New K9 puppies are ready to start training with their police partners

It was an exciting and furry day at the Winnipeg police service canine unit with future police dogs spending some quality time with their new partners.

“This was a unique litter in that, we have a first-time mom. She’s a working dog, she’s never been a mom before,” said Scott Taylor, Patrol Sargeant with the WPS K9 Unit.

Sargeant Taylor has been with the police’s K9 Unit for a total of 14 years. He says this litter, born eight weeks ago via C-section to mother dog Arrow, had a rough start.

“We had nine puppies and a mom that had never been a mom. So she woke up from surgery with nine puppies and she didn’t know what to do. She didn’t know how to feed them,” said Taylor.

“Our guys became, essentially vet techs for the first two weeks of this litter. So they had to come in and really kind of help Arrow feed. Lay her down and make sure all the puppies were latching.”

The first few days were a little challenging, as Arrow was still learning how to nurse the pups.

Taylor says one puppy in particular needed some extra care. She was losing weight, so she was sent to Naomi – a foster dog mom.

“Naomi basically mothered the pup for two weeks and got her up to a healthy weight, and she returned to the litter.”

The K9 Unit also took turns helping to feed the puppies. One Constable and his wife took in the litter at their home to provide around-the-clock care.

But today they’re healthy and well. Taylor says there’s another reason this litter is special.

“Of the nine, we generally try and pick the best for us. All nine, including the little one, look incredible,” said Taylor.

These new candidates for the K9’s Quarry program, which helps turn pups into police service dogs, will start training right away.

“Our primary role is working the street tracking suspects, and then they have a secondary role of detection work. Either explosives or drugs or tactical work.”

Taylor says their little pup is one of the puppies that will be staying with Winnipeg police and the handlers are ready for their new best friends.

“I think you’d be very hard-pressed to find any handler that doesn’t say they talk to their dog, they’d be lying if they said they don’t. They do. They spend a lot of time with those dogs, so the bond is deep.”

Police say four out of the nine dogs will stay with the K-9 unit, and the other five pups will go to different agencies.

K9 Calendars

Winnipeg police also have announced the release of their 2024 K9 calendars.

Funds raised from all the calendars will be donated to the Bruce Oake Foundation. 

The calendars are $20 and can be purchased at Urban Tactical, Petlan, Winnipeg Police Credit Union, and Eastside Collision.