[Tim Connell]

I would recommend reading everything you can about obedience, tracking, apprehension and detection. Emphasize your focus to learn as much as you can about detection and tracking...that is a large percentage of police K9 work. There are some great book and video resources, and you will soon become educated enough to be able to separate the positives from the negatives.

As a previous posted stated, try to find a kennel or training group nearby to learn from, and in particular, try to find a training mentor. Train some dogs, gain some experience. Immerse yourself in dogs.

Attend seminars, and gain some knowledge outside your local area, if you can. Learn from police and sport people, in various venues...they all have much to offer.

Above all, concentrate on your education, and prepare yourself academically, mentally, and physically to be the best candidate for law enforcement that you can be. I have run and assisted with many hiring processes, and I have had people show up for testing that cannot meet the minimum standards, that are not ready for testing. If you are eventually hired, bear in mind that it may be 3-5 years on the job before you do get an opportunity to test for/work K9. Attempt to join an agency that has a very active K9 program, to increase your chances.