Top pup leads Avon and Somerset Police to victory at regional championships (From Gazette Series)

Top pup Aden leads Avon and Somerset Constabulary to victory at the Regional Police Dog Championships

5:15pm Monday 11th February 2013 in News By Marion Sauvebois

A TOP pup, bred and trained in Almondsbury, came way ahead of the pack at the Regional Police Dog Championships.

Avon and Somerset Constabulary's very own German Shepherd Aden won first place at the competition held at this month.

The three-year-old police dog and his handler, PC Nick Dalrymple, wowed judges and beat nine other highly trained furry contestants from South Wales, Gwent, Devon, Cornwall and Avon and Somerset.

As part of the trial, the dogs were required to undertake multiple searches and their courage was tested during a staged attack on their handlers. These tasks were followed by series of obedience, agility and crowd-control exercises.

Inspector Andy Roebuck, who oversees the Constabulary's Dog Unit based in Almondsbury, said: "I was extremely proud of the Avon and Somerset competitors and in particular PC Dalrymple and PD Aden for their achievement.

"This team has worked relentlessly over a sustained period of time to perfect and provide an incredible high standard of police dog work. They have spent a considerable amount of their own time training hard for both operational work and trials such as this, which has now paid dividends."

PC Dalrymple and PD Aden earned 944 points out 1000 overall. The trophy will be added to Aden's ever-growing collection of awards. The pup came second in the National Championships in 2012, won the South Yorkshire Obedience Trophy and overall Winners Shield. He also snatched the Search Trophy in the 2012 Regional Trials.

PC Dalrymple added: "Aden performed to a great standard. All three Avon and Somerset dogs are a credit to their handlers and to the section as a whole. It really was a day to remember."