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Zollhund Prinz: A hero is retiring – 10 years in action!
Customs dog Prinz is retired after ten years of service. His successes and training in the Uckermark honor his achievements.
Zollhund Prinz: A hero is retiring – 10 years in action!
The customs dog Prinz, an impressive Belgian Shepherd, has now successfully completed his ten years of service in customs and has gone into well-deserved retirement. Since he was taken over by dog handler Detlef Hennig in 1999, Prinz has worked tirelessly and has made a name for himself as an excellent protection and narcotics detection dog. Together with dog trainer Frank Drescher-Hackel, who also trained his successor Dino, Prinz was one of the best in the industry and was even crowned winner at the German Customs Dog Championships.[Northern Courier]
During his impressive career, the experienced sniffer dog was able to record a total of 365 seizures involving 112 kilograms of drugs. Over the course of his years of service, Prinz has not only celebrated many successes, but has also developed a particularly high level of trust and reliability with his handler. His daily eight-hour shifts were always completed with energy and an excellent sense of the most diverse target smells. Despite the signs of age, Prinz remains vital and active. Prinz's farewell was duly celebrated, including a small surprise from Oliver Pampel-Jabrane, the head of the Frankfurt (Oder) main customs office, who arrived at the celebration with Bockwürste.[Northern Courier]
The role of customs dogs
Customs dogs play a crucial role in Germany's security architecture. Not only are they active in detecting drugs, but they also help find cigarettes and cash. There are currently around 340 customs dog teams in use, both at airports and in mobile operations in areas near the border. In addition, many customs dogs are used as protection dogs. These dogs are trained at two certified customs dog schools, where prospective four-legged helpers and their handlers are prepared for their service. This training usually lasts 12 to 18 months and costs around 10,000 to 15,000 euros.[PlanetDog]
The lifelong bond between customs dog and dog handler is a very special feature: the two remain inseparably linked both professionally and privately. Uwe Schröder, President of the General Customs Directorate, repeatedly emphasizes the indispensability of these special units and points to the many positive results achieved through their work.[PlanetDog]
A look into history
The importance of customs dogs goes back a long way, even in times of peace, where they not only helped monitor borders but were also used as a protective measure. They helped track down strangers and follow tracks. The training also takes place not only in so-called customs schools, but also in police and Wehrmacht facilities. This shows the long tradition and versatility of the customs dog system in Germany, which continues to exist in various forms to this day.[Customs Border Protection]
The benefits of customs dogs like Prinz are complex and range from detecting criminal activities to providing essential security in our everyday lives. It remains to be hoped that the successor Dino can follow in the great footsteps of his predecessor in order to continue to protect society and ensure law and order.