Rankin Inlet (July 12/06) - Cpl. Mike Lokken is used to being on the good side of the law.

But last week, the Rankin Inlet officer got a first-hand taste of what it's like to be chased by the Mounties' prized, new recruit: Lar the German Shepherd.

RCMP Cpl. Mike Lokken plays the role of a fleeing suspect while being corralled by Nunavut's lone police dog, Lar. - Andrew Raven/NNSL photo

The 70-plus-pound streak of fur and teeth pursued Lokken across a baseball diamond before latching onto his padded arm and hauling him to a stop.

The mock escape, which came in front of about 50 Rankin residents, was conceived to show-off the skills of Nunavut's crook-catching, drug-sniffing pooch.

The event marked the first Kivalliq visit for Lar and his handler, Cpl. Dean Muir. The pair, based in Iqaluit, are travelling around Nunavut to raise awareness about the RCMP's northern most canine unit.

"We want people to know that police dogs do more than just bite," said Muir, who has raised seven of the animals.

In fact, Lar is a master multi-tasker. The sable-coloured dog, who comes from Czech German Shepherd stock, can track and apprehend suspects, sniff out drugs, locate missing persons and follow complicated voice and hand commands. But unlike the family dog, he doesn't shake or roll over.

"He's a working animal,"said Muir. "All the obedience training he does is related to work."

Lar even has his own officer identification number.

It took six months of intensive schooling at an RCMP kennel in Alberta - which cost about $70,000 - before Lar was ready for active duty, Muir said.

Despite all the training, Lar remains a dog at heart. His single greatest motivation and the reason he listens to Muir: a red, rubber ball the corporal keeps in his back pocket.

"This is what he wants," said Muir, palming the ball. "He knows that if he does what he's told, he'll eventually get rewarded."

Lar, who is five-years-old, lives with Muir. Once he retires from the force, it will be the corporal's responsibility to find him a home.

That is part and parcel of being in the Mounties' canine unit, which is one of the most coveted positions on the force. There are only about 110 handlers in Canada.

Muir also showed off Lar to a group of wide-eyed kids at the Rankin youth centre during his stopover.

The children had a barrage of questions for the officer including this one from one little girl: "What does he do when he goes into the Northern? Does he eat all the food?"

"No. No he wouldn't," Muir answered. "He's really well trained."