Working dogs like Boss prove man’s best friend reigns supreme when it comes to sniffing out the good, the bad and the ugly.
TripleM Investigations owner Murray Milne-Maresca said his super-sniffer German shepherd bestie had the ability to detect a single drop of petrol in an Olympic-sized swimming pool — a useful skill at a suspicious fire scene.
Mr Milne-Maresca entered his dog in the 2025 New Zealand Top Dog South Island competition, where he was named as one of the top five ‘‘Top Dogs with a Job’’ finalists.
Boss, with his 10 million nose receptors, was the only New Zealand canine trained to detect flammable substances such as petrol, diesel and methylated spirits. Once he had indicated on a spot, the investigators took over.
‘‘He’s a hard worker with a nose that never stops — when he’s not on the job, he loves chasing a ball and swimming in the river.’’
Any chance of a helicopter ride and he would not have to be asked twice to get in, Mr Milne-Maresca said.
Working alongside a team of forensic fire investigators, wearing his own personal protective equipment including boots and a lifejacket, Boss was able to work in hazardous scenes — accessing areas his human colleagues might not be able to.
‘‘[When] he puts his vest on he’s working and he’s happy.’’ Like his human colleagues, tea breaks and time off are part of the deal as the Animal Act guaranteed he receives adequate food, water, rest and shelter out of the elements in a secure environment.
‘‘So it’s very important that he’s looked after.’’
Boss’ training started as a pup and took three years of daily training to reach New Zealand qualification standards.
Additional training included learning to help protect native birds in sensitive areas such as Stewart Island. He also has had great success at finding lost dogs in the Otatara bush.
Not every dog had the ability to become a good detection animal, Mr Milne-Maresca said.
Obedience, good recall and a well-controlled prey drive were key to their success.
At 11 years old, it was now or never for the Top Dog nomination as retirement was only 12 months away, Mr Milne-Maresca said.
‘‘He’s done his bit. He’s been working behind the scenes since he was a pup.’’
He believed Boss’ calm nature was one of his buddy’s superpowers, as it put both animals and humans at ease.
The calmness also made him the perfect candidate to help search for lost elderly people and dogs, as well as make ward and care facility visits.
Frog Recruitment managing director Shannon Barlow said a 2025 poll revealed 62% of New Zealand dog owners said they would be willing to take a 5% pay cut if it allowed their dog to come to work with them — employees cited they preferred a dog in the office over free snacks or communal fruit bowls.
‘‘Dogs make a tangible difference in the workplace culture. They help people relax, connect and focus — things that are invaluable to any team.’’
The winners of 2025’s three categories — People’s Choice, Top Office Dog and Top Dog with a Job — will be announced on August 28.
