Customs dog Prince retires: A hero in the fight against drugs!

Customs dog Prince retires: A hero in the fight against drugs!

A loyal companion is retiring: On November 3, 2025, the Cologne Customs Service said goodbye to its long-standing service dog Prinz, a Belgian Shepherd, into his well-deserved retirement. After ten years of loyal service as a protection and drug detection dog, Prinz has carried out an impressive 365 arrests with a total of 112 kilograms of drugs during his time and has proven his great reliability in the process. This information is provided by Northern Courier confirmed.

Prinz's impressive career began as a puppy when he was picked up by dog ​​handler Detlef Hennig. Hennig, who has been working in the customs service since April 1999, trained Prinz together with dog trainer Frank Drescher-Hackel. Under her guidance, the spotted four-legged friend has excelled as both a protection dog and a drug-sniffing dog. Prinz and his handler were able to achieve a remarkable victory at the German Customs Dog Championships.

A tireless eye-catcher

In his career, Prinz has, among other things, completed eight-hour shifts without any major excitement. He always showed his skills by indicating the target scent by freezing in the typical sniffer dog position. Even as signs of age become apparent, he remains lively and active. This distinctive commitment and the close bond between Hennig and Prinz were acknowledged in the farewell speech by Oliver Pampel-Jabrane, head of the Frankfurt (Oder) main customs office. Pampel-Jabrane even brought a pack of sausages with her for this emotional farewell - a warm farewell for a loyal service dog.

Eleven protection and drug detection dogs are still active in the operational area between Gartz and Guben. Prinz's successor, a two-and-a-half-year-old dog named Dino, was also trained by Frank Drescher-Hackel, who will now follow in Prinz's footsteps.

The training of detection dogs

The training of drug detection dogs is an important topic in the security industry. The Detection Dog School Germany offers certified training for detection dog handlers to ensure the successful operations of dogs like Prinz. The basic requirements for such training include an excellent game and prey drive as well as health certificates. The training lasts around 8 to 11 weeks and includes practical and theoretical elements.

This training is carried out according to high international quality standards and imparts knowledge in areas such as cynology, law and operational theory. It is important to note that security professionals who participate in these training courses receive government certification, which underlines the professionalism and efficiency in this sector.

This ensures that sniffer dogs can be used effectively in businesses, schools and other public areas to prevent drug problems and increase safety. The discipline and loyalty of dogs like Prinz are clear evidence of the value of using sniffer dogs in the fight against drug-related crime.