Prison officer dog handler Dave Smythies with Maddie. Picture by Robin Crossley.
SHE may be only three feet tall and five years old, but Maddie is a drug smuggler’s worst nightmare.
The unassuming fox red Labrador is one of the top six passive dogs in the prison service and next month will be fighting for the title of national champion.
Having already won a local heat, Maddie and her handler, Dave Smythies, went on to secure qualification to the national final at the recent southern region final.
Mr Smythies, 45, has served as a prison officer for 20 years and dog handler for ten, moving to the Island two-and-a-half-years ago with his dogs.
It will not be the first time the pair have faced the pressure of a national final, having previously appeared together when Maddie was just one year old.
"She is a better working dog now, more experienced. I am looking forward to it," said Mr Smythies, who has reached the final with different dogs four years in a row.
The partnership with Maddie was formed when she proved too boisterous for her previous handlers at Durham police.
During the average day Mr Smythies, using a different dog, will search for contraband, including mobile phones, that have been thrown over prison walls.
They will then search mail, which has been sorted into long lines, allowing the dog to investigate every individual item, before carrying out searches of cells and other parts of HMP IW.
Passive dogs, such as Maddie, are used only to search people and when she takes part in the final she will be expected to show off her skills by searching large numbers of targets in limited time.
"I have always wanted to work with animals. When I was younger, I wanted to be a vet but I don’t think I was clever enough.
"When I joined the prison service, this seemed like the next best thing and now I would not give this up for anything," said Mr Smythies.
Reporter: ross.findon@iwcp.co.uk