You've probably seen those terrifying police dog training videos where giant German Shepherds bolt after some unlucky bloke in a padded outfit, dragging him to the ground in a flurry of teeth, claws, fur and muscle.
Police dogs are pretty scary when they shift into attack mode. Y'know, the thing about a police dog in attack mode, he's got lifeless eyes, black eyes, like a doll's eyes. When he comes after ya, he doesn't seem to be livin'... until he bites ya, and those black eyes roll over white, and then - aww, then you hear that terrible high-pitch screamin'.
Yes, that was Quint's monologue from Jaws but it illustrates the point quite effectively.
However, some dogs just aren't quite cut out for the job - one police pooch working for Queensland Police Service in Australia recently lost his position due to his overfriendly nature.
Credit: Caters News Agency
Advert
As you can see in the video above, one-year-old pup Gavel is just too friendly to be in the force.
Gavel much prefers rolling over and having his belly rubbed to chasing down criminals and sniffing out explosives. He's such a softy that he couldn't make it through his police dog training because of his overly-sociable temperament.
But luckily for the cheeky canine, a new role was found for him, welcoming visitors to Brisbane's Government House as Governor Paul de Jersey's official Vice-Regal Dog.
Credit: Caters News Agency
Advert
A spokesman for Queensland Government House said: "Gavel arrived at Government House in April last year as a six-week-old puppy.
"It was intended that he would undergo a training and socialisation programme preparing to become a Queensland Police Service Dog.
"But like many aspiring QPS Dogs, Gavel did not display the necessary aptitude for a life on the front line.
"Not all dogs display this, and Gavel proved himself to be quite sociable."
Credit; Caters News Agency
Advert
He added: "He is better suited to life as a ceremonial dog and will instead now spend his working days at Fernberg, where he has become a much-loved part of Government House life."
Gavel came to the 40-acre Fernberg residence in Paddington, Brisbane to take part in a 16-month dog squad training and socialisation programme.
However, although he has an impressive family bloodline, by which he is related to five current working QPS dogs, overly-playful Gavel didn't make the cut and had to be let go.
But when it came time for Gavel to hang up his coat staff couldn't bear to see him leave and created the new position for him.
Credit: Caters News Agency
Advert
Now his official state duties include welcoming the building's thousands of callers, attending functions and formal ceremonies with the governor and even sitting in on briefings.
Last April Sergeant Dean Hansen of Brisbane Dog Squad, QPS, said: "Gavel is confident, with no nervous tendencies, and shows a willingness to retrieve, prey drive and ball drive and can be motivated by food for a reward.
"Police dogs can be taught many skills but they need to have these basic traits already in their personality."
Advert
Words: Paddy Maddison
Topics: Dog