The Frederick County Sheriff’s Office has a new four-legged recruit joining its ranks. COP-PER, a 14-week-old bloodhound, will eventually replace Bleu, the agency’s longtime search-and-rescue dog who is retiring after years of service finding missing children, dementia patients and other vulnerable people.

Deputy Dan Clark, who handled Bleu, said the new puppy will begin formal tracking training in the spring. He expects COP-PER will need six to eight weeks of instruction before he’s ready for fieldwork.

“It might take longer, it might take less. It just depends on how fast he learns,” said Clark. “He needs to mature a little bit. He’s still pretty young and wants to do his own thing.”

A carefully

trained nose

The Sheriff’s Office operates a seven-dog K9 unit: six patrol dogs — German

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