The dogs will be returned to the police after 10 months

Families are wanted to take puppies for up to 10 months so they become socialised to humans and other dogs before they go into service.

The Thames Valley force is offering to pay for all food and vet's bills.

They are looking for volunteers who live in Berkshire or north Hampshire, close to where the dog section is based at Sulhamstead.

Insp John Ramsbottom said: "The people who have socialised a dog for us in the past have taken on quite a handful. But I also know they find it very rewarding.

"The period of time the dogs are with the family is really vital for its development. The dog will be getting used to being around people in a way it would not if it were in kennels.

"If a pup were just left in kennels we would have very unsocialised dogs that were wary of everything around them.

"As a police dog they are going to go everywhere we go and they need to be used to the sites and sounds that confront them."