Officer Striker and his handler Constable Dan Skillings take first at Iron Dog Challenge
WOODSTOCK - Officer Striker has won the Iron Dog Challenge hosted by the London Police Service Canine Unit.
Striker and his handler Constable Dan Skillings competed in the Over 39 division with ten other dogs and handlers. The dog completed the intense course in just sixteen minutes and twenty seconds - good enough for first place, a shiny trophy and bragging rights. Skillings tells Heart FM he was super happy with the race.
"That's kind of what the race is about; it's not about 1st, 2nd, 3rd or anything like that. It's really just a bonding exercise with your dog. Striker has come a long way and he is only going to get better I hope. It's just a fun day, it's a little bit of camaraderie I guess with other services, other K-9 guys and yeah, you get a little bit of bragging rights for the year until next year when you do it again. "
The course was four km in length. Striker ran through 150 metres of a river, engaged in a bite scenario, was involved in a target shooting scenario, ran over fences and logs and engaged in a simulation of chasing a suspect. Skillings carried Striker up a hill for 50 meters to simulate an injury to the dog. He said, "It was obstacle after obstacle".
Striker completed and graduated from his training in early September. Striker's first day on the job was October 1, 2015. Skillings says, "This type of competition solidifies that Striker is ready for all challenges of working as a police dog".

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