China's Latest Bomb Sniffing Dynamo Comes Up a Little Short

Short in stature, easy to distract, food-driven, and inclined to misbehave whenever and wherever the opportunity presents. This is not exactly the skill set one might expect would move a candidate forward in a role involving law enforcement. But then again, this wasn’t just any job. And it wasn’t just any candidate.

You see, the position being recruited was a bomb sniffer dog and the candidate described above, was a highly entertaining Corgi named Fu Zai spotted by police K9 trainer, Zhao Qingshuai at a park in Northern China’s Shandong province The dog’s energy, responsiveness, and a keen desire to earn treats impressed Qingshuai so much so that he considered the dog to be a high-potential candidate for sniffer work with the Weifang Public Security Bureau.

After speaking with the dog’s owner, an invitation was extended to begin initial training at the police base, where the Corgi’s skills as a sniffer could be observed and assessed.

Now, most trainers would opt not to work with Corgis because they lack discipline. Hong Kong Canine Training Director James Leung whose experience includes working with police dogs, comments that “anything is trainable” but with more disciplined breeds such as Spaniels and Golden Retrievers, there’s one less thing to deal with.

Not so, with a headstrong Corgi.

So, why was the free-spirited Fu Zai ultimately recruited? Unlike larger dogs, the short stubby legs mean he can fit into tight spaces including under vehicles and bus seats. He was also highly tenacious when it came to working for treats and more importantly, was excellent at sniffing out explosives.

But alas, it hasn’t taken long for Fu Zai’s true Corgi spirit to surface… including camera footage that caught him snatching a sausage from a child’s hand while he was out on street patrol. He’s also been spotted sleeping on the job and even using his bowl as a urinal… the latter of which resulted in his treats and toys reportedly being taken away in an act of discipline.

Considered unnecessary punishment for just being true to his Corgi instincts, the wee sniffer’s growing social media following was upset by this recent reprimand. While his two-legged colleagues have attempted to train him to better resist foods dangled dangerously close to his always-open mouth, Fu Zai fans embrace his feisty spirit and have offered support in the form of free sausages for his future patrols.

Yes, Fu Zai has a social media following of more than 400,000 on the Chinese equivalent of TikTok, after the Security Bureau ran a PR campaign that made Fu Zai’s furry yet friendly mug the “face” of the regional force. Meaning, the cagey Corgi isn’t going anywhere, anytime soon.

Now a media darling, weaning this highly visible and much-loved sniffer off the treats and sausages may prove to be the toughest challenge of all, given the adoring public’s determination to feed his need and cheer him on.