This week the Boston Police department created quite the viral stir when they posted a picture of a teeny tiny pup in a bullet proof vest. The pup is named Tuco after a character from the popular T.V. series Breaking Bad. He was nine weeks old when this picture was taken but is now six months old.
Jonathan Kozowyk/ Courtesy of Massachusetts Vest-A-Dog
Tuco will grow up and become a K-9 police officer for the Boston Police Department. He is currently owned by a 22 year veteran of the force, Troy Caisey, who has trained more than 350 K-9’s for the department.
The Boston non-profit organization, Vest-a-dog originally posted the picture on their website, promoting bullet proof vests for dogs. Massachusetts Vest-A-Dog
After it was posted on Reddit the picture earned 1,000 comments.
Caisey states the German Shepard was a gift from a friend. He is raising him to be the next “work dog”, that is, if Tuco is up for the challenge.
“It depends on the dog and how he matures. I’m doing foundation work with him now, and in a couple of months I’ll know if he will make it as a work dog, and when he will start his formal training. I’m doing little things with him now, but no formalized training will start until later,” says Caisey
The Boston Police Department Official Facebook page, Photo courtesy of photographer Jonathan Kozowyk
Dogs usually begin training around 1 to 1.5 years old. To get certified as a “work dog” puppies spend 14 weeks in training doing drills and exercise’s five days a week.
