Pup reporting for duty

Photo: Penticton RCMP

He may not have full control over his limbs yet, and he has the tendency to trip over his own feet, but Lentz is determined to become a good police dog for the Penticton RCMP.

Cst. Mike Richardson has had a lifetime goal of becoming a police dog handler, and has been working with handlers in Penticton since his arrival at the Penticton detachment just under a year ago. 

He attended the Police Dog Service Training Centre in Innisfail, Alta. to learn how to train police dogs. His first trainee, a German shepherd named Kaiden, was successfully trained and sent to work in Saskatchewan. 

Last week, Cst. Richardson got his second puppy, eight-week-old Lentz, whom he will be raising and training while still working as a general duty police officer.

"The first week has been challenging meeting the demands of this little guy," Richardson said. "But it has been rewarding so far. Lentz walks with an attitude already, but I think it's because his feet are too big for his body." 

Lentz and Richardson will be evaluated throughout the year to determine whether this pup has what it takes to be a police dog full time.