A day in the life of the...New Zealand Police Dog Training Centre
A chance meeting between New Zealand’s then Prime Minister Sidney Holland and a representative of the Surrey Constabulary Police Dog School was the driving force behind the establishment of the Police Dog Training Centre (PDTC) in New Zealand.
Sergeant Frank Riley of the Surrey Constabulary as charged with the job of setting up the centre.
In September 1956 Mr Riley left England bound for New Zealand with his dog Miska. Also accompanying the pair was a nine-month-old pup named Dante, who was destined to become New Zealand’s first Police dog.
The first ever Police Dog Training Centre opened its doors in Trentham in 1956, where it is still housed today.
Tough times
For the first 10 years of its life, it struggled to stay afloat. Resources were scarce, and at one point its fate rested on the shoulders of Dante and his owner constable Colin Guppy.
Although the pair was unaware of it at the time, Police officials had made the call that if Mr Guppy and Dante were unable to track an offender within a two-hour time frame, the centre would be scrapped.
Luckily, the pair managed to locate the offender at 10.58 a.m. – two minutes before the time period expired.
Present situation
These days, the future of the PDTC looks much more secure.
This is evident by the fact that it has expanded its resources to include a wide range of specialist disciplines.
National Coordinator: Police Dogs, Inspector Brendon Gibson, said there were now 120 patrol teams and eight detector dogs around the country.
These teams attend 30,000 jobs a year. “That’s quite a big jump, especially when you compare these to the 1958 figures, when handlers and their dogs were only
Preferred option
The main breed the New Zealand Police use in their work is the German Shepherd. Ninety percent (90%) of Police dogs worldwide are German Shepherds, according to Breeding Services Manager,
Mark Sandford. German Shepherd dogs are usually trained for patrol duties such as tracking, searching and apprehending suspects. For more specialist roles, such as explosive and drug detection, a range of breeds including German Shepherds, Labradors, German Short- Haired Pointers and cross-breeds are used.
Mr Sandford said most Police dogs now come from the Centre’s breeding programme with a few dogs coming from other breeders and some gifted by the public.
Dog training
Mr Sandford said all patrol dog training involved a three-stage qualification process. At eight months of age, dogs have to complete a two-week puppy course at the Centre, which consists of motivational, tracking, obedience training and elementary bite work.
At 13-months, they then come back to the Centre to complete stage two of the qualification process, which means completing a course that consolidates and advances the previous training, and introduces them to building and article searches.
By 17-months, dogs who have passed the other two stages must then complete the final course.
This involves further development of the first two stages of training, and competencybased assessments to work as part of an operational team with their handler.
Detector dogs must also complete a nine-week intensive training course.
No place like home
Potential Police dogs are usually given to officers who are looking at a career as dog
“This is a good chance for us and them to see if they have the ability to bond, raise,
“Other dogs (that don’t go to dog handlers to
“We are always looking for good foster homes for these dogs so we are always pleased to hear from anyone who is keen on giving it a go,” he added. Foster families are also given the task of naming the dog.
In the line of duty
Dogs work the beat with their handler until retirement. Most dogs retire around eight years of age.
Since the dog section began, 23 Police dogs have died in the line of duty.
Good breeding stock
In recent years, the breeding programme has reached the goal of being 90 percent (90%) self-sufficient in meeting its replacement needs.
“This has occurred as a result of taking a strategic approach to our breeding programme and replacement needs,” Mr Sandford said.
An investment in science, with the support of Massey University’s Institute of Veterinary Animal and Biomedical sciences, has developed knowledge in all aspects of animal husbandry, including genetics and breeding.
“We have also collaborated on studies of our dog population in relation to specific health problems.
Some of these have then been published in scientific journals,” Mr Sandford said.
Significant breeding knowledge and skill has also been acquired by working with Glenbred Advanced Canine Reproduction, who provide the artificial insemination and specialist reproduction services programmes.
International exchanges
“A good working relationship with our Australian Police counterparts has resulted in the exchange of puppies and genetic material,” Mr Sandford said.
An ongoing collaboration, which mutually benefits each agency’s goal to produce a dog fit for purpose to perform the role of a Police dog, is also proving its worth.
The Police Dog Training Centre is a member of the International Working Dog Breeding Association, which hold conferences biennially.
The latest scientific research studies are presented at this forum along with other law enforcement agencies breeding and training programmes.
“This has given us access to recent trends and developments and has forged relationships with like-minded agencies,” Mr Sandford said.
“An example of these benefits is the importation of a German Shepherd bitch from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Dog Service Breeding Programme.
In return, we exported frozen semen from some of our dogs,” he added. From humble beginnings, the New Zealand Police Dog Training Centre and its proteges have blossomed and gone on to become highly-regarded members of the NZ Police.
