NT police welcome new dog squad puppy recruits

NT POLICE have welcomed the arrival of six new members of the dog squad this week

One of the new German shepherd police puppy recruits

NT POLICE have welcomed the arrival of six new members of the dog squad this week.

The german shepherd puppies will be trained up to become patrol dogs in the Dog Operation Unit.

Freddy, Fitzy, Diamond and Arnie from New Zealand, along with Inka and Indie from Queensland, will undertake a 12-month training program led by Sergeant Steve Pike from the New Zealand Police Dog Section.

The first part of their training will focus on tracking, obedience, environmental exposure and socialisation, followed by more intensive training where they will learn skills such as searching for offenders, apprehending offenders and deterrence of violent offenders.

Upon completion of their training, the dogs and their handlers will fill positions around Darwin and Alice Springs.