Providing invaluable help to the force - police dogs Deluxe and Harvey

Police dogs of the Zug force are put through their paces and trained at a special centre in Rotkreuz. It is here, for example, where seven-year-old Belgian sheepdog bitch Deluxe is taught to sniff out drugs, an area in which she specialises, able to find them wherever they have been hidden. It was only in June this year she was instrumental in finding cocaine and banknotes during a house search. Deluxe has training two-to-three times a week and, like most police dogs, she is also a family pet.

“At present we have six police dogs, two specialising in sniffing out drugs, another banknotes and three younger ones still in training,” said Samuel Sommer, the head of the Zug police dog unit. While German and Belgian sheepdogs are particularly popular breeds when it comes to police duties, the force also has a Giant Schnauzer, Harvey, who is three and a half years old. He was trained as a general police dog, accompanying officers on foot patrols as they check people’s IDs, investigate break-ins or look for missing people, for example. He is also good at retrieving stolen property, tools and guns. Indeed, in January this year it was Harvey who sniffed out a discarded wallet near where a break-in had taken place. He still undergoes training in Rotkreuz, with Felicia Bucher, who works in the police’s media centre, volunteering as a bait for Harvey to find (photograph). He sets off and duly finds her in no time at all, subsequently being rewarded with a sausage for his efforts.

As Sommer further explained, “Often, all we have to shout is, “This is the police. Come out now or we’ll set the dog on you,” and the criminals duly give themselves up.”

Of course, for the dogs themselves, finding things is all part of a game. Even after being fully trained over a three-year course involving much patience, stamina, tenacity and application, they have to undergo tests each year to see if they are still up to the job before retiring after ten years’ service.

Fortunately, Deluxe and Harvey will still be helping police making use of their particular skills for a few more years yet.