NASDU

01/09/2026

NASDU GP SECURITY DOG BUYER’S GUIDE EXPLAINED

SECTION 3 — What Is a General Purpose Security Dog Team?
A General Purpose Security Dog Team consists of a licensed security handler and a trained Security Dog operating together as a team.
Both the handler and the dog must meet defined competency and welfare standards before a team can be deployed on a client’s site.

There are different qualification levels and capabilities within General Purpose Security Dog provision, and buyers should be aware of which is appropriate for their operational requirement.
We will look at these in more detail in Section 4 — Understanding Your Requirement.

The dog
Dogs used in security roles must be assessed as fit for purpose.

This includes their:
🐾 Breed
🐾 Temperament
🐾 Physical health
🐾 Drive
🐾 Trainability

Not every dog is suited to security work, and a well-run provider will not deploy a dog that has not met the required assessment standards.

BS8517-1 specifies that General Purpose Security Dogs should be of a recognised guarding breed suitable for security work.

Buyers should be aware that not all dogs are suitable for this role. Certain breeds are specifically excluded under the Dangerous Dogs Act, while others may be considered unsuitable due to temperament or public perception.

A reputable provider should be able to confirm that the dogs they deploy are of a breed recognised as suitable for GP security work in accordance with BS8517-1.

The handler
The handler is equally important.
A handler must hold a valid Security Industry Authority (SIA) licence and must be trained and assessed to work with their specific dog in a security environment.

Handlers are required to:
🐾 Hold a suitable SIA frontline licence
🐾 Complete appropriate dog handling training
🐾 Demonstrate competency in controlling their dog in operational conditions
🐾 Understand and apply relevant legislation, including the Dangerous Dogs Act, the Animal Welfare Act, the Guard Dogs Act and the Health and Safety at Work Act
🐾 Complete ongoing continuation training and quarterly assessments
🐾 Undergo annual assessment and certification of their team

The handler and dog must be assessed as a team.
This is a key point for buyers.
A handler who is competent with one dog cannot simply be paired with a different dog without reassessment.
When a provider changes a dog within an established team, both the new dog and the handler must be assessed together before deployment.
This is a reteam assessment — not simply the introduction of a new dog — and is required regardless of the handler’s experience or the replacement dog’s prior training history.

Sole handler requirement
NASDU best practice is that each dog is single handled — one dog working with one handler as a matched and certified team.
This principle exists for important welfare and operational reasons.
Dogs form strong working bonds with their handler, and changes in handler affect both performance and welfare.

The Five Freedoms framework, particularly freedom from fear and distress and freedom to express normal behaviour, supports this principle. A dog that is routinely passed between handlers is less likely to have its welfare needs consistently met.

Dual handling
Dual handling — where one dog is handled by more than one handler — is not condoned as standard practice by NASDU.
It may be permitted only under exceptional circumstances, specifically structured in-house security operations with appropriate kennelling and shift patterns, and only with a formal application to and approval by NASDU.
Dog welfare must be the primary consideration in any such arrangement.
Where dual handling is approved, a maximum of two handlers applies.

Arrangements involving a dog being shared between handlers as a cost-saving or convenience measure are not an approved practice.

One handler working with two dogs — one working while the other rests — is understood and accepted where operationally relevant, provided both dogs are fully and separately trained and certified as a team with that handler.
Monthly continuation training, quarterly assessments and annual certification must be maintained independently for each dog.

Buyers specifying continuous coverage over extended shifts should ask their provider how dog welfare and rotation are managed within a shift.

📘 NASDU General Purpose Security Dog Buyer’s Guide — Version 1.8
The full complimentary Guide can be downloaded from the NASDU website under Publications.

https://nasdu.co.uk/securitydogs/publications/

Next in the series: Section 4 — Understanding Your Requirement

28/08/2026

An interesting and relevant read highlighting the importance of due diligence when procuring security services.

Financial resilience is one part of that picture. Buyers should also understand the standards, competence and capability behind the service they are procuring — particularly where security dog teams are concerned.

