Top dogs again!
Top dogs again!
New Zealand Police dog teams have kept up a winning tradition at the Australasian Police Dog Championship Trials, recently held in Sydney.
Senior Constables Bill Birrell (Auckland), with patrol dog Hawk, and Derek Orchard (Tauranga), with Turk, took overall honours, winning the Perpetual Trophy for Patrol/General Purpose Dogs. Bill and Hawk also won the highest individual score, with Derek and Turk in second place. Senior Constable Hamish Todd (Wellington), with Cindy, came fourth in the detector dog category.
Sergeant Steve Rider, based at the Dog Training Centre in Trentham, said it was fantastic the team had continued Kiwi dominance in the competition, which tested 16 police dog teams from across Australia and New Zealand in categories including agility and speed, building and vehicle searches and obedience.
The Australasian Police Dog Championship Trials began in 1988. New Zealand teams have won the individual and team championship in six of the seven championships held.
Photos - Credit: NZ Police
- Top dog Hawk in full flight during an agility test.
- Senior Constable Derek Orchard and Turk with the winning patrol dogs team trophy.