Shongweni K-9 unit trains top dogs
The Atteridgeville Dog Training School in Pretoria has sent 42 patrol dogs for training at the Shongweni K9 Unit's facilities.
THE Shongweni K9 Unit is facilitating and leading national standards with regards to police dog training.
The Atteridgeville Dog Training School in Pretoria sent 42 dogs to Shongweni for a 10 day training course with the Shongweni unit.
According to Capt Neil Thaver, of the Shongweni K9 Unit, the new police dogs are being trained at the Shongweni K9 Unit’s facilities to expose the canines to various climates and surroundings.
“The new canines are being trained to track suspects in various climates and environments. In KwaZulu-Natal we have sugarcanes, for example, and in Pretoria the air is much dryer. Training in various locations help the dogs to adapt to the different environments and to become more proficient at tracking,” said Thaver.
Ali Maynard, who initiated the Shongweni K9 Unit, said, “It is definitely a feather in our cap. For other canine training schools to use our facilities is indicative of our excellent training centre.”
Max McConnell and Andrew Thompson, members of the Durban Shongweni Club, have also sponsored two Rottweiler dogs to the Shongweni K9 Unit. “We are all animal lovers at the Durban Shongweni Club, and we deal with the K9 Unit on a regular basis. We learned that they were short on dogs, so we arranged to raise funds to sponsor the dogs,” said McConnell.
Thaver reported that the donated canines will be assessed to determine if they are suitable for patrol work. If they have the ideal temperament and intelligence required for patrol work they will undergo a three month training course.
Maynard initiated the Shongweni K9 Unit in 2011. On completion, the unit had eight patrol dogs. The donation has increased the unit’s tally to 10 dogs, but the unit is still in desperate need of more patrol dogs.
Contact Ali Maynard on 082 879 7556.
