A 10 week old puppy was the latest recruit to join the Isle of Man Constabulary in July.
Angus, a black Manx Labrador, was selected by the Dog Unit to be trained as a drug and weapons detection dog.
He joined the 10 other police dogs – four German Shepherds, one Belgian Shepherd, three Springer Spaniels, one Cocker Spaniel and another Labrador – that are currently in operation in the Island.
Some of the dogs were bought as puppies, others were gifted to the Dog Unit and one – Snoopy the Springer Spaniel – was rescued from the MSPCA.
Sergeant Ian Kelly heads up the Dog Unit. He said: "We pick the breeds that we do because it's been proved over time that they work well, they learn quickly and their temperament is right – which is important on the Isle of Man."
All of the dogs, except the explosive detection dog, are trained in the Isle of Man.
Ian continued: "We teach them in steps, like little pictures. The exercises are split into a number of smaller exercises and you build it up all for reward - it's always positive reinforcement. We need them to do it because they enjoy it.
"There's no point trying to force a dog to do something that one, it doesn't fully understand and two, it doesn't like doing – because they won't do it. Obviously some dogs get things really quickly and others sort of get it but then drop back."
Training takes place around the Island and the Dog Unit uses farm land, disused houses and buildings belonging to members of the public, government departments and farmers to train the dogs.
The unit is always looking for more venues to conduct the training. Ian explained: "We need buildings to train in – any industrial premises, flats or houses - the bigger the better because we can spend a day there. If you use a building for a long time the dogs get used to them."
After the initial training, which can last up to 16 weeks, the dogs and their handlers are assessed by an independent assessor from the United Kingdom. If they pass they are given a licence to work as a team for 12 months.
Following this they are assessed continuously. The Isle of Man Dog Unit works to UK guidelines and carries out two weeks of refresher training per year as well as up to 16 days of continuation training.
Despite the intensive training process some dogs selected to become part of the Dog Unit will not be successful. Ian continued: "There is no guarantee. A lot of the time we weed them out on the assessment. They can get sacked, if you like, right the way through to the very last day.
"We've got Angus, we can do everything right but Angus might just not get it. He might not get through a course - so you've spent money on the dog, all the food, all the training, all the time and effort and he might not make it - but that's the gamble with dogs.
"Or you could get a dog for nothing like Snoopy from the MSPCA. Within a couple of weeks he pretty much got everything he needed to know. It is dog dependent and there are no guarantees with any of them."
Although Angus won't begin his official training until he is older he is undertaking environmental training alongside his owner – experienced dog handler Ray Brondon.
The police dogs live with the dog handlers but are not allowed to live in the house - instead they live and sleep in purpose built kennels in the garden. However because Angus needs to get used to different sights and smells this is not enforced until he is older.
Ian explained: "Angus is in the house at the minute for environmental training – so that he's not worried about noises or smells. In the first weeks of their lives it's all about imprinting - whatever they learn now stays with them so you try and introduce them to as many environmental things as you can.
Ray added: "If I go up to Police Headquarters or to the Emergency Services Joint Control Room I take him with me and he just follows behind. It gets him used to people, to different floors and to steps."
If Angus is successful during his training he will become an important part of the Isle of Man's Police Force. The Dog Unit, which consists of five dog handlers, provide 24 hour cover, 365 days a year.
Ian continued: "The dogs are invaluable without a doubt. We don't get many, thankfully, but at a public order event they reckon that a dog is worth 10 police officers. But you can't even quantify it when you get a missing from home and their car is parked in one of the plantations – how many police officers would it take to search that plantation? Whereas a dog can get a track away from the vehicle straight away - we find quite a lot of people like that.
"The same with the drugs dogs. We haven't got powers to search everyone who comes onto the Isle of Man, rightly, so you would never know if people were carrying drugs but with the passive drugs dog you get that indication.
"You could work the drugs dogs, and not because there is a massive drugs problem, for the deterrent value all day every day. Everybody wants the dogs there for something. There are only four drugs dogs so you can't cover everything but they get to as much as they can."
The job can be dangerous for the dogs and Ian admits that, at times, the dog handlers do worry about sending the dogs into potentially volatile situations.
He said: "You worry most of the time to be honest. You've got worries about them getting injured and you've got worries that they might not work as you think it's going to work. Even though you do all the training it's an animal at the end of the day. They are a tool so sometimes you might send them into something you really don't want to be sending them into but if you got that attached you wouldn't send them to anything."
The future for Angus looks bright but is by no means guaranteed – after all he will have to pass his training and demonstrate he has the ability to succeed as a police dog.
Ray concluded: "He comes with me everywhere at the minute so at the minute he is more like a pet. I'll feel sad if he doesn't make it."
Update: According to the Dog Unit Angus is doing "really well" and will start his proper training in the New Year.
This story is part of isleofman.com's Review of the Year 2011.
