As the search for alleged murderer Dezi Freeman unfolds in rugged terrain near Princetown, police dogs are at the heart of the large-scale operation. To understand how these exceptional animals are developed, ABC Radio Melbourne spoke with Jase Kelly, owner and developer at K9 Solutions Australia and a former Royal Australian Air Force dog handler.
K9 Solutions Australia (K9SA) founder Jase Kelly recently joined ABC Radio's Melbourne Breakfast hosts Sharnell Vella and Bob Murphy to discuss the vital role of police dogs in Australia and what it takes to train these elite K9 partners. The interview comes as police across Victoria conduct one of the largest tactical searches in Australian history, highlighting the incredible skill and dedication of the country’s working dogs.
Jase explains that the training journey begins early, with K9SA raising and developing young dogs until they are around 15 months old, after which they are integrated into police or military programs. “There’s a little bit of magic and a little bit of science,” Jase shared. “You don’t really know if they’ve got it until they’re about a year old.”
From tracking and detection dogs to apprehension or bite dogs, each K9 is trained for a specific operational role. Most of K9SA’s dogs are Belgian Malinois or Belgian Shepherds rather than the traditional German Shepherds. “They’re like a short-haired Shepherd on crack,” he laughed, describing the breeds’ intensity and drive.
Jase emphasises that it’s all a game to the dogs - one that they’re trained to love. “Once they understand the game, they’ll do anything for the reward,” he said.
Click on above or visit here to listen to the ABC Radio Melbourne interview with Jase and fascinating insights into how K9SA helps shape the next generation of working dogs that keep our communities safe.