MAJOR SUCCESS FOR DRUGS TEAM TOP DOGS

ALBANY Prison dog handler Bernie Taylor has triumphed alongside his
black labrador Archie at the national prison service dog trials.

Following success in the regional trials, Bernie and Archie won the
passive drug dogs section at the nationals, beating off competition
from 20 other dogs from England and Northern Ireland.

They scored 384 out of a possible 420 points and beat last year's
champion, who came third.

Archie is two years old and has been with Bernie for five months.

They were put through their paces in three trials.

First Archie had to search ten lines of people, static and moving,
to find four small packs of drugs.

He found all of them but lost some points because he touched people.
Passive dogs should just sit and stare at the person carrying the drugs.

Bernie and Archie came second in the control and obedience round and
in the scent recognition round Archie again found all the drugs
hidden in clothing.

Deputy director general of the Prison Service Peter Atherton said:
"I'm very impressed with Archie's ability."

Bernie came away with the Phil Wheatley Cup, a sash, rosettes, a
certificate of merit and a ceremonial dog coat, which is too small
for Archie and is a token of respect only.

Bernie's wife, Bev, burst into tears when Bernie phoned to tell her
the result.

He has received 90 e-mails of congratulations, plus letters of
commendation from Albany's governor and deputy governor.

Bernie said: "It is wonderful the Island has again got recognition
of the quality of work the drugs cluster does and the training and
preparation dogs and their handlers commit to.

"The work doesn't stop when we go home.

"The dogs live with us and we work with them in our own time to
maintain their high level of skill."