This is exactly the type of informed procurement NASDU is seeking to encourage through our General Purpose Security Dog Buyer’s Guide, helping buyers understand what good provision looks like and look beyond headline price when making procurement decisions.

Good procurement starts with asking the right questions.

A glossy website does not pay the wages, and neither does a list of contract wins, a wall of accreditation logos or a confident claim about national coverage. None of it tells you whether a business has the cash to meet Friday's payroll.

28/08/2026

NASDU GP SECURITY DOG BUYER’S GUIDE EXPLAINED – PART 3

Why Deploy a General Purpose Security Dog Team?

A General Purpose Security Dog Team provides the core functions you would expect from uniformed security — presence, access control and incident response — but adds capabilities that a human security officer alone cannot replicate.

The primary advantage of a dog team is the dog’s senses, particularly scent. A dog can detect the presence of a person concealed in a building or open area far more reliably and rapidly than a human search, including in conditions of darkness, poor visibility and complex terrain.

A dog team can also cover ground — in terms of both speed and area — that would require multiple human security officers to patrol to an equivalent standard.

And let’s not forget the visual deterrent.
The visible presence of a dog team provides a deterrent beyond that of a uniformed officer alone. A potential intruder or aggressor who might not be deterred by the presence of a guard will frequently reconsider when a dog is present.

The combination of scent capability and deterrence makes dog teams a specialist tool that adds specific, measurable value where the risk profile justifies their deployment.

Importantly, dog teams are not a substitute for a broader security strategy. They are a specialist capability that adds value in specific operational contexts. The decision to deploy should be preceded by a risk assessment and a clear understanding of the operational requirement.

Typical deployments include:

🐾 Large open sites, perimeter patrol and construction sites

🐾 Building and area searches at lock-up

🐾 Events where visible deterrence and rapid response capability are required

🐾 Low-light and night-time deployments

🐾 High-value or high-risk premises

📘 NASDU General Purpose Security Dog Buyer’s Guide – Version 1.8

The full Guide can be downloaded from the NASDU website under Publications:

https://nasdu.co.uk/securitydogs/publications/

Next: What Is a General Purpose Security Dog Team?

26/08/2026

🐾 INTERNATIONAL DOG DAY 🐾
Today is International Dog Day, so we're handing the NASDU page over to the working dogs.
Security, detection, police, military, search and rescue, assistance, conservation — whatever the discipline, today we'd like to see the dogs doing the jobs they were trained for.

📸 Share a favourite photo of your working dog in the comments and tell us:

🐾 Their name
🐾 Their working discipline
🐾 Whether they're currently working or enjoying a well-earned retirement

They don't have to be NASDU trained or certified — working dogs of all disciplines are welcome.
Let's fill the comments with the dogs that work alongside us.

Happy International Dog Day from NASDU. 🐕🐾

24/08/2026

NASDU GP Security Dog Buyer’s Guide Explained – Part 2

The publication of the NASDU GP Security Dog Buyer’s Guide is the start of the process, not the end of it.

An active campaign is now underway to get the Guide beyond the immediate security dog community and into the hands of those who buy, specify, manage and influence security dog services.

Alongside this social media campaign, that includes distribution through NASDU's industry network, engagement with relevant trade publications, insurers and other industry stakeholders, and circulation to companies and employers.

The aim is straightforward: improving standards isn't simply about handlers, trainers and security companies understanding good practice. Those buying and overseeing security dog services need to understand it too.

So, what does the Guide actually cover?

Over the coming weeks we'll follow the Guide itself, working through:

• Why Deploy a General Purpose Security Dog Team?
• What Is a General Purpose Security Dog Team?
• Understanding Your Requirement
• Understanding Industry Standards
• Certified and Non-Certified Teams
• Selecting a Provider
• Questions to Ask Your Provider
• Welfare and Working Practices
• Continuation Training and Annual Assessments
• Documentation and Records
• Common Procurement Mistakes
• Red Flags
• Buyer Checklist
• Quick Reference: Before Procuring a GP Security Dog Team
• Further Information

One issue that has already generated considerable discussion is price.

