PSYCHOLOGY, DISCIPLINE KEY TO TRAINING 'HERO' POLICE DOGS

From search missions to rescue operations, skilled canines have crucial roles to play

Police dog Doubao, meaning red-bean bun, took part in 16 searches for missing people in Wuhan, Hubei province, last year. The 3-year-old German Shepherd serves as a tracker dog at the Jiangxia district sub-bureau of the city's public security department.

"Initially, we introduced the dog with the thought that it could assist us in tracking down criminals who…would abandon their vehicles and flee into the nearby mountains," said Xia Mengmeng, deputy chief of the Zhengdian police inspection station. "Such individuals have not appeared, but Doubao has proved to be invaluable in serving the community."

Doubao's most recent successful mission was on Nov 29 when he helped a resident surnamed Wei locate his 83-year-old father. Wei reported to police on the evening of Nov 27 that his father had gone missing at an agricultural market.