MOD Police Dog Jura Wins Big for Second Year Running

Police dog handler Police Constable Simon Hill and Jura are officially among the best working pair in the UK after bringing trophies home to Plymouth from two competitions. Ministry of Defence Police dog unit PC Hill and Jura (a Malinois (Belgium) Shepherd) were the first ever at Devonport Naval Base, in Plymouth, to enter the National Police Dog Handling Assessment Finals where they came fourth.

Prize-winning Jura is also the current British Police & Service Dog of the Year for the second year running -having successfully defended this title this summer. PC Hill said: “Considering it was only the second year of competing in any sort of competition, I’m very proud of this achievement and of Jura.  He’s a fantastic working dog.  He’s got a huge appetite for working and loves all the disciplines.”

Jura qualified for the National Police Dog Handling finals (near Rotherham, South Yorkshire), featuring 21 dogs, following his success in the South West regional heat. The dogs, from all types of police forces, sought to impress the judges with displays demonstrating their working skills, including obedience, searching area and buildings, searching for people and apprehending and guarding and chasing an ‘armed’ and un-armed person.

Simon said: “Jura is a professional through and through. But he also has character. He is a confident and boisterous young dog.  I’ve had him since he was a nine-week-old puppy and he’s now four and a half years. He’s part of my family.  He lives with me and my wife and daughter and enjoys being sociable with us.’’ Simon thanked his colleagues for their generous support and said without the mutual support of fellow competitors, who freely pass on their tips, he would not have been so successful.

PC Dave Gibbs said: “I’m very pleased at Simon’s success. Jura was bred under the MOD Police puppy breeding scheme and trained in-house at Devonport which is a tribute to the skills of the staff here. Devonport now has the 4^th best police dog in the UK, and hopefully will improve on that in the future. I know as Simon stated, he is grateful for all the assistance given which reflects on all members of the Devonport Police Dog Section.“