SAN DIEGO -- Man's best friend can also be a criminal's worst enemy. Even the toughest of bad guys show a softer side when they come face to face with one of San Diego's four-legged finest.

"The intimidation factor is excellent. They surrender," said Ben Harris from the San Diego K-9 Unit.

San Diego's K-9 Unit is adding six more dogs to its force, 10News reported.

"We're filling four vacancies in the unit right now, plus, adding two new positions. It will bring us up to 53 teams in the city of San Diego," San Diego K-9 Unit Lt. Bill Nelson said.

Nelson said the new dogs will enter the training academy for nine weeks, when their skills will be put to the test.

He also pointed out that although the K-9 program is expensive, about $125,000 per team, it can't compare to the value of a human life.

"This is an alternative to the use of deadly force. Officers don't want to shoot people. This gives us a less lethal option," Nelson said.

And just like an actual cop, the job of a police dog does not go without its dangers.

Gino, a K-9 cop, was stabbed last week by a suspected burglar and needed 100 stitches. However, he is recovering and got the stitches taken out Thursday and will be back on the force in two weeks, 10News reported. San Diego Police Chief David Bejarano said he wants to add 11 more K-9 units to the force, according to 10News.