Thames takes brush with fame in stride

Police dog handler Constable Mike Wakefield with Thames and wife Stacey, and sons Zach, 15 (left) and Logan, 13. Photo / Lynda Feringa

The police dog that went bush for a week earlier this year is prepped and ready for another year on the force.

Thames, the 4-year-old German shepherd and his handler, Constable Mike Wakefield, were heading back to the Masterton police station this morning after having had a two-week break over the Christmas holidays.

Thames made headlines in May after he went missing during a training session in the Tararua Range.

His disappearance sparked a search with Mr Wakefield, dozens of volunteers, fellow police dog handlers and off-duty officers scouring the rugged terrain and battling wet weather conditions to find the pooch.

Fortunately, the dog's bush adventure had a happy ending when he was spotted and brought back home, a little skinnier and hungrier - but otherwise unhurt.

Mr Wakefield said it had taken Thames up to a week after being found to get back to his usual self. "He was pretty keen to keep me in sight, at first. He was pretty subdued ... but then he totally got back into it."

Mr Wakefield said, in the months since, his buddy was back in the thick of it as a working police dog.

"He's an easy-going dog, with his own character, nice and friendly with his own personality," he said. "We have fun together knowing we are keeping the community safe."

Despite the week-long search, Mr Wakefield said there was never any doubt Thames would return home. "He was always going to come back, it was just a matter of time," he said.