Police Dog Trainer/Handler & Inspector O.I.C. North Yorkshire Police Dog Section 1958 to 1986.
My days with the Police Dog Section go back to early 1958. After two years as a probationary Constable with Durham Constabulary, I was accepted as a dog handler and sent on a basic training course at Aycliffe with a black German Shepherd Dog “Brutus of Aycliffe” Unlike dog training courses of today every handler stayed until the Officer in Charge, then Inspector Tom SESSFORD was satisfied that the dogs were good enough to be sent out operational. This course lasted nearly 6 months.
I was transferred to Harperley Hall, Nr. CROOK, the No.2 Regional Dog Training School as an Instructor in 1964 being responsible for Initial Training. The same year I applied and was appointed Sergeant to take charge of the newly formed Police Dog Section in North Yorkshire.
The North Yorkshire Police Dog Section soon expanded from 6 handlers to 12 but was renowned as one of the leading Forces in Police Dog Trials and Competitions. They were placed First in many of the Regional and National Police Dog Trials and Competitions. The finale was at The National’s in 1983 at Catterick when North Yorkshire Police virtually swept the board taking 1st place with P.C. David CLAYTON and Neypol Bona, 2nd place P.C. John BIRKS with Neypol Ali and 3rd place p.c. Geof. FOSTER with Neypol Brig.
I retired from the North Yorkshire Police in 1986 forming North East Dog Training Centres the following year. There were five centres based at Harrogate, York, Northallerton, Darlington and Middlesbrough. I had up to180 pet dogs attending training classes each week. Additionally, there were Agility Sessions at Northallerton once per week (Sunday morning). It is estimated that well over 20,000 dogs have attended a Pet Dog Training Course since the inception of North East Dog Training Centres.
Additionally, a ‘Problem “phone in” Spot’ was broadcast on BBC Radio’s Cleveland and York once per month. Articles written by George on Dog Training regularly appeared in Dog Training Weekly and other specialist publications. From the inception of North East Dog Training Centres, The Kimfi Range was born with all products that have been designed over the past 20 years.
I am a Home Office Accredited Police Dog Training Instructor, Past President and Founder Member of The British Police & Services Canine Association, N.E. Co-ordinator for The Federation of Dog Trainers and Canine Behaviourists, member of The British Institute of Professional Dog Trainers, The Association of Pet Dog Trainers and Chairman of The Dog Training Industry Association.
