The competition provides a platform for K9 handlers and their canine partners to demonstrate their skills, operational readiness, discipline, and teamwork in a structured, competitive environment.

It’s also an opportunity to strengthen relationships between participating agencies, encourage knowledge-sharing and promote best practices in K9 training and operational deployment.

Participants included members of the City’s Metro Police K9 unit, the Stellenbosch K9 unit and SANParks.

Each of the 15 K9 participants and their handlers had to demonstrate their capabilities through activities such as obedience, detection, protection work and controlled operational exercises.

The competition also highlighted the strong bond between handler and dog, as well as the importance of continuous training in maintaining operational effectiveness.

‘This competition offers an opportunity to establish a tradition of excellence, strengthen partnerships between agencies and recognise the valuable contribution of K9 teams to community safety. And it’s about so much more than just identifying the best-performing dog or handler, but about celebrating teamwork, discipline, dedication, and the important role K9 units play in keeping our communities safe. I am incredibly proud of our Public Safety Training College for all the hard work that has gone into organising this event, and I look forward to seeing it become a fixture on the annual calendar,’ said Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.