At mankind’s service
Pause please ... Nicole Lawton offers a guide to some of New Zealand’s other hard-working canines.
Most Kiwis have heard of guide dogs, police dogs, and even drug sniffer dogs but man’s best friend is capable of so much more.
Here we’ll introduce you to some of the less well-known service dogs from all over the country. Each canine puts it all on the line to do their jobs, in between belly scratches and the odd game of fetch.
SINNA: THE AIR FORCE DOG
Most people have heard of police dogs, but Trent Norman, a military dog handler at Whenuapai air base in Auckland, admits not many people realise the New Zealand Air Force uses dogs too.
‘‘Her main job is security; she’s trained to find people using wind scenting or tracking, and once they do find people, they’re taught to bite,’’ Norman says.
‘‘Aircrafts are multimilliondollar pieces of equipment. They need security in case anyone decides to do anything bad to them – so the dogs provide a lot more security than humans ever could.’’
Trent has been working with 3-year-old Sinna, a dutch shepherd, since February. Her training consists of darting through obstacles, running the base’s perimeter and taking down ‘‘baddies’’, who wear arm protection.
Sinna is the fastest among the handful of military dogs in the unit, and has even been winched out of a helicopter.
Being relatively new to the squad, Sinna hasn’t had her first real-life bite yet but Norman has faith in her that, when the time comes, she’ll be up for the job.
Being the only bitch of the group, he admits with a laugh; ‘‘she’s incredibly adorable ... but also acts like something of a jealous girlfriend at times’’.
‘‘She’s energetic, jealous, attached, affectionate, but if I’m in the run with another dog, she’ll start losing it ... whining, crying and barking.’’
LOUIE: THE COURTHOUSE DOG
Louie the black labrador is New Zealand’s first and only courthouse dog. His job to calm and comfort young victims giving evidence or testifying in the Tauranga District Court – something the affection-hungry lab excels at.
‘‘They’re obviously quite frightened about what’s happening so we want to make them as relaxed as possible when it comes time for the trial,’’ says Gail Bryce, Louie’s owner.
‘‘And there is nothing that says ‘you’re safe’ like a 40-kilogram lab cuddling up to you.’’
Louie is available for anyone who needs support, and has comforted a few adults in his year on the job. Mostly, he works with kids and teenagers, though.
‘‘The kids will pat him or play with his ears, and they immediately become less frightened.
‘‘He has a very good calming effect on people. He’ll just walk up and put his head on their laps or will lay down at their feet – he senses where he’s needed.’’
Bryce, a victim advisor who also works at the court, says Louie is a loveable fixture of the court, with his own Facebook page.
He can even claim the adoration of the Hon Justice Minister Amy Adams and National MP Simon Bridges.
The 8-year-old dog went through a little training for the job but didn’t need much, given the naturally friendly nature of labradors.
‘‘And come day two of the trial, it’s not uncommon to see the families return loaded with treats for Louie,’’ Bryce remarks.
‘‘He just loves the attention; he’s a big cuddly bear.’’
TED: THE SURF LIVESAVING DOG
Ted the giant newfoundland is training to become New Zealand’s first surf rescue dog.
He can currently swim for about one hour in the ocean but by the end of his intensive three-year training programme in 2017, the 68kg pup will be able to jump from helicopters, swim three kilometres at a time and tow up to 12 people through the water.
The breed’s genetic makeup make them perfect for water rescue; webbed toes helps them power through the surf, a double coat acts like a dry suit, giving them extra warmth and buoyancy; and their large tail acts like a rudder for agility.
But the road to becoming New Zealand’s first surf lifesaving K9 isn’t an easy one. Ted does about four training sessions a week, ranging anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours’ long, with owner Tom Yule, of K9 Surf Rescue New Zealand.
‘‘First we’ll start out with drills, simple obedience calls, then we’ll get into the water do a couple of water retrieves with toys – and we like to finish on a longer distance swim and recovery work.’’
Yule has been a surf lifesaver at Papamoa beach in Tauranga for 20 years, and says: ‘‘Ted loves the water ... but only once he’s out of the play mode, otherwise he runs around like a nutter. He’s definitely a goofy guy that loves cuddles and getting involved with the family.
‘‘He’s like a big bear, which is cool but ... he’s so heavy and big, you’re constantly having to step over him and move him out of doors and stuff.’’