Final assessment after 12 weeks intensive training

On Wednesday 27 and Thursday 28 November after 12 weeks of intensive training on the General Purpose Initial Police dog course our handlers and their dogs had to undergo their  final assessments to establish whether they were at the required standard  to commence duties as Operational Police dog teams.

Our assessor was PC Nick Dalrymple from Avon and Somerset Police dog section and the current National Police dog champion. We always invite an assessor from another Police force to assess our dogs to maintain our high standards.

I have been very proud of our handlers and dogs on this course as they have been driven hard by me and have never complained and have always been prepared to put in the extra work and learn as much as they could at every opportunity. My assistant Instructor PC Graham Attwood has been equally hard working and has been the good cop throughout looking after the welfare of the  students and no doubt helping them to cope with the trauma of being on the end of my less than diplomatic rants if I believed performance was not as it should be.

Our assessor told us that he has assessed over 60 Police dogs in the last 3 years and that our course is the highest standard he has seen. This acknowledgement of the high standard of our handlers, dogs and instruction was very pleasing to hear and is also a reflection of the work put in by all of our puppy walkers to get us here.

Pictured here is the relieved and elated handlers having just been told they had all passed.

From left to right Darren Tenby and Police dog Shadow (Posted to Camborne). Graham Attwood (Course Instructor). Vikki Ritchie and Police dog Jasper. (Posted to Newton Abbott)

Me. Simon Willan and Police dog Megan. (Posted to North Devon) Nick Dalrymple Course assessor.
Scott Perkin and Police dog Max. (Posted to Camborne)

With the assessments over it was time to prepare for our passing out parade the following Thursday 5th December 2013.

Paul Glennon