Price isn't a standalone section of the Guide. It forms part of Common Procurement Mistakes, including the risks associated with buying on price alone.

A professional security dog service carries costs beyond the handler's hourly wage. Training, certification, continuation training and assessment, insurance, equipment, kennelling, veterinary care and the ongoing welfare of the dog all contribute to the true cost of providing that service.

Where a price appears significantly below the wider market, the Guide encourages buyers to ask further questions.

Not everybody will agree with everything contained within the Guide. Some sections may challenge established practices and some will generate questions and debate.

Constructive discussion around procurement, standards, welfare and professional practice is healthy for the industry.

Every few days we'll take the next section, put it into straightforward language and explain what it means, why it's there and why it matters.

The NASDU General Purpose Security Dog Buyer’s Guide – Version 1.8 is completely complimentary.
View and download it from the NASDU website:

https://nasdu.co.uk/securitydogs/publications/

NASDU Publications – Buyer’s Guide⁠
Scroll to “NASDU Buyers Guide”.

Next: Why Deploy a General Purpose Security Dog Team?

22/08/2026

Understanding the NASDU GP Security Dog Buyer’s Guide.

Over recent months, NASDU has been developing a new resource designed to address a fairly straightforward question within the security dog industry:

How does someone buying or overseeing a General Purpose Security Dog service know what good actually looks like?

Standards and recognised good practice already exist. The challenge is ensuring that the people purchasing, managing or overseeing security dog services understand what they should reasonably expect from a professional provider — and what questions they should be asking.

That thinking led to the development of the NASDU General Purpose Security Dog Buyer’s Guide – Version 1.8.

The Guide has been developed collaboratively within NASDU, drawing on considerable operational, training, assessment and industry experience. It has gone through numerous stages of development and has been reviewed page by page by members of the NASDU Committee before publication.

Its purpose is not to create another standard or another layer of bureaucracy.

It is about taking existing recognised standards and good practice and explaining them in a clear, practical and accessible way.
So, what happens next?
We don't want to simply publish the Guide and leave it sitting on a website.

Over the coming weeks, NASDU will be running an educational campaign, taking the GP Buyer’s Guide section by section and explaining the key points in straightforward, practical terms.
We'll look at why particular requirements and safeguards matter, what buyers should reasonably expect to see, and what good practice looks like in the real world.

The campaign will cover areas including training and assessment, certification, continuation training, documentation, insurance, operational deployment, identification, transport, welfare, procurement considerations and some of the warning signs that should prompt further questions.

And although it's called the Buyer’s Guide, this isn't only for buyers.

Whether you're a security company, procurement professional, end user, security manager, security officer, dog handler, trainer, facilities manager, new to the industry, have been involved for many years, or are simply interested in professional security dog services — the Guide is there for you.

The NASDU General Purpose Security Dog Buyer’s Guide is completely complimentary.

We want people to read it, use it, discuss it and share it.

Because the more people across the industry understand what good looks like, the stronger the industry becomes.

Follow the NASDU page over the coming weeks as we work through the Guide section by section.

To request your complimentary copy of the NASDU General Purpose Security Dog Buyer’s Guide – Version 1.8, please contact:
[email protected]

16/08/2026

NASDU Approved GP Trainers CPD Webinars – Postponed.

Unfortunately, we need to postpone the upcoming GP Trainers CPD webinars.

Simon Mallin, our Head of K9 Standards & Compliance, is currently on extended compassionate leave. As Simon was leading these sessions, we feel it is right to postpone them until he is able to return to work.

We apologise for any disappointment or inconvenience this may cause. New dates will be announced as soon as they are confirmed.

Please note that Simon's emails are not currently being monitored. If you need assistance, please contact the NASDU Administration Office at [email protected] or [email protected], and someone will be happy to help.

Thank you for your understanding and continued support.

Steve Hill - NASDU – Association Secretary & Director

14/08/2026

DEATH OF A DOG

A distressing video is currently circulating on social media that captures the moment when a dog owner removes what a appears to be a dead dog from a car outside a residential house.
There is a strong belief that the person involved is a security dog handler.

