A German Shepherd named Aden was in a class of his own

7 February 2012

Award-Winning Paws

It was smiles and wagging tails all round as Avon and Somerset Police dog "Aden" became an award winner last week. Two-year-old German Shepherd, Aden, and his handler, PC Nick Dalrymple, wowed judges and won the South West and Wales Police Dog Assessments held in Plymouth.

Thirteen dogs competed from Dorset, Devon and Cornwall, Wiltshire, Gwent, South Wales and The Ministry of Defence Police forces during the gruelling three day trial in some very adverse weather conditions. The dogs, who have previously won their respective force assessments, were evaluated by the judges from other forces who assessed them on the full range of police duties including crowd control, criminal work, obedience, agility, searching, tackling offenders and tracking.

It was a double victory for the Avon and Somerset Dog unit as Aden was one of the first puppies from their own breeding scheme. The 'A' litter were born on the 21st January 2010 as part of the Constabulary's new breeding programme, which was set up at the unit's base at Bower Ashton to breed and train dogs in-house.

Three pups – Aden, Axel and Albie, demonstrated they had the right characteristics to become police dogs and started their training on the 18th April that year. Just four weeks later they were tested and licensed as operational police dogs demonstrating the benefit, success and effective nature of the breeding programme as usually an initial course for police dogs is 13 weeks.

PS Denis McCoy stated: "Police Dog "Aden" is one of the first dogs from our breeding programme, and has already shown his worth operationally. Nick and Aden are a fantastic team and have got just what they deserve for all the hard work and dedication they show on a daily basis."

PC Dalrymple added: "I am obviously delighted and really proud of Aden, particularly as he from our own breeding scheme and because he is still only two, which is very young."

They will now go forward to represent the Region at the National Police Dog Trials in Surrey in April.