No one’s shoelaces or pant legs are safe around the Sunshine Coast RCMP detachment these days, now that police puppy Janga has arrived. The little police dog-in-training has been running around the office sniffing and chewing on everything he can find, and of course drawing smiles everywhere he goes.
Sunshine Coast RCMP youth liaison officer Const. Kyle Hrynyk has recently begun raising Janga; in fact, this is the fourth police dog raised by Hrynyk, who is planning on becoming a full-time police dog handler in the future.
Hrynyk’s previous dog Hasko recently graduated from the police-dog training program and was sent to work in Newfoundland. Hasko received a year-and-a-half of intensive training before being sent to duty. Janga is only 10 weeks old and is just starting his training regime.
Janga was born in the RCMP’s main dog breeding and training facility in Innisfail, Alta., and was sent to Hrynyk in late January. So far, Janga isn’t much different than any other 10-week old puppy, but it won’t be long before he starts to learn the skills required for duty.
As Janga progresses in his training, he will be tested to ensure that he is keeping pace with the program requirements. Hrynyk will regularly travel to facilities in Squamish and Langley to practise skills such as searching for articles or people and to give Janga a variety of experiences, in both rural and urban settings.
While Janga is in training, he lives with Hrynyk at his residence and rides around with him in his police vehicle at work. Being a youth liaison officer, Hrynyk regularly takes Janga to schools on the Sunshine Coast, where the students have been able to learn more about the important role police dogs play in helping police officers and the public to stay safe.
Hrynyk expects to raise at least a couple more police dogs before becoming a full-time dog handler, but despite the work required, how could anyone say no to a face like Janga’s?
Look for Const. Hrynyk and Janga to be visiting a school near you.