NASDU is not aware of who the person is or where the incident took place, we would ask that if anyone has any information regarding this incident that they contact us in confidence at [email protected]

We would also ask that if anyone knows the name and location of this person they contact the local police force for that area and give them as much information as possible.

It goes without saying that we are still deeply shocked when incidents of this nature occur as every trained handler has been made aware of the dangers surrounding heat exposure either during work or in vehicles to their dogs.

We again reinforce the message that everyone must take appropriate welfare steps to look after their dogs at all times. Whilst some may blame standards in the industry we acknowledge that they should improve it appears that in this case a criminal offence has been committed.
As such this reinforces our stance that with regard to welfare their is currently suitable legislation in place and what we need is a more effective response by relevant authorities to policing animal welfare legislation.
There are several membership associations that promote best practice and use of security dogs however none have any statuary powers and cannot be responsible at all times or effectively police the actions of those working in our industry.

For this reason NASDU will continue to lobby for more regulation by the SIA in our sector.

29/07/2026

Fraudulent NASDU Certificate Warning

This post has been amended and reposted. The previous version displayed the names of trainers whose details appeared on the fraudulent certificate.

We sincerely apologise for this oversight.
For the avoidance of any doubt, the trainers named on the certificate were not involved in the creation, issue or use of this fraudulent certificate. Their names had simply been reproduced on the forged document without their knowledge or involvement and have now been redacted to prevent any misunderstanding.

The attached certificate was recently submitted to NASDU by a third party who queried its authenticity, having identified a number of concerns.
Following a review of the certificate and verification against NASDU records, we can confirm that this is not a genuine NASDU-issued certificate.

We would like to thank the organisation that brought this matter to our attention. Their vigilance has helped protect the integrity of NASDU qualifications and the standards expected across the industry.

This serves as a reminder to all employers, clients and end users to verify NASDU qualifications using the official online certificate checker or by contacting the NASDU Administration Office if there is any doubt regarding the authenticity of a certificate.

28/07/2026

Understanding BS 8517: Administration (Clause 4)

Clause 4 is the paperwork clause — but at its heart, it's mostly about one thing: the dog's file. What has to be in it, and why it matters.

The dog's file

BS 8517 says every dog should have an individual record. In human speak, that's the dog's complete life story on paper, and it has to cover:

Where the dog came from — including pedigree, if it has one
Its name, owner, age, breed or cross-breed, colour, s*x, and whether it's neutered
A photo good enough to actually identify the dog
Its microchip number
Vaccination history
Written confirmation from a vet that it's fit for duty
Veterinary treatment it's received
Training records and certificates, plus ongoing continuation training records and assessments.

Any incidents, complaints, or bite reports involving the dog

That records have to be kept for at least three years after the dog retires or dies — longer if there's a reason to, particularly if there's any chance of a future civil claim.

In plain terms: nothing about this dog's working life should exist only in someone's memory. If a question is ever asked — by a client, an assessor, or a solicitor — the answer should be on paper, and traceable back to a named, identifiable dog.

The handler and dog's work record.

Alongside the dog's file, the standard also requires a separate record of where the dog and handler have actually been deployed — kept for the same minimum three years, including any periods where the dog was contracted in or out to another provider. This is the working diary that sits next to the dog's life story: one tells you who the dog is, the other tells you where it's actually been working.

The rest of Clause 4, briefly

The standard also covers who's accountable when work is subcontracted, the insurance an organisation should carry, and the health and safety obligations around kennelling, training and deployment. All sensible, all administrative — but the dog's file is where the real substance of this clause sits.

Worth knowing-

NASDU's own Code of Practice for Instructors/Trainers asks trainers to keep their own version of this record for a minimum of five years, not three — so in practice a dog's paperwork often exists in two places, both of which should tell the same story.

And for anyone buying in a NASDU GP dog team, NASDU's Buyer's Guide makes a simple but important point: the dog on your site should match the name and microchip number on its certificate. You can check this yourself, independently of the provider, using NASDU's certificate checker at www.nasdu.co.uk — it takes a couple of minutes and removes any doubt.