Police Scotland's 'top dog' retires after award-winning career

Amber will be Munro-bagging and loch-swimming in retirement

One of Police Scotland's most successful police dogs has hung up her harness as she retires from a decorated career.

Amber, a nine-year-old Belgian Malinois, joined the force in 2016 and began her training in early 2017 in Glasgow to become a general purpose dog in Tayside.

As well as collaring criminals, tracking missing people, and sniffing out vital clues, Amber and her handler, PC Scott McMaster, won national police dog awards.

In 2023, she was named the most obedient police dog in the UK.

Over four years, Amber won all the major trophies in the Scottish Regional Police Dog Trials - tracking, searching, and criminal apprehension skills.

She was also crowned Scottish Champion twice, in 2022 and 2024.

Amber and PC McMaster represented Police Scotland three times at the National Police Dog Trials, winning the Endeavour Trophy in 2022, achieving the second-highest score in the 2023 competition and receiving the "City of London" Trophy, recognising her as the most obedient police dog in the UK.

The police dog followed strict shift patterns during service

PC McMaster said: "I've had Amber since she was 11 months old, and the bond we share is unbreakable. She's brilliant at her job, and I know whenever we attend an incident, she's more than capable of handling any task and she always has my back.

"I'm so proud of everything she's achieved. To be able to say I've handled the most obedient police dog in the UK and showcased her abilities at national trials is a real honour."

He said there was "never any question for me" about keeping Amber, who has become part of his family's life and will enjoy Munro-bagging and loch-swimming in her retirement.

"While police dogs follow strict training routines and shift patterns during service, Amber can now relax and enjoy her retirement as a full-time member of the family, PC McMaster said.

"Knowing her personality, she'll stay active, she'll probably miss the night shifts and the thrill of a search, but she'll also love putting her paws up on the sofa."

Amber was crowned Scottish Champion twice

Amber's final shifts saw her track down six suspects linked to a series of crimes across rural Perthshire, who fled from a stolen vehicle and trailer.

Amber followed a 1.2 mile (2km) trail in "unpleasant" weather conditions and found the suspects while they were trying to hide.

Before retiring, Amber played a key role in training her successor - PD Chilli, a two-year-old black Belgian Malinois.

The dog was licensed in June and recently tracked a suspect into a barley field in Forfar.

A police Scotland spokesperson said: "As PD Chilli takes the lead, we wish PD Amber a long, happy, and well-earned retirement."