Nanaimo police dog Neon carries RCMP working-dog lineage
Basko is taking part in the RCMP’s early development program for potential police service dogs in Nanaimo.
RCMP photo
Nanaimo RCMP Police Service Dog Neon #1173 is part of a breeding and training program that develops potential police dogs from puppyhood through formal service training.
Neon works with Const. Jordan Braid and is trained for general duty, explosive detection and Emergency Response Team support, according to Nanaimo RCMP. He was born at the RCMP Police Dog Service Training Centre in Innisfail, Alta., and is the offspring of Police Service Dog Jago.
Jago was killed in the line of duty on June 17, 2021. The RCMP Police Service Dog Honour Roll says he was killed while tracking a suspect who had fled police in a high-speed chase near High Prairie, Alta.
The RCMP breeds its own purebred German shepherds at the Innisfail training centre, selecting breeding dogs based on factors that include performance, health and genetics.
Puppies identified as potential police service dogs can enter the force’s imprinting program, where they live with RCMP members who have completed specialized training. Under the supervision of experienced police dog handlers, the puppies are exposed to different people, animals, locations, surfaces, obstacles and buildings while developing informal obedience, tracking, prey drive and defence drive.
The dogs are formally evaluated at 49 days, four months, eight months and 12 months, with additional monitoring carried out throughout the program. Dogs that successfully complete the imprinting stage generally return to Innisfail between 14 and 18 months of age for formal police dog training.
The RCMP says about half of the puppies born at the centre eventually become working dogs. Those dogs may serve with the RCMP, other Canadian or international law-enforcement agencies, search-and-rescue organizations or remain within the breeding program.
