Persons in army and police service are trained as dog handlers, provided they are interested in the task and they have dog training skills and are experts at managing dogs. The entry qualifications to police and army posts apply to dog handlers too. To join private security firms, you will need to be experienced in working with dogs. Security guards are required to have licence from Security Industry Authority (SIA), which is given only after completing a recognised training course, identity check and CRB clearance. Different companies can also ask for qualifications like your firsthand experience as a security officer. Entry requirements of dog handlers applying for search and rescue positions can be slightly variable between different employers.

Specialised training are available in police and army posts, where you receive expert training, enabling you to handle all the different tasks you might be handling in the future. Dog handling training is also available at different private training centres.