One of Southern district police’s newest recruits has become an internet sensation.
Paikea, the 10-month-old police dog pup (pictured above at various stages), has attracted more than 4000 followers to his Instagram page.
The dog’s trainer, Constable Regan Mauheni, of Dunedin, said he came up with the initiative as a "project" to keep himself busy while he recuperated from a serious head injury and an opportunity to "break down the barrier between the public and police".
The Instagram page has documented Paikea’s growth from a mischievous 8-week-old puppy to the obedient 10-month-old ready to start police dog training.
"He’s pretty recognisable — he goes to a lot of schools," Const Mauheni said.
"People come up and talk to us at the cafe and say ‘We follow your dog on Instagram’, which is good for us because we can feel a bit stand-offish as a cop, especially being six-foot-four."
He was somewhat surprised by the following the pup had garnered, as the page was initially targeted at his family and friends.
But the dog’s piercing eyes and good nature made him a hit with internet users and children alike.
"We have taken him down to [schools in] Balclutha and Kaitangata and up to Oamaru," Const Mauheni said.
He expected Paikea to be operational in the next six to eight months.
"The way he’s going, hopefully we’ll be able to get him on the AOS."
● Paikea can be followed online at www.instagram.com/ k9-paikea/
