Parenting

Police Dog Deemed 'Too Friendly' To Fight Crime Gets Cool New Job

by Julie Scagell
Updated: 
Originally Published: 
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Things worked out just fine for Gavel the friendly dog

A gorgeous German Shepard pup named Gavel flunked out of the police dog academy in Queensland Australia. Apparently instead of tackling would-be suspects, he tried to play with them instead. We don’t understand why he can’t just smother criminals in dog kisses and licks but we guess that’s not how things are done in Australia.

But don’t worry folks; this isn’t just another doggy dropout story.

According to the BBC, when Gavel was first brought to the academy, police said in a press release, “Gavel comes from a long line of pedigree… if the family bloodline is anything to go by, in 16 months Gavel will be tracking and catching criminals as a proud member of the Queensland Dog Squad,” which was obviously way too much pressure to live up to. He’s his own person, er dog, dammit. You be you, Gavel.

Shortly after training began, Gavel was ruled “too sociable” by police trainers who felt he “did not display the necessary aptitude for a life on the front line,” and was let go from the training program.

Poor Gavel is all, “Heyyyyyyy, guys who wants to play? I’m so excited to be around people! Watch me run in circles. No wait, where are you going? Don’t leave me, guys. Let me show you my new bone.” Basically, Gavel is me as an only child.

While he was being fostered at the official residence of the Queensland governor, the awesome staff there decided instead of putting him up for adoption, they would keep him and give Gavel an even cooler job than plain old police dog. Meet Vice-Regal Dog or Gavel VRD for us commoners (books non-stop flight to Queensland).

Gavel now spends his days attending government functions and welcoming guests to Queensland’s Government House, where he dons his very own official ceremonial coat bearing the state’s coat of arms. He is allowed to be as friendly as he wants and the people of Queensland love him for it.

STOP IT RIGHT NOW THIS IS TOO MUCH CUTENESS.

“He has outgrown four ceremonial coats, undergone a career change, and brought untold joy to the lives of the governor, Mrs. de Jersey, Government House staff, and the thousands of Queenslanders who have since visited the estate,” the office of Governor Paul de Jersey told the BBC.

If being friendly is wrong, Gavel didn’t want to be right. And we think things have worked out just fine for him as a result. He’s definitely enjoying all his new found attention.

Such a good boy.

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