K-9 Huba keeping Potchefstroom safe one Patrol at a time
Huba Xerxes is an eight-year-old Belgian Shepherd at the Potchefstroom K-9 Unit. Huba is trained to be a patrol dog and an explosives dog. Sergeant Moagi ‘Chi Chi’ Motsemme is Huba’s handler, and they started working together in 2019. Huba absolutely adores the sergeant, who is his only handler. Huba was born and bred in …

Huba Xerxes is an eight-year-old Belgian Shepherd at the Potchefstroom K-9 Unit.
Huba is trained to be a patrol dog and an explosives dog. Sergeant Moagi ‘Chi Chi’ Motsemme is Huba’s handler, and they started working together in 2019. Huba absolutely adores the sergeant, who is his only handler.

Huba was born and bred in Malinois, Belgium. During his training there he was rewarded with tennis balls, and to this day goes bananas for tennis balls. Sergeant Motsemme says that Huba prefers tennis balls to treats such as dry wors, and proudly shares that Huba can climb onto the roof of houses.
As a patrol dog, Huba needs to avert immediate danger that threatens livelyhood. He apprehends fleeing suspects in buildings, the bush, and more. He aids police officers in investigations by searching and identifying scented objects at crime scenes.
As an explosives dog, Huba detects explosive devices. He searches premises for bombs and explosive devices, and is used to sweep areas where bomb threaths have been made. Huba works roadblocks and vehicle checkpoints to search for explosives and firearms.
Apart from that, Huba does sweeps in sport stadiums or other venues when the president or ministers are expected.
Huba is a very happy and playful dog, and enjoys spending time with Sergeant Motsemme when he is not working. The pair have a close bond, and understand each other very well. During their off time, Sergeant Motsemme visits Huba to play with tennis balls. It is important for them to have a strong bond and understand each other. This enables them to work well together and protect each other.

Sergeant Motsemme and Huba gets evaluated yearly where they receive a certificate that declares them fit for work. Huba gets de-wormed every three months, and vaccinated yearly for rabies and other.
Sergeant Motsemme tells a tale of Huba’s incredible work and sense of smell. “We were mobilised to Cape Town on a matter of explosives. The tactical response team sweeped the house, and when it was safe, they let us know to proceed. I opened the door of the house for Huba, and he immediately ran straight to the bathroom and sat down next to the toilet When we lifted the lid of the tank, there was explosives inside. Huba smelled the explosives from outside the house through the water.”
The Potchefstroom K-9 Unit asks for donations of the following dogs: Labradors, Border Collies, German Shepherds, and Malinois/Belgian Shepherds. If you have a dog of these breeds that is aggressive, or for whatever reason cannot live with you anymore, please donate it to the K-9 unit instead of taking it to PAWS. The unit can be reached at 018 299 7661/2 to donate, or find out more.