Melbourne working dogs devoted to their jobs
THEY’RE loyal, enthusiastic and eager to please. You’d be hard-pressed to find a better worker than any of these Melbourne dogs.
North West
Don't miss out on the headlines from North West. Followed categories will be added to My News.
YOU’D be hard-pressed to find a more enthusiastic or loyal worker than any of these dogs in Melbourne.
They’re eager to please, have a nose for detail that can’t be matched and love payment in the form of meaty treats or a game of fetch.
These canines are specially bred, selected and trained to perform potentially lifesaving tasks, for which their human counterparts are simply not as capable.
Sniffing out illicit drugs, tracking missing bushwalkers and protecting a threatened species on the brink of extinction ... it’s all in a day’s work for these dogs.
TELL US: Do you know a devoted working dog? Tell us about it below.
Thomas — truffle dog
HIS nose for delicious underground delicacies is so sharp, he unearthed a giant 800gr truffle worth $2000.
It’s no surprise Thomas the charming and curious springer spaniel from Red Hill has gained celebrity along Melbourne’s food trail.
The five-year-old hound has even featured in the New York Times.
During truffle season (June — September) Thomas is hard at work by Jenny McAuley’s side, sniffing out about two kg of truffles everyday.
He even co-hosts truffle hunts at the farm.
“When he finds a truffle, he drops to the ground and points with his paws out in front of him and taps the soil with his nose,” Ms McAuley said.
Luckily, Thomas hates the taste of the expensive delicacy.
But this beloved working dog truly has a rags-to-riches story.
In 2013, an ex-military dog trainer rescued Thomas from a Hobart pound where he was abandoned.
A year later, Ms McAuley contacted the trainer in search of a “quiet dog that could concentrate” and help build her new business venture.
“He lives to please me and he’s a very good companion,” Ms McAuley said.
“I can’t believe anyone would want to get rid of him.”
“When he finds a truffle, he drops to the ground and points with his paws out in front of him and taps the soil with his nose.” — Jenny McAuley
He’s such a hit with visitors that most of Red Hill Truffle’s reviews are glowing comments about Thomas.
River — retired search and rescue dog
AFTER a distinguished nine-year search-and-rescue career, this hardworking canine is struggling to adjust to retirement.
River, an 11-year-old labrador from Crib Point, was the first dog to receive the National Emergency Medal in 2012 for his admirable contribution to Black Saturday rescue efforts.
The Metropolitan Fire Brigade dispatched River and his trainer, Julie Cowan from Search and Rescue Dogs Australia, to Kinglake and Marysville as soon as fires were under control.
“He had to work quickly in hot, humid and rainy conditions,” Ms Cowan said.
“There was a lot of climbing … and other challenging situations but he found several missing people.”
River’s first assignment, in 2006, was to find the body of a deceased man after fire destroyed his house.
“River said there was no one inside and at first I thought he’d missed the scent,” Ms Cowan said.
“But the owner was later found in Sydney.”
Over the years, River’s nose has led numerous rescue missions for missing bushwalkers and campers across the state.
The work was physically demanding and eventually took a toll on River’s elbows.
But the steely labrador underwent stem cell treatment and painful rehabilitation, and was able to keep working.
In recognition of their work, the rescue duo were selected to run in the 2006 Queen’s Baton Relay.
Ms Cowan said River had barely left his mother’s side when she realised his extraordinary potential.
“He was completing successful searches for his toys at 10 weeks, which is almost unheard of,” Ms Cowan said.
“He started with finding people who had his toys.
“He had a strong play drive at an early age. He was so eager to get that toy and he would continue playing with it when the rest of the pups were tired of it.”
“He’s my best friend. After all these years, he’s still the same.
“I feel so sorry for him when I take the other dogs for training because I know he wants to come.”
Pace — Victoria Police narcotics dog
Victoria Police narcotics dog Pace can detect half a gram of illicit drugs stashed in the back of a cupboard, hidden inside speakers or sewn into a travel bag.
After a year of training at the Attwood dog squad training facility, the energetic three-year-old labrador passed his final test five months ago and became a fully qualified narcotics dog.
He usually works the morning shift, carrying out two or three search warrants across Victoria each day with his trainer Leading Senior Constable Paul Christian.
It’s Pace’s job to flush out any trace of ice, ecstasy, heroin, cocaine, cannabis or cash on the premises.
Narcotics dogs don’t inhale the drugs they find so they’re never affected by them.
“A few weeks ago, he indicated a bag. It looked empty and we didn’t think anything of it but on closer inspection there was $5000 stitched into the bottom of it,” Sen-Constable Christian said.
“Police conducted a thorough search of the house after that and found another $25,000 hidden around the premises.
“He’s started to indicate drugs he’s not even trained in yet.”
Like most labradors, Pace is extremely driven by food and would “totally clean the floor if you let him”, Sen-Constable Christian said.
Food rewards keep him motivated but his love of eating has got him into some strife.
Pace has been known to sneak a quick snack off the floor at crime scenes.
“He does try his luck a bit,” Sen-Constable Christian said.
Pace is one of about 70 narcotics dogs at Victoria Police.
