A police officer and their relationship with their k9 dog is a complicated but rewarding relationship.

A relationship between a k9 handler and their dog is a partnership for life or, most of the time, during the lifespan of the k9 dog (around 10 to 12 years). The k9 handler and his dog both attend weeks of early training together to learn to work together as a team and eventually develop a partnership.

And, unlike human partners, a k9 handler and their spend 24/7 with each other.

“The K9 officer and his dog are a 24-hour-a-day package. They live together, work together and play. The officer is responsible for feeding, grooming and general health. They trust each other completely and are there to protect and to serve the public, as well as each other, on a consistent basis. It’s more than a handler and dog relationship; it’s often an equal partnership, as well as two friends keeping each other company, on and off duty,” according to Mom.cem.

Yes, that means the k9 dog lives with the officer and his family. And sometimes, that can be unpredictable.

“You never know how it’s going to work,” Bainbridge Township police Sgt. Jon Weiner, a K-9 trainer and SWAT K-9 handler, said. “My first dog was part of the family. My new partner is so into work that he doesn’t know when to turn it off at home. Some police dogs can’t have any interaction with family so they get kenneled. [They] may not interact with your family well.”

Besides the uncertainty, it can also be complicated.

“You give up a lot of personal time to be a K-9 officer,” Bainbridge Township Police Officer Jon Newcomb shared. “There is lots of prepping before and after work every day. I have to be very selective with kennels when I go on vacation. On my days off, I’ll take him and exercise him. I think it’s a bond that most people don’t understand. Nobody knows the ups and downs of this like another K-9 handler.”

And no matter what happens, whether the k9 dog gets along with their handler’s family or not, one thing is for sure, they definitely have a very special relationship.

They fight the same mission and they always have each other’s backs.

And a woman named Gina Anzaldua Stevenson saw this with her own eyes.

“I just watched the cop at the airport take a series of selfies with his dog and then stop to show him each one. I stand corrected, that sweet boi was his partner, not just a dog,” Gina shared on the Dogspotting Society Facebook group.

The post has been up for only three weeks and it has already received 61ooo likes, 1200 comments, and 49000 shares.

And it prompted the k9 officer to speak up and identify himself in the photo.

The officer’s name is Andre Cloyd and his k9 dog is named Zigi. They’ve been together for three years and work 12 to 14 hours together each day.

“Thank you for all of the love and support, Zigi and I appreciate serving!” Andre posted as a reply to the same group.

He also posted the selfies he took that day with Zigi in the group and the members loved it.

Zigi is receiving so much attention! Officer Andre had to explain it all to him. He may be highly trained but he still hasn’t completed his training in reading.

And Zigi has been taking it really well and he’s been doing his best not to let all the fame go to his head.

He may have a “Do Not Pet” sign on him but when you do see Officer Andre and Zigi in Dallas, Texas, be sure to give them a wave.

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