After a 16-year hiatus from the national winner's circle, the Gujarat Police have reclaimed their spot on the podium thanks to the exceptional performance of a three-and-a-half-year-old Labrador named Check. A member of the Anand district police dog squad, Check distinguished himself at the 69th All India Police Duty Meet Championship (2025-26) recently held in Nagpur, Maharashtra.
The elite canine secured both a gold and a bronze medal, marking a historic proud moment for the state's law enforcement and highlighting the rigorous training standards of their K9 units.
The competition, which took place throughout March and April 2026, gathered the nation's top police canine squads, forensic experts, and specialised personnel to showcase peak operational skills. Check competed against the best in the country across various disciplines, including explosive and narcotics detection, tracking, agility, and obedience.
By clinching two awards at this high-stakes national event, Check has not only brought individual recognition to the Anand district but has also revitalised the reputation of the Gujarat Police dog squad after more than a decade.
On Friday, Director General of Police (DGP) KLN Rao met the dog, his handler Ramesh Khant, and police dog training consultant Colonel Chandan Singh Rathore at Police Bhavan in Gandhinagar and congratulated them on the remarkable achievement.
According to police officials, a total of six dogs from the Gujarat Police participated in three different competition categories, with two dogs competing in each category: tracking, explosive detection, and narcotics detection.
"Our dog Check won a gold medal in the tracking category and also secured a bronze medal in the overall tracking category. This is truly a proud moment for Gujarat Police, as we put in strenuous efforts to achieve this feat," said Chandan Singh Rathore, dog training consultant with Gujarat Police.
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A total of 45 dogs from different state police forces and paramilitary units participated in the tracking category event, in which Gujarat Police dog 'Check' emerged as a gold medallist. Over 200 dogs from different state police and paramilitary forces took part in various categories during the event.
Prior to this national competition, Gujarat Police had begun preparations well in advance and put in sustained efforts to secure a medal, as per the release. To prepare for the national event, a special state-level competition of police dogs was organised a few months ago under the instructions and guidance of Director General of Police (Training), Neerja Gotru.
"The selected dogs were given specialised training, placed under a rigorous training schedule, and provided proper care. Nine dogs were shortlisted for the national championship, of which six participated in different events," said a senior police officer.
According to police, there are around 160 police dogs across various districts, trained to carry out different tasks for investigations, including explosive detection, narcotics detection, crime tracking, alcohol detection, and even assault operations.