Beijing police will deploy 120 specially-trained dogs to patrol downtown streets, subway stations and high crime areas, authorities said Tuesday.

Patrol dogs are useful in detecting explosives and narcotics and to deter crime suspects, officials with the municipal public security bureau said.

Police might take off the muffles to let the dogs bite suspects if they defy the warnings, they added.

Chinese police did not use dogs in daily patrols until recently. Beijing police authorities said they plan to train and assign 1,000 dogs to assist patrol police within the next three years.