Photos courtesy of the RCMP

By Liam Verster

Police Dog Training

Police dog training going in Vernon, no cause for alarm

Jun 26, 2025 | 10:10 AM

Vernon North Okanagan RCMP is advising the public that they may see police dogs and their handlers around the city.

Police Dog Services will be conducting training exercises in several Vernon neighbourhoods. The sessions are “an essential part of maintaining a high level of skill and readiness needed for real-life policing scenarios.”

Residents may notice uniformed officers, typically wearing green, alongside their canine partners on roads, at parks, down alleys, and along trails as part of these exercises.

“They train where they work, and that means using real environments to prepare for real situations,” Constable Chris Terleski, Media Relations Officer for the Vernon North Okanagan RCMP said.

“These sessions involve tracking practice, article searches, and other drills and it’s not unusual for the teams to move across properties or through yards. They do their best to minimize interactions with the public and avoid areas where pets are outside or people are gathered, but we just wanted to send this reminder out so we can hopefully avoid catching people off guard.”

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Police Dog handlers wear an all green uniform with POLICE marked on their front and back, differentiating them from general duty RCMP officers to signify the work they do with their canine partners.

“We appreciate the public’s understanding and support as our teams continue to train,” Terleski added.

“If you see them out and about, know they’re working hard to stay sharp and ready to keep our communities safe.”

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