TWO new recruits have joined Cheshire Police – Alsatian puppies Spike and Willis.
At just eight and nine weeks old respectively, the pair, who will be trained as general purpose police dogs, were as playful as they were charming when they reported for duty for the first time.
Head of the Police Dog Training Unit, Sergeant Louise Deung, said the puppies were selected for a life of crime fighting only after first completing a number of specific puppy tests.
He said: “These are done for a number of reasons; to see if the puppies are afraid of loud noises, if they can learn to fetch and retrieve items quickly or if they are comfortable at heights and so on.
“We can then very quickly see which puppies are best suited to becoming police dogs.”
Spike and Willis’ selection did not come as a surprise however, as dog instructor PC Mike Jones acknowledged.
He said: “Willis’ Dad is a police dog with Humberside Police, whilst Spike’s currently serves with Greater Manchester.”
Both puppies will live with qualified instructors for the next 12-14 months, before being given to a police dog handler where they will undergo a 13-week initial, play-based, training course to equip them with the skills they will need in order to serve as police dogs. This is regularly refreshed with training exercises that replicate real-life situations.
Two new recruits for the police
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Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
