Suffolk duo perform admirably at National Police Dog Trials

5 June 2024

Suffolk’s Police Dog Adam and handler Nick Lofthouse made the Federation proud at the National Police Dog Trials last week as the pair achieved an excellent 10th-place finish.

Just six months into their working partnership, Nick and German Shepherd-Labrador crossbreed Adam defied their relative inexperience to clinch 10^th out of 21 entrants at the Trials, held over the course of four days in Stirling, Scotland.

The success follows the talented duo’s progression through both local and regional trials after quickly striking up a strong connection once assigned to each other.

“It seemed like accomplishment after accomplishment on the journey to the nationals, which then ended up the exact same. I’m over the moon with how we did, to be honest,” said Nick.

“As I’ve said previously, Adam is the dog – he’s the one who has to do it, and I’m so proud of him and how he managed the levels of expectation.”

Nick (centre) with PD Adam.

Despite going into the Trials with confidence from triumphs in preliminary rounds, 48-year-old Nick revealed that nerves had crept in in the run-up to its commencement – at least on his part.

“I’d never felt so out of depth in all my life. It was fairly intimidating seeing the very best police dogs from all over the UK before everything got started. I have our Dog Sergeant, James Thomas, to thank for keeping me calm,” he laughed.

“Eventually, I remembered that I had a pretty good dog myself – and, boy, did he prove that.”

In a similar vein to their regional trials, the nationals tested Nick and Adam through three phases from 20 to 23 May: Phase one assessed tracking, phase two focused on searching, and phase three scrutinised agility and obedience.

Outstandingly, they earned second place in phase two as Adam delivered an accomplished open search involving a targeted building, showcasing his strength in this skill as in earlier contests.

History also repeated itself from the regionals with the discipline shown by the four-legged officer in phase three, as he again performed a flawless emergency recall and was one of the only dogs to completely contain aggression during a criminal stand-off, whereby the simulated offender would suddenly halt their runaway from a canine giving chase.

Nick added: “It’s already clear to see Adam has some huge strengths. To come second out of 21 in phase two was unbelievable, and yet again, in phase three he put the brakes on certain things he had been taught to do the complete opposite action.

“That must be so conflicting to an animal, so it just goes to show the trust he has in me, to know what I am telling him to do is the right thing. We’ve just got such a good relationship.”

The experienced police constable also singled out Suffolk Constabulary’s in-house dog trainer, Rachel Bowers, for her dedication in making training as comprehensive, realistic and operational as possible, claiming without whom, “none of this would have been possible.”

Turning his attention to plans for competing in the future, Nick confirmed he had fully caught the Police Dog Trials bug, despite having experienced the rigours of a national contest, and set his sights on next year’s National Trials, set to be hosted in the West Midlands.

“It’s very stressful and demanding at national level, but I loved it – how could I not with an incredible dog like Adam?

"It’s made me a bit giddy, thinking about the potential for the future in respect of what we have already done in such a short space of time. I’m excited to see where we could get to even in 12 months’ time.

“As long as my heart and blood pressure can take it, we will go again next year and see what happens,” he ended.

Suffolk’s Operational Dog Sergeant James Thomas has paid tribute to the pair for their efforts throughout the 2024 Police Dog Trials campaign.

“It has been brilliant to see Nick and Police Dog Adam continue to perform to a high level in the nationals. The standard of all participants was exceptional, and Lofty and Adam certainly held their own.

“Nerves may have been showing on occasion, but we are so proud of Nick for all that he has achieved with Adam over such a short space on time. He has been a great example to other dog handlers that hard work definitely pays off.

“We are really excited to see them keep progressing as a team and the achievements this will bring,” he said.