The Goodyear Police Department Canine unit currently consists of two police service dog teams. Both Canines are Belgian Malinois (pronounced MAL-in-wah). The Malinois is the short-coated variety of the Belgian Shepherd Dog. They are fawn colored with a black mask. In the United States, they have been shown as a separate breed since 1959. Dogs are 24 to 26 inches at the shoulder and weigh 60 to 80 pounds. This is a “high energy” dog that does best when it has a definite purpose in life. It is generally not a dog for the novice dog owner, for, while it is extremely trainable, it does not do well with poor or insufficient training.

In addition to assisting with normal patrol duties, the Canine Unit is frequently called upon to assist other officers on all types of searches. They may be used in vehicle and foot pursuits to locate fleeing suspects and for containment. They also conduct demonstrations within the community for schools, community groups, and service clubs.