It was uncommon for police to name a dog in honour of a former handler, he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt would be nice, eventually, if we had some other litters that match up with other previous handlers; that would be quite a cool thing to do, I reckon.\u201d<\/p>\n
Whanganui Senior Constable Jason Page\u2019s retired police dog Hitch (left) with Page.<\/p>\n
Now about 5 months old, Page, a male German shepherd, is in Whanganui and gearing up for police dog training.<\/p>\n
Deciding when dogs were ready for formal training at Trentham varied, Jason said.<\/p>\n
\u201cGenerally, if we see really good qualities in a puppy at 10 months to a year [old] then they will start full-on training to be a police dog,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The first few months were important for instilling good patterns.<\/p>\n
\u201cBy investing in pups when they are young, we get a better package.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe biggest thing is socialising; a big thing that will let a potential police dog down is nerves.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you have a nervy dog that freaks out when it hears a noise or when cars are driving past, that is all nerves and we don\u2019t want that. We want confident dogs.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur dogs are about experiencing everything.\u201d<\/p>\n
After confidently socialising with other dogs and humans, the imprinting and scent boxing phase begins.<\/p>\n
Imprinting teaches a dog to recognise a specific target odour. Scent boxing is a precise foundational exercise used to teach tracking.<\/p>\n
Control and obedience were important for potential police dogs, Jason said.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor us, the dog is a tool, not a pet. It\u2019s like farmers\u2019 working dogs and you have to treat it like that,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can\u2019t just leave it lying around at home all the time – it is either at work doing its job or in the back of the van or kennel at home.<\/p>\n
Jason said although it was early in the process, Page was excelling in training.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s looking awesome actually. He\u2019s literally, excuse the pun, dog to a bone with the scent boxing, he loves it.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s got really good drive and his nerves are awesome … he looks like he\u2019s got the goods.\u201d<\/p>\n
The puppy has been performing well in his pre-training training. Photo \/ Fin Ocheduszko Brown<\/p>\n
The experience has taken Jason back to his days as a dog handler.<\/p>\n
He said he missed the bond with his dog and the feeling of making a catch.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re getting a win as a team and you\u2019re getting something for the victim.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor 17 years [after a year of training with another handler], it was just working on your own, you were a team – you and your dog.\u201d<\/p>\n
When Page is deemed ready for formal training at Trentham, he will complete three courses over several months.<\/p>\n
Jason said it was not guaranteed the dog would return to Whanganui if he graduated training but it could be on the cards.<\/p>\n
The dogs\u2019 destinations were usually pre-planned, with other stations needing a replacement dog in the future.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s good because you might not have a need for it now but you might have a need down the track so you can put the word out and someone from another district might offer one up,\u201d Jason said.<\/p>\n