Police Dog Handler Cheng Lai-hang and her canine partner, Semmy, won the Overall Champion of Police Dog Trial 2013 last November. That honour not only marked a memorable milestone of Semmy's career before her upcoming retirement, but also acknowledged Police Constable (PC) Cheng's hard work.  Behind their success story, PC Cheng and Semmy have come across many challenges. What makes PC Cheng persist in her job is appreciation of the coherence of her personal interest, strength and work.

 

 

"I have worked with Semmy for six years and never thought of achieving what we have got now," said PC Cheng. She and Semmy had little experience in participating in competitions. "When we were short listed for the Police Dog Trial, the first thing I did was to help Semmy build up her confidence. I also enhanced Semmy's capability to adapt to different circumstances in the competition."

 

While preparing for the competition, PC Cheng came up with different means to boost Semmy's capability. She trained with Semmy whenever possible. Through teaching, games and interaction, Semmy gradually had more faith in her partner.

 

PC Cheng also spent a lot of time understanding animal's behaviour and helping Semmy face challenges. "Coaches taught us to see the world in dogs' eyes. This means we have to understand their difficulties in their perspectives. Through a lot of communication and encouragement, I tried to make Semmy know that she is a very strong police dog."

 

 

Many people see Semmy as a companion at work, but in PC Cheng's eyes, Semmy is a member of her family. Moreover, she loves getting along with dogs. "My interaction with dogs is direct and joyful. Spending time with dogs is my interest.  I am willing to sacrifice my time for them. While witnessing Semmy's development, I am also developing myself at the same time. Semmy is experiencing a lot of things that many people would not experience."

 

PC Cheng takes pride in working with police dogs on the frontline. "The meaning of work comes from such job. Police dogs are my best friends in protecting life and property."

 

 

According to some psychologists, there would be more happiness when people do a job that suits their abilities and characteristics. When one comes across challenges at work and can hardly find any common grounds among work, personal interest and life plans, one would not have motivation to solve problems.  On the contrary, if the job can merge with one's strength and interest and when one feels coherence, one would be more creative in facing the challenges.

 

PC Cheng has led Semmy in overcoming many challenges and this is the coherence of her strength and work that she has appreciated.  She accepts the goals of training and appreciates the satisfaction and meaning of the training.  "I love the job so much that I have to persist," she noted.