It’s Monday morning and you have a meeting booked first thing. BC (before covid) you might have thought not the ideal way to kick off your working week, but meetings these days happily can take place in a far sunnier, outdoorsy office.
It’s wonderful to be able to go out and meet our members again, and when I do, I’m reminded that as a Chamber our membership includes a widely diverse sector of Norfolk.
My Monday meeting takes place in a sunny field behind Norwich Cricket Club. I’m meeting Chris and Ruth Bond, an incredible husband and wife team who run Alpha Canine Specialists, based in Norfolk.
With over 40 years of experience in their field, Chris and Ruth run their business with a rock-solid mantra of quality over quantity, and it’s clear to see they are as dedicated to customer care and professionalism as they are to their dogs.
As qualified experts licensed by National Association of Security Dog Users (NASDU) they train and home-kennel ten of their own dogs, offering search and patrol services to an impressive client list. The Company have worked for the Royal Estates of Sandringham previously and more recently protected overseas Royal Families and high-profile clients and venues such as The Royal Albert Hall. With the constant threat of terrorism an ever-present danger, Chris, Ruth and the team are in high demand with safety and security a high priority at large scale events.
They have been deployed to work at Stadia where major Artists such as The Rolling Stones, Ed Sheeran, Pink, Adele, The Eagles and ELO and Beyonce were performing. At large scale public events like this, the swift discovery of explosives, pyrotechnics and drugs is essential.
Their incredible dogs are trained in a wide range of fields – from explosive detection to searching for drugs, to Pyrotechnics and firearms.
Along for the meeting were Stan (drugs/pyrotechnics), Flo and Buster (explosives) and twins Bob and Bert (drugs). Titan, the twelve-year-old German Shepherd had been the ‘teeth’ of the operation until recently “the big bitey one” as Ruth calls him. He is now retired and putting his paws up. Kesy a 2 year old German Shepherd has now taken up the mantle.
Chris explained that gun and hunting dogs have the best noses, and that training starts from when the puppies are just seven weeks old. The training is based on the three principles of Recognition, Association and Repetition. He recently travelled to France to bring home a recruit, but unfortunately not every dog has the ability to be trained within this specialist field, and the dog is now happily living with a loving family in Stevenage.
The energy and intelligence of the dogs is apparent as they excitedly ran around the field, but with lightening efficiency they responded to commands.
The severity and reality of the job is apparent as Chris explained the kit he and Ruth must wear. Comprising of body armour for covert and overt operations, the weight of the body armour is reassuringly heavy due to the built-in armoured plates that are made to withstand gun shot and potential knife attacks. By drawing on his military background and years of experience of dog handling in dangerous situations he is unphased, calm and collected.
Mirroring the Norfolk Chambers ethos, Alpha Canine Specialists are all for collaboration. For Chris and Ruth collaboration is key. They are incredibly proud to support local Norfolk businesses and Chris is passionate about his home county - for 13 years he was a volunteer handler for the Norfolk Lowland Search and rescue.
As a husband and wife team who finish each other’s sentences, are unflappable and 100% absorbed in the welfare and training of their dogs – it’s easy to see why they are so trusted and respected by their clients.
You can meet Chris and Ruth (and dogs) at our B2B event in October, they will be on stand 53.
Just don’t bring anything you shouldn’t.
https://www.alphacaninespecialists.co.uk/