National Detector Dog Certification Trials 

 

Dates are May 3rd to the 6th, 2026 

We are excited to have Stockton University (NJ) hosting the 2026 National Detector Dog Certification Trials!    We cannot wait to see what Atlantic City has to offer!  

The events will be held in the Atlantic City, NJ campus of Stockton University and host Tracy Stuart is hard at work planning!         More information is to come, but check out the details on our USPCA calendar as they are updated or click below to register!     

Register Today
United States Police Canine Association
Welcome to the USPCA  
K9's keeping America Safe 
Click here to join the USPCA

The United States Police Canine Association, Inc. (USPCA) was established in 1971 when two canine associations joined.  Much has been learned about police canines in over fifty years of service and there is still more to be done to develop their potential.  Our members have found that participation in USPCA certifications and training is an invaluable tool for performing their jobs.  The Strength of both the Regional and National Offices lies in the diversity of the membership.  This diversity facilitates the sharing of ideas and information within an organized, neutral forum.   Some of our member benefits include and extensive library of training articles along with information designed to keep everyone updated.   The USPCA is the nation's largest and oldest police canine association and we continue to promote quality training and certification for canines and their handlers! 

We have set forth an ambitious plan to understand police canine issues and then set best practices in areas of needed improvement.  This led to the formation of a USPCA group called the "Best Practices" group,  made up of experts in the canine field from around the country.  The Best Practices group has created a number of education videos in contemporary canine policing and these videos are located on the USPCA YouTube site.  

We also have allied with the American Kennel Club,  which resulted in benefits to help USPCA members achieve grants for canine purchases.  This benefit is available annually for law enforcement agencies wishing to purchase a dog for their agency. 

                                                                                          

Please take the time to look at our website and social media to understand how we can help you!     We would love to have you join America's largest and oldest Police Canine Association in the US.  Click on the link below to join.   If you have been a member of the USPCA since 2020,  we likely already have a profile on you!  Contact the National Secretary to confirm and she will get you squared away.  Otherwise,  click on the link to join here:     

 CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE USPCA  

Department/Agency Memberships - our memberships follow the individual member vs. an entire agency.   but if you would like an invoice to pay for multiple handlers at once,  please contact Secretary Ruopp at [email protected]    

 

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The Benefits of Membership

 Your USPCA membership benefits will quickly surpass the cost of annual dues and include the following:

 *Access to the most up-to-date Law Enforcement Canine information
*A library of 60+ training and informational articles
 *Free Subscription to The Canine Courier
 *Life Insurance policy for you and your K-9 partner
*Retired Canine Assistance Grant
 *Legal representation for your certification.
 *Access to our award-winning e-newsletter
 *USPCA members are eligible for an AKC Grant for the purchase of a police canine
 *Eligibility for regional and national awards
 *Apprentice and mentoring opportunities for K-9 trainer and evaluator

 *Being part of the nation’s leading Police K-9 Authority

Our certifications are recognized and mentioned in many court cases in the United States as a proven standard for police service dogs. The United States Police Canine Association is mentioned in 78 court cases throughout the United States.

In our certification test, you are provided with detailed information on the testing and knowledge after the test to help you improve for the next time.

When you participate as an evaluator or judge, you gain valuable insight into what an adequately trained canine team should look like, giving you ideas for your team. 

Join Today

 Who can be a USPCA member?     

The United States Police Canine Association has several membership levels.  Full or Regular Membership is provided for any active full-time paid law enforcement officer for a federal, state, county or municipal agency who is a canine handler,  trainer or administrator.  This shall include members of the Military Police who may be canine handlers, trainers, or administrators. Any full member may continue as such in the event he or she enters military service and later returns to canine law enforcement on a full-time basis.

Please note that regional elected officials must approve memberships for their respective regions.

We also have Associate, Honorary, Special, and Lifetime memberships that cover a variety of member qualifications. Click below for more details about membership types.  

Handling a police service dog, regardless of specialty or venue requires intelligence, effort, dedication, pride. and constant learning. That's what the USPCA is about. Come and join us...we welcome new members!   

     

 

 

 
 

USPCA and Social Media 

USPCA has a footprint in Facebook,  LinkedIn and Instagram!    We love to keep our followers up to date on some of the fun stuff that the USPCA is doing and invite you to like, follow and subscribe.   We also have a USPCA members only Facebook page,  so if you are a member and have Facebook,  we invite you to request approval to join that page.    We post fun stuff there, too!   But that page will have more detailed information on upcoming events and information you need to know as a member!  

USPCA FACEBOOK PAGE  
USPCA MEMBERS ONLY PAGE
USPCA INSTAGRAM  
USPCA LinkedIn 

HELP US HELP POLICE K9 

The USPCA has two ways that you can help us to help our incredible 4 legged partners -  not just with those that are out there working the streets everyday,  but with those that have worked their lives to keep America safe,  but are now retired. 

The USPCA Retired K9 Program - A lot of K9's are retired and their handlers get little to no assistance with providing the care that these aged K9's need to live out their lives with their handlers.   The USPCA provides a grant to these handlers to assist them in paying for the unexpected costs  that may come from caring for their retired dogs!      Please consider helping us to help them by donating to the Retired K9 Program.  

RETIRED K9 PROGRAM  

The USPCA Foundation is an active grant utilized to help us help working dogs and their handlers to be able to afford to attend quality training to better the handlers and the K-9's.  This 501(c)(3) charitable Foundation supports our teams in their never ending quest for high quality training so that these teams stay at the top of their game!   Please consider helping us to help them by donating to the USPCA Foundation.  

USPCA FOUNDATION

USPCA and the Best Practices K9 Group 

                             

The USPCA is proud to have the ONE AND ONLY K9 Best Practices Group.   What is this group?    The BPG was created to identity and close the gaps between training, policy and real-world deployment.  Through continuous review of case law,  operational trends, national incidents and lessons learned,  the group provides guidance that helps agencies develop programs that are effective, transparent, defensible and aligned with modern expectations of policing.  

The MISSION of the Best Practices Group is simple: 

  • Define sound, defensible practices for training, certification deployment and supervision. 
  • Bridge the gap between front-line field experience and policy development 
  • Provide education, leadership and legal awareness to every level of the canine community 
  • Strengthen public trust, officer safety and professional accountability in law enforcement canine operations  

Find out more information on the BEST PRACTICES GROUP by clicking here    

And to take advantage of the FREE training offered,   follow and like us on YouTube   

USPCA YouTube Channel