Labrador puppy trains to become detector dog

A black Labrador pup sits obediently in the Premier Feature building at Fieldays while his handler talks to passers-by.

Flash is six months old and lives in a puppy-walking home. Puppy walking homes are where volunteer families provide rearing, socialisation and early training for puppies in the Ministry of Primary Industries detector dog programme.

His handler Noeline Tierney works at the International Mail Centre in Auckland.

Noeline’s job is to search incoming and outgoing mail for items of quarantine concern, particularly agricultural products.

In six or seven months Flash will begin training to learn to detect plants and plant products such as fruits, vegetables and seeds, along with animals and animal products like meat, eggs, live birds and reptiles.

Noeline has been working at the International Mail Centre with detector dogs for six years.

“Generally we all have one dog each that we focus on,” she said.

There are around 45 detector dogs and 30 handlers throughout the country, with most based in Auckland, and they play a crucial role in the biosecurity of New Zealand.

Flash wags his tail happily and quickly makes friends with those who come to see him.

“I think he’s liking it!” Noeline said.