Winkler's new K-9 Unit is expected to complete training this summer.

Constable Sean O'Brien began training Juno last fall beginning with basic obedience and socializing.

Juno's first week in training. Photo courtesy Winkler Police Service K-9 Unit Facebook page

Currently, O'Brien and Juno are being certified in level one tracking, following a scent over a kilometre and a half with multiple turns and road crossings, and by this fall will proficient in tracking persons of interest and items, as well as apprehending suspects. Level two tracking includes residential environments and level three adds navigating backyards and teaching the dog to jump over fences.

While it sounds like a serious life for a dog, O'Brien explains the training is essentially a game for the high-energy Belgian Malinois. "We always make it fun, it's all positive during our tracks."

He notes tracking is essentially searching for an environmental disturbance. "As someone runs or, or walks, whatever their feet are hitting is causing a disturbance in the ground. So what we've trained the dogs to do is basically read the ground disturbance by scent, They use that scent in order to get to a reward. So she always gets to play at the end."

Along with being a police asset, Juno has already been a great way to connect with the community. O'Brien notes they've visited almost every school in the area. "It's opened a lot of doors for our service and people have reached out to us as well."

Winkler's first police service dog, Tika, was retired in 2017 after serving the community for seven years. The K-9 unit was renewed thanks to an $87,000 grant from the province's criminal property forfeiture fund.

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