Hank — Dogs for Kids With Disabilities
IT TAKES a very special dog to be able to soothe a highly distressed special needs child with just a touch.
Two-year-old retriever Hank (below) joined the Heeps family in Ringwood nine months ago and is utterly devoted to six-year-old Madison, who has Cri Du Chat Syndrome.
Madison’s condition affects her development, speech and mobility.
She is highly sensitive to light, sound and movement and in the past, trips to the shopping centre often ended in severe tantrums brought on by overstimulation.
But Hank can detect Madison’s rising anxiety and implements a range of calming techniques.
He’ll even alert Madison’s mum, Kym, before Madison shows any behavioural change at all.
“When we’re out, he picks up when she’s getting overstimulated and he’ll start panting rapidly and look at me and tell me it’s time to go,” Mrs Heeps said.
“The very first time we met Hank we went to Toyworld, which Madison hates.
“She had an episode and was in the middle of the floor with her face down.
“I’ll never forget how Hank went over, got down on the floor with her and put his nose on her back and just sat there.
“Slowly she started to pat Hank and sat up and we were able to walk out of the shopping centre, which was an absolute milestone for us.”
“I don’t know what I’d do without him. He gives me support, too. “He’s just so loyal, forgiving, patient and loves unconditionally.”
“When we’re out, he picks up when she’s getting overstimulated and he’ll start panting rapidly and look at me and tell me it’s time to go.” — Kym Heeps.
When Madison becomes agitated, Hank will use his nose to redirect her attention and pressure techniques, such as resting his head on Madison’s lap, to pacify her.
Before Hank came along, Madison could not sleep more than two hours a night.
Now, with Hank at the foot of her bed she sleeps right through the night.
Hank was trained by Dogs for Kids with Disabilities founder Katie Hunter.
He was matched with Madison because of his gentle nature and affinity with children.
Bossy — Neighbours star
BOSSY was an inquisitive eight-week-old pup when she made her screen debut on Neighbours.
Four years down the track, Bossy’s celebrity has grown, particularly with her UK fanbase.
She’s a hit with guests on the Neighbours tour and has her own Instagram account.
Bossy stars next to Chris Milligan (Kyle) as the tradie’s dog and for this working dog, a day at the office is just one big game.
“She loves being on set; as soon as they say ‘action’, she struts her stuff,” said Bossy’s trainer Sally Willis from Animal Actors.
“She never gets bored, she loves the attention.”
Her toughest scene to date was a snake bite scene where she had to lay still for several minutes with an emotional Kyle close by.
“She adores Kyle so for her to lay on her side and not jump all over him while he spoke to her was a big effort,” Ms Willis said.
“She’s a working dog so for her to lay down and not chase a ball is difficult.”
“She loves being on set; as soon as they say ‘action’, she struts her stuff” — Sally Willis
Bossy’s working dog nature makes her character different to another Neighbours favourite, Bouncer — a labrador retriever that survived house fires, mushroom poisoning and a host of other disasters when he starred on the show from 1987 — 1993.
“I don’t think any dog could outdo Bouncer,” Ms Willis said.
“Bouncer was such a relaxed dog, and being a lab he was very much a people pleaser where as kelpies love to work.”
Bossy is rostered to work up to five days a week at the Vermont South studios and like her human colleagues, she doesn’t always get it right the first time.
It can take minutes or several hours to train her for a scene.
“We have to make it all seem like a game to her,” Ms Willis said.
Ms Willis searched all over the country when Neighbours producers asked for an Aussie working dog to join their cast.
Bossy was found on a farm in rural New South Wales and now lives with Ms Willis on a 20-acre property in Macclesfield.
Albus — Bandicoot bodyguard
ALBUS has a huge responsibility on his young shoulders.
A few months ago the 12-month-old maremma sheepdog was promoted to head guardian dog in Werribee Zoo’s landmark bandicoot protection scheme.
Not only does Albus protect a vulnerable population of endangered Eastern Barred Bandicoots from predators, he’s the official ambassador for the pilot program.
“They’ll bond with anything they’re brought up with and will defend them.” — Dave Williams
If the trial is successful, Werribee Zoo could establish several bandicoot populations in Victoria, where the species is extinct.
Guardian dog trainer Dave Williams said Albus, named after Professor Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter series, was selected top dog because of his calm nature and rapport with younger pups in training.
“He’s a role model for our other dogs,” Mr Williams said.
“He’s extremely trustworthy around the bandicoots.”
Like all maremmas, Albus has an innate instinct going back centuries to protect his herd.
“They’ll bond with anything they’re brought up with and will defend them,” Mr Williams said. “They’ve got a strong sense of territory and they won’t want to leave their territory or their flock. People fall in love with them.”
After a day’s work protecting bandicoots and attending PR events, Albus gets back to guarding a brood of chickens at home.
Ultimate club-by-club NPL Victoria season preview
The NPL Victoria season is officially underway. Check out all the ins and outs and star players at every club. Plus, our premiership predictions for the NPL and VPL seasons.
Why a northern suburbs shopping centre is unbearably hot
Customers and staff at a major Melbourne shopping say they are “fainting” and “vomiting” as they endure extreme heat and a broken air con system management has failed to fix.