Police and military working dogs (K9s) perform high-stress roles including patrol, detection, tracking, and search-and-rescue, raising specific welfare considerations around training methods, deployment conditions, and retirement. Working dogs experience physical risks (orthopedic injury, heat stroke, bite wounds) and psychological stressors (prolonged confinement, irregular schedules, high-stimulation environments). Research indicates working dogs trained with positive reinforcement methods show lower stress indicators and equivalent or superior task performance compared to dogs trained with coercive methods. Handler-dog relationship quality is the strongest predictor of working dog welfare outcomes; supportive handlers correlate with longer working careers and better health. Retirement welfare presents challenges: dogs accustomed to high activity and close handler contact may struggle in civilian homes. Several military programmes now prioritise handler-dog adoption at retirement. Welfare standards for working dogs are improving through updated military regulations and police force welfare audits.