As the Ponoka RCMP’s canine trainee continues to progress, his handler Cst. Patrick O’Neill is giving an update on his training.
Neutron, born in October at the RCMP kennels in Innisfail, Alta., is now nearly nine months old and is currently being raised and trained to be a Police Service Dog for the RCMP.
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“Neutron is progressing well through his training and is being taught the basics of tracking and criminal apprehension,” said Cst. O’Neill.
Coming from a line of German Shepherd police dogs, Neutron is actually the offspring of police service dog Jago, who was recently shot and killed by a fugitive during a shootout with police in High Prairie, Alta.
Cst. O’Neill says there are no specific expectations of Neutron due to being sired by Jago, however, all their dogs are bred after other proven and successful dogs in the hopes that they too will be in service.
“All potential police dogs are evaluated on their own merits based off a national standard,” he said.
“He has so far been successful through any evaluations he has had but has more in his future as he gets older and his skills develop.”
The Ponoka RCMP says Neutron will have many days of training ahead of him but he has a great personality and a desire to work hard. He loves his food and never seems to have a bad day.
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