As part of an ongoing transfer program between the rescue and an Oklahoma shelter, Pocket, a seven-month-old Belgium Malinois puppy originally named Payton, arrived at It Takes a Village Animal Rescue and Resources earlier this year. When Pocket arrived in Muscatine, she went to Jessie Ng, a regular foster volunteer with It Takes a Village.
When Ng first took Pocket home, she was struck by how intelligent and focused the canine was on training. Even the most lively puppies could not match Pocket’s drive and passion when she played fetch, which Ng managed to teach her in just one attempt. Although it was quite a struggle, Pocket gladly leaped to catch Ng’s Kong ball when he tossed it up a tree.
Ng conducted some hunting tests with her because she knew how to screen puppies to locate future working dogs. She noticed the kind of strong energy and concentrate on locating concealed objects that tend to distinguish working dogs. She contacted Jenny Lea Wyffels, a canine behavior consultant and trainer who owns Cooperative Canine Concepts + K911, which trains police dogs, thinking Pocket may profit from placement as a working dog.
Wyffels consented to conduct additional tests with Pocket, letting her look for balls in various settings. Like Ng, Wyffels discovered that Pocket was very motivated to hunt and that she performed well in a variety of situations. Wyffels decided to acquire Pocket and train the dog, along with her other rescue dog,
Tugboat, to be a drug detection canine after working with her. After training is complete, Pocket will collaborate with law enforcement officials to look for alleged cash of illegal drugs that are being kept secret in many locations. Wyffels said: “Pocket showed environmental stability, sociability, good drive, and extreme tenacity in her desire to hunt for a ball. Being a rescue was an additional bonus, as she is everything we like to represent as ambassadors for rescue going into working placement.”
While many of the dogs from It Takes a Village had been evaluated to serve as working dogs, Pocket is the first to transition into a career. Founder of It Takes a Village, Meagan Koehler, couldn’t be happier that Pocket was chosen as a narcotic detection dog because dogs with high energy and a need for mental stimulation often perform better as working dogs than as family pets: “For a dog like Pocket, this is the best possible placement.” We are so proud of her! ”
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