Free Republic

LONDON (Reuters) - Dog handlers in a British police force are having to take language classes -- to communicate with their latest recruits. Finding it increasingly hard to find suitable German Shepherds in Britain, some British police forces are bringing in dogs from continental Europe. But there's a problem. Although the latest arrivals possess all the attributes needed for police work, they only respond to commands in their native language. Dog handlers at Avon and Somerset police for example, which has recruited three dogs from the Netherlands, have been given a sheet of practical commands in Dutch. "We have learned...

While US President George W Bush was checking into the presidential suite at one of Delhi's top hotels, a group of canines belonging to his security detail were enjoying similar comfort nearby. Some 17 dogs belonging the K-9 squad of the US Secret Service have also been put up at top Delhi five-star hotels, Indian media reports say. Special rooms have apparently been booked in the Sheraton hotel, where Mr Bush is staying, and at the equally plush Le Meridien hotel. The German Shepherds and Labradors are staying in rooms which cost more than $200 a night. Early on Thursday,...