An 11-week-old Belgian malinois is the latest puppy preparing to get her paws dirty in the fight against crime in Norfolk and Suffolk.
Dakota is described as a “very confident little lady with an exciting prospect” and is in training to be a general practice patrol dog.
The Puppy Programme for Norfolk and Suffolk Police is four years old and currently has 15 dogs in the scheme – ranging from 12 weeks old to 14 months old.
These puppies are a mix of spaniels, labradors, German shepherds and Belgian malinois dogs.
Dakota is living with a puppy walker in the Dereham area and will graduate in September 2024.
She will be trained to track human scent when searching for people and used in criminal work and public order.
Dakota, an 11-week-old Belgian Malinois, the very confident little lady with an exciting prospect (Image: James Wells)
Dakota lives with Kaiser who did not make the grade to join the force and now lives as a civilian pup.
PC James Wells is the Puppy Program manager and is responsible for the development of the dogs from eight weeks old until they make the grade for the course.
He said: “Dakota is already barking on command, starting to track human scent and is generally loving life.
Meet Dakota, an 11-week-old Belgian Malinois, the very confident little lady with an exciting prospect (Image: James Wells)
Dakota, an 11-week-old Belgian Malinois, the very confident little lady with an exciting prospect (Image: James Wells)
“She is very vocal and much further ahead than we expect at this point.”
PC Wells has worked as a police officer for 27 years and as a dog handler for 17 of those years.
He began as a trainer six years ago and runs the Puppy Programme on the side of being an officer.
Dakota in her garden at her foster home (Image: James Wells)
The puppies are fostered for a year, mostly by police officers, but also by members of the public, before they start working and move to kennels.
The unit has 20 or more of these walkers and volunteers.
Every few weeks, the puppies train with the big dogs and the unit holds puppy days where they are all in one place.
Not all the puppies will be cut out for the force and those are rehomed in domestic settings.
