HAMPSHIRE Fire and Rescue Service has added black Labrador Harley to its specialist search team.
One year-old Harley has just finished the first part of his training, being awarded his very own bronze award through the Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Scheme.
Harley is registered as a working dog, and has come from a successful line of working dogs bred by a gamekeeper near Doncaster. Station manager Graham Howlett, who is Harley’s handler, said: “This is the first stage of training that a dog has to complete, prior to commencing the specialist search and rescue training. Harley displayed fantastic obedience through 10 tests and passed the bronze award with flying colours.”
It is hoped that Harley will take his silver and gold awards in record time. Mr Howlett added: “It takes between 18 months and two years for a dog to complete the extensive training schedule to meet national standards and qualify as a fully fledged search and rescue dog.”
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