New police dog joins north-east team
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The North East Dog Unit has welcomed a new addition to their team.
Belgian Shepherd PD Bear has successfully completed his initial training course in Aberdeen.
He joined the unit in January as an eight-month-old pup where he showed the required attributes from day one.
Immediately PD Bear bonded with his handler and after introducing him to the training environment he started to excel.
Due to his age, the training was staggered over the last six months when it was deemed appropriate by instructional staff that he was ready to start a career policing within the North East Division.
Recently PD Bear and Sergeant MacKinnon were independently assessed and obtained their initial licence in Inverness.
The team will now work throughout the north east and further afield if required.
It was after his previous owners identified that he may be more suited to a working home that PD Bear was offered and donated to Police Scotland.
Police dogs come from a variety of backgrounds and are sourced through specialist breeding programmes within the United Kingdom and the continent, although the last two canine recruits for the North East came as gift dogs donated by their owners from within Scotland.
Regional Police Dog Instructor Constable Steve Warden said: "We are always pleased to welcome a new team to the Dog Unit in Aberdeen.
“PD Bear is a naturally good working dog and even as a pup he adapted from being a pet to a potential Police dog very quickly.
"I would like to personally thank the family who donated Bear to the Police Service.
"He will be an integral part of keeping people safe."
