In districts where such organisations are not available, the dogs are sent to animal welfare centres in Bengaluru. Priority is also given to handlers for adopting the dogs they worked with.

Special roles of different breeds

Labrador or Golden Retriever breeds are mainly used for detecting explosives, as they are calm, friendly and quick to learn during training.

Belgian Malinois Shepherds are widely used for search operations and locating bodies. They are known for sharp intelligence, quick response, agility and strength. They are also used in detecting explosives, narcotics and in general crime investigation work.

Doberman Pinschers are deployed in serious crime detection. They are fast, alert and physically strong, making them suitable for tracking suspects and guarding duties.

German Shepherds are commonly used in drug detection cases. They are considered among the most intelligent breeds and are capable of handling complex tasks, including detection of explosives and narcotics.

Mudhol Hounds, a native breed of Karnataka, are known for their speed and alertness. However, their scent detection ability is comparatively lower than other breeds. They are used on an experimental basis and undergo continuous evaluation during training. While they show good performance at times, they may get distracted easily as they tend to focus on moving objects.