PC Leng put Bruno through a 13-week training course

Bruno is the region's only police dog Rottweiler and is the latest addition to the ranks of Northumbria Police.

The 20-month-old, who weighs in at 7st 7lb, will take part in searches, arresting suspects and crowd control.

He has already been used at football matches and in the arrest of suspected car thieves in Sunderland.

His handler, Pc Jason Leng who works in the South Tyneside and Sunderland areas, said: "Bruno has an absolutely huge presence, people don't come close to him at all.

"Whenever I've got him out of the van anyone thinking of causing trouble has stopped straight away.

We're totally relaxed with him at home and he's like the final piece of the jigsaw Pc Jason Leng

"When you see him in full flow you realise it's going to take someone very silly to want to tackle him. I'm just glad he's on our side."

Away from work Bruno lives at the Gateshead home of Pc Leng, his wife Joanne, who is also a police officer, their two children and two rescue dogs.

Pc Leng has been an officer for almost 12 years and joined the force's dog section in 2003, fulfilling a childhood dream.

Initially he was assigned German Shepherds but on all three occasions they failed to make the grade.

'Totally relaxed'

He added: "At first I was slightly disappointed when I found out I was going to be paired with a Rottweiler.

"I had never had any dealings with the breed before and had always wanted a German Shepherd.

"But after working with him I wouldn't give him up for anything. If he hadn't made it I would have kept him as my own pet.

"Bruno's a joy to have around. He's full of life and wants to play all the time. We're totally relaxed with him at home and he's like the final piece of the jigsaw."

Bruno was offered to the force after his owner, an elderly woman, decided she no longer wanted him.

When he arrived at the police training unit he did not even know how to sit on command.