RCMP puppy and constable learn the ropes together

The latest recruit for the Whitehorse RCMP is a three-month-old German Shepherd puppy named Henni.

The pup, from the police kennels in Alberta, is temporarily in the Yukon for "imprinting." That means exposing the potential police dog to all kinds of situations at an early age. After imprinting, the pups are returned to the kennels to determine their suitability for police service.

"Right now I see curiosity — she's really curious about everything, says Const. Meagan Brown. "Everything I expose her to, she's willing to do and if I'm having fun, she's having fun, so it's been really good."

Constables like Brown who are interested in becoming dog handlers routinely take on young pups for imprinting. Brown's been on a few tracking assignments with the Yukon RCMP's dog handler, Cpl. Cam Long. 

Brown has been a police officer for two years and says she has lots to learn and experience. 

"Just being out and catching bad guys, it's what I signed up to do," she says.

There could be a lot of that involved in the job. The Yukon RCMP dog service gets about 150 calls per year, Cpl. Long says.

He says Brown is a solid police officer — the first step to getting into the dog section. 

Long says it's more of a lifestyle than a job.

"The dog is with you 24/7. He lives with you; you're on call 24/7 so it becomes your lifestyle."