The Edmonton Police Service is looking for help naming three new recruits.

Three German shepherd puppies that will be trained for police duty in Edmonton will be named by students. (CBC)The German shepherds, two male and one female, are 13 weeks old.

Police have started a competition, asking elementary school students in Edmonton to come up with names for the trio between now and Dec. 3.

The schools whose students come up with the winning names, as chosen by police, will get a visit from the puppies.

"Eventually, they'll go into our dog training program, which is four months long, where they do the tracking and the searching, that sort of thing," Sgt. Tom Pallas said.

If they pass basic training, they will replace dogs that are retiring from service with the canine unit.

"A lot of times the work that's put into these guys and with them, the trials and tribulations you go through, is pretty special," Pallas said. "A lot of times you're spending more time with them than you are with your family at home, so it's a very special and unique bond."

There are 12 dog/handler units working for Edmonton police. The animals can remain in active service for seven years.