A police dog trainer has described how he was left heartbroken after he had to release one of his puppies from a training course – because of its fear of shiny floors.
Black German Shepherd Sydney was allocated to his volunteer walker Phil Ash, from Perranporth, in April 2018, when he was aged just 15 weeks.
From the start, Sydney was one of the pups making the greatest progress from Devon and Cornwall Police’s latest litter of potential police dogs.
At eight months old he was assessed on all types of shiny floors, stairs and escalators, and showed total confidence.
Watch the video above.
All was going well, and in January this year, aged 12 months, Sydney was allocated to his handler for the start of the initial police dog course.
But on day two, Sydney refused to go onto certain types of floor in the dog training building in Exeter.
“My instinct immediately told me it was probably this strange phenomenon that some dogs can suffer from, a fear of going onto certain types of floor surface,” said Paul Glennon, Devon and Cornwall Police’s dog development officer.
“For some bizarre reason it often doesn’t materialise until the dog is between 10 and 18 months old. I have witnessed dozens of such cases and I took a female that I raised from a pup who developed it at 12 months to a veterinary optical specialist.
“He told me that they don’t know why it occurs and that it is probably genetic and develops when the brain and eye mature.”
Sydney was brought back to his puppy walker, Phil, in case he was suffering from separation anxiety.
After several weeks of relaxation back home in Cornwall, Phil brought Sydney back to Exeter. But he still wouldn’t go on any floors which were reflecting light.
“I found it very emotional seeing Sydney so terrified to go onto this floor,” Paul admitted. “But because of this incredible bond and trust that they share together, he went straight over to Phil."
Paul knew immediately that Sydney’s career as a police dog was over before it had even begun.
“We can’t justify the expense of a 13-week course, knowing that he probably could never go on to be a dog who could work with our tactical firearms officers searching buildings,” he said.
“One of our instructors in the police dog training school has done a lot of good work with dogs who have developed this problem after completing their initial police dog course, with very good results.”
Paul didn’t have to ask Phil if he wanted to keep Sydney.
“I knew the answer to that one. They will carry on with their celebrity status because everyone knows Sydney in Perranporth.
“I wish them all the luck in the world, and it has been such a pleasure knowing and working with them.”
