The newest puppy patrol recruit and the constable fostering him both have high aspirations in Dunedin's police force.
Ten-week-old police dog-to-be Ice arrived in the city two weeks ago.
He is one of three puppies training to take over from the older of the four active police dogs in the city.
Ice was born at a Wellington breeding centre and will begin to follow in the paw prints of his parents as an operational police dog at about 15 months old.
Constable Mel Duff is socialising and caring for Ice and accompanying him to weekly training with the bigger dogs.
''He's very cheeky. He's very cute until he bites you.''
She said she always loved dogs and fostering Ice was an essential part of her goal of becoming a police dog handler.
''You go to all the exciting jobs. It's a really good group we've got going here.''
Dunedin dog section supervisor Sergeant Mike Calvert said dogs were an integral part of the force.
''They're not only to target offenders, but provide high visibility to prevent crime. If a dog handler turns up, it has a major effect on stopping a crime from happening.''
Earlier this month, Dunedin police dogs had successes in finding offenders in the aggravated robbery of a taxi driver and tracking youths interfering with cars.
Sgt Calvert said he also wanted to push for more diversity among handlers. Of the 130 police dog handlers in the country, only two were women, he said.
''Typically it's a job that not a lot of women apply for. As long as you've got the passion to work with the dogs, we would encourage you to apply.''
