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By Alice Gibbs
Senior Reporter
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A German shepherd and Belgian Malinois cross puppy who was found abandoned in the north of England has been given a new start after being taken in by Durham Constabulary’s Dog Support Unit.
The puppy, later named Chief, was handed in to animal welfare charity Stray Aid by a local dog warden after being found as a stray. During a meeting with the charity, a Durham Police chief inspector noticed the young dog and felt he showed potential, according to a post shared by the force on Instagram.
Following the initial meeting with Stray Aid, Durham Police’s Dog Support Unit assessed the puppy to determine whether he had the characteristics needed for police work. The force said he passed his first tests "with flying colors."
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A spokesperson for Durham Constabulary told Newsweek: "During a recent site visit, our chief inspector spotted Chief in his kennel. At the time, our Dog Support Unit was looking to increase its operational capability of general patrol dogs. We have previously rehomed working breeds such as springer and cocker spaniels, so we recognized Chief’s potential straight away."
In recognition of the chief inspector who helped give him a second chance, the team named the puppy Chief.
At just 18 weeks old, he has since moved in with an experienced police dog handler and has begun environmental training aimed at building confidence and developing new skills.
"Chief has now been allocated to one of our handlers and will live with him at home," the Durham Constabulary spokesperson said. "Over the next 12 months, they will work closely with our training department, where Chief will be introduced to a variety of environments, socialized around people and other dogs, and taught core skills such as controlled barking, tracking, scent and search work."
In the U.K., police dogs operate within dedicated Dog Support Units and are used to assist officers in tasks that rely heavily on scent, speed and control. Forces commonly deploy general‑purpose dogs—most often German shepherds or Belgian Malinois—for patrol work, tracking suspects, public‑order policing and protecting officers.
Specialist detection dogs, frequently breeds such as Labrador retrievers or springer spaniels, are trained to locate drugs, firearms, explosives or forensic evidence.
In the United States, police dogs—commonly referred to as K‑9s—serve similar roles but are deployed across thousands of local, state and federal agencies.
U.S. K‑9 units are widely used for suspect apprehension, drug and explosives detection, search‑and‑rescue missions and evidence tracking. German shepherds and Belgian Malinois are also the most common patrol breeds, while Labradors and Bloodhounds are often used for scent‑based work.
Training typically takes many months and continues throughout a dog’s working life, with handlers responsible for both operational deployment and daily care. In many departments, K‑9 teams are certified regularly to ensure they meet legal and performance standards, and police dogs often live with their handlers, reinforcing the working bond both on and off duty.
Durham Constabulary described the transformation as going "from stray pup to squad recruit," adding that Chief is learning every day as he begins his journey as a working dog.
For now, Chief will continue his training under the guidance of his handler as he develops the skills required for police work. "We have been overwhelmed by the public’s support following Chief’s rehoming and we look forward to keeping everyone updated as his journey progresses," the Durham Constabulary spokesperson said.
Update, 03/05/26 07:30 a.m. ET: This story was updated with additional comment from Durham Constabulary.
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