Britain's Dog Detectives

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 35, 11 February 1939, Page 9 (Supplement)

Britain's Dog Detectives

ByGerald Hammond -—Copyright

SCOTLAND YARD, London's world-famous police establishment, now has highly-trained dogs to assist its detectives in tracking down criminals. The drafting of these dogs into active work marks the completion of the experimental stage of one of the most important developments in police practice in recent years. Britain has been slow in calling these four-footed allies to the aid of her police. An important C.I.D. official, visiting Britain a few years ago, said that all policemen on lonely country beats and in dangerous areas should have the protection of police dogs. In Germany the system has been developed to a high degree of perfection, and among other countries where police dogs are regularly employed are France, Belgium and the United States. In the British Empire they are used in Canada, South Africa and Palestine. As a matter of fact, Scotland Yard is not the first British police establishment to employ dogs. The honour belongs to the Wiltshire County Constabulary, and in recent years dogs have done outstanding work in Lancashire and Cheshire, while a famous dog was attached to the West Sussex force. It is hoped that the use of dogs in the metropolitan area will lead to the extension of the system throughout the country, for there is not the slightest doubt that doge can be invaluable to the police in their work. The absolutely indispensable requisites of a police dog are obedience (largely inherited), a good nose, a steady, unexcitable yet courageous disposition, and a medium-sized, hardy body. The decision to supply Scotland Yard with a force of police dogs is the result of no hasty resolution. The practicability of the step has been considered from every point of view during the past three years by a special committee appointed by the Home Office, and consisting mostly of chief officers of police. Three years of training, field trials and crossbreeding experiments have produced what are thought to be ideal police dogs for man-hunting, detective duties, liaison work and night patrols on lonely country beats. Two noted bloodhounds were imported from America, and each had a fine litter of puppies. Is order to introduM

more stamina the bloodhounds were crossed with otter-hounds, and the offspring is reported to exhibit fast pace and drive on a cold scent. The bloodhound cross will be used for man-hunting, and another type will be employed on detective work. So far the Labrador has proved itself to be the finest dog "sleuth." At one time it was thought it might be possible to evolve a type combining the two qualities of man -hunter and sleuth, but go far not much success has been recorded.

Labradors, however, are excellent in their ability to give warning of unseen Btrangers, to "nose" out a man like *

pheasant or rabbit, and to "comb" out shrubberies, or "report" suspicious finds. The dogs are taught to take messages to or bring them from the police station —and they travel at full gallop. They are also trained to defend themselves, but bad habits, such as "snappinees," are not allowed. Only in case of necessity must they show fight.

The training school of Britain's police dogs is at Washwater, near Newbury, Berkshire, There they are taught to fetch and carry objectß, and to forape them out from among thick undergrowth. Tracking dogs are made to trail "criminals" across misleading scents and "detective" dogs are also trained to hunt down men and discover them in the densest of thickets. High obstacles are placed in their way to teach them to jump and to scale them. There are al*o enclosed spaces representing suburban gardens. The dogs are taught to dive in and out of these, retrieving anything they can find.