The Story of Chloe and Chief
The New Generation Police Dogs
The
Beginning
The year 2002 ensures the Victorian Police Dog Squad persists with its enthusiastic and expanding breeding program. It has been an intensely hectic first 6 months of the year.
Currently we have one litter of German Shepherd Pups on the ground and have procedures in place for another three litters this year, one being Rottweilers. We are not disregarding the German Shepherd Dog and the vast inroads it has made to Police Dog work in general over the preceding 27 years the Victoria Police Dog Squad has been in operation.
Two of our operational German Shepherd Police dogs were mated on 23/5/02, and 25/5/02. They are Police Dog Oscar, who was whelped at the Victoria Police Dog Squad Attwood on 30.1.1997, [Oscar was a consequence of our breeding program], and Police Bitch Tia, again a result of our breeding program. Tia was whelped at Attwood on 24.3.2000.
Oscar was allocated to Senior Constable Steve Evans, an experienced and accomplished Police Dog Handler. He is a General Purpose Police Dog used at scenes of crime, violence, and disorder, but is also one of five Siege Dog Teams in Victoria who frequently attend violent confrontations with armed offenders. He has been exceedingly successful in this and all other facets of dog work.
Tia was issued to Senior Constable Phil Collishaw, an experienced and veteran dog handler and member of the training staff. Tia is used to detect explosives and explosive devices.
Five days prior to whelping date, Tia was brought to the Police Dog Training Centre to facilitate her adjustment to her new environment, and in general relax and be indulged. During the time she is in residence in the whelping room, Tia is constantly monitored and exercised by members of the training staff. One member sleeps in the whelping room prior to, and during whelping. Our Veterinary surgeon is on call throughout this phase to afford support and treatment if and when required.
The
Arrival
During the morning of Friday 26th July, Tia seemed relaxed and her customary self. She was monitored continuously, and at about 1400 hours she became agitated, and was taken to her whelping box. At 1540 hours the first pup arrived, a bitch named Chloe, and after much fussing about by Tia, she had the second pup, a male, Chief. Both pups are coats and predominantly black in colour.
After Tia cleaned both pups, Dr. Ross Carter attended, and gave Tia an injection of Oxytocin, and reported that both mum and pups were in exceptional condition. Unfortunately for the Dog Squad, there were no more pups. I suppose nothing unusual for a maiden bitch.
Both pups have come along in leaps and bounds, with Tia being the devoted mother, exceedingly protective.
Throughout the first 4 weeks the pups remained in the whelping room with Tia and made many forays into the outside world. Obviously a significant part of their socialisation is interaction with people. I can assure there is no deficiency of handlers prepared to cleanse the whelping room, nor is there a shortage of invited and uninvited guests wanting to view and hold the pups.
The pups were wormed at 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks of age with Drontal Puppy Wormer, and at 6 weeks of age they are inoculated with Webster’s Puppy 3. At the commencement of week 4, the pups are progressively weaned. They are fed rehydratable Pal Puppy Food. Both pups are voracious eaters, and their increase in weight by week 5 was quite obvious, both achieving the status of fat balls of fluff.
At week 4, the pups, with Tia, were taken to the puppy enclosure at the Training Centre, where there is an array of noise, other dogs, and an area where they can exercise, not only their bodies, but also their minds. This is a crucial time in the development of the pups as prospective Police Dogs.
Weeks 5 and 6 saw Tia teaching them all that she could, and gradually leaving them for extended periods of time. At the end of week 6, Tia wanted no more to do with the pups. She was bathed, wormed, and returned to Phil to recuperate, and return to her normal life as an explosive detector dog.
A
New Life
The pups are exercised at local ovals, taken to shopping centres and police lectures, where they are well received. We endeavour to introduce the pups to all sights and sounds that they may experience as Police Dogs.
Chloe and Chief have now attained the age of 8 weeks, and are to be issued to civilian walkers for the next stage of their remarkable journey. Chief’s puppy walker has previously walked 3 pups, all pups resultant in becoming Police Dogs, A wonderful achievement. Chloe’s walker is inexperienced, but has the potential to also successfully walk a pup to fruition.
Over the next few months we will be following the experience of these pups as they learn to grow up, and become part of the social world, before starting on their serious training with their new Handlers.
Till next time.
Senior Constable Rob Burton.
Victoria Police Dog Squad
PS: As a result of the recent publicity, we have had 5 inquiries from members of the German Shepherd Dog Club of Victoria Inc. to become puppy walkers, and for this we thank you. But we do need more. If you feel that you may be able to assist, please contact me at the Victoria Police Dog Squad on Telephone: 03 9333 1300.
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