Rajah (dog) facts for kids
Rajah was a famous German Shepherd Dog from New Zealand in the 1930s. People called him "Methven's Wonder Dog." He was special because he was the first unofficial police dog in New Zealand. Rajah became well-known for his amazing acting and for helping the New Zealand Police find things. He worked in many places across the South Island. He was even considered to replace the famous dog actor, Rin Tin Tin!
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Rajah's Story
Early Life and Training
Rajah belonged to Constable John Robertson. Constable Robertson was the only police officer in the town of Methven back then. Rajah helped him with his police duties. Even though he wasn't officially a police dog, he was the very first one in New Zealand.
Constable Robertson and his son, Ian, trained Rajah. They taught him a special "search-and-find" method. This training made Rajah very good at finding hidden objects. This skill was super helpful for his future work.
Working as a Police Dog
Rajah's main job was finding weapons and other important items. Sometimes, he also helped to locate missing things. During his time helping the police, Rajah only failed once. He was looking for a missing person, but that person was later found in a very unexpected place inside a concrete pillar.
A Star in the Making
When the famous dog actor Rin Tin Tin passed away in 1932, a movie company thought of Rajah as a possible replacement! However, Rajah's family decided not to take the offer. They felt it was too big a change for them.
Instead, they chose for Rajah to perform in shows around New Zealand. He put on amazing performances in cities like Christchurch and Timaru. Even with his acting career, Rajah still continued his important work as a police dog.
Remembering Rajah
In 2008, the Ashburton District Council helped to start a fund. The goal was to build a monument to honor Rajah. The community loved this idea!
On February 8, 2015, a bronze statue of Rajah was officially revealed. You can find it outside the Mt Hutt Function Centre. It's a great way to remember this incredible dog.
See also
