Police work is for the dogs

By Heather Killen

Spectator

NovaNewsNow.com

RCMP Constable Colin Pyne is showing his new partner that police work is for the dogs.

The constable, who transferred to the Annapolis detachment two years ago, recently graduated from the first phase of becoming a dog handler.

In January he took special training to qualify for the puppy-imprinting program. A few days later, Const. Pyne picked up Treena, a 12-week old German shepherd.

Treena has been specially bred from Czech working dog lines at the RCMP’s kennel in British Columbia. These puppies are tested at seven weeks of age to determine whether they can be trained as service dogs.

Suitable dogs are temporarily placed with RCMP officer like Const. Pyne, for the first phase of training for both puppies and handlers.

These police officers are interested in specializing in dog handling and will be responsible for the puppies’ early development.

“I’ll be bringing her into the types of experiences she’ll encounter as a police dog,” he said. “I’ll be taking her into strange buildings, and introducing her to as many new people and new situations as I can.”

He is working under the supervision of Const. Rick Bushey, a veteran dog handler. Const. Pyne and Treena will be training with Const. Bushey on days off, and the pair will be evaluated by him at regular intervals.

Over the next several months, Treena will be socialized to various environments and situations to prepare her for a formal training program.

A number of exercises in obedience and tracking will be conducted to determine whether Treena is suitable for police work.

Her defence and prey instincts will also be assessed and developed. Treena will be evaluated at four, eight, and 12 months to determine her suitability for police work.

If all goes well, Const. Pyne and Treena will eventually head off for formal training at the centre Innisfail, Alberta.