Police Scotland are top dogs at national trials
Police Scotland's dogs and their handlers have proved themselves to be the best in Britain at the recent national dog trials by winning the top trophy and several other awards.
Above:
National dog trial winners.
Courtesy Police Scotland
A team of dogs and handlers travelled to London to take part in the 58th National Police Dog Trials, where Dundee-based PC Peter Gargan and PD Dale, a three-year-old German Shepherd, won the Jordan Shield for Overall National Police Dog Champion. They also won the Joseph Simpson Trophy for best tracking dog and the Brigadier Rymer-Hones Trophy for winning the highest combined marks for tracking and searching
PC Magnus McGarry and PD Gray, a four-year-old Dutch Herder/Malinios cross, and PC Andy Gamble and PD Duke, a four-year old German Shepherd, also took part in the event, with PC McGarry and Gray winning the Stanley Peck trophy for Best Obedience.
The event was the culmination of regional trials, with all 16 competitors being either runners-up or winners in their regional events.
Chief Inspector Neil Anderson, Specialist Services Division for the North of Scotland and Dundee Dog Section said, "This is an excellent result from the PC Peter Gargan and Police Dog Dale, who won this prestigious national award and PC Magnus McGarry and Police dog Gray who won the obedience trophy.
"This is the first time for a very long time that an officer from Dundee Dog section has won this award and it is down to hard work and determination of the officer, dog and instructional staff that resulted in winning these awards.
"Police Scotland puts a lot of work into training the police dogs and handlers and through the quality of dogs sourced and excellent instruction, the results obtained from our Police dog handlers in an operational context is outstanding."