THINK cuddly black Labrador — think toilet paper adverts — think again.
The black bounding bundle of fun leaping madly around firefighter Nick Miles on a sunny morning isn't just a pretty face — he's a highly trained investigative tool proving his worth time and time again to sponsors Zurich Insurance.
Devon Fire Service took the decision to take on a hydrocarbon search dog three years ago.
Nick, who lives at Luckett in East Cornwall, embarked on an intensive course to learn how to train dogs at Birmingham under the watchful eye of trainers Cowanswood International Ltd.
'They are known throughout the world for their ability to train dogs. We knew we were going to the best training centre and the results speak for themselves,' he said.
'I was introduced to Cappa and he bonded with me instantly. Then it was a case of building trust and working together. It was very intensive training — there's absolutely no room for error whatsoever.'
Nick used a 'shadow dog' to train, making his mistakes on an imaginary canine companion.
'It reminded me of my Navy days when we had to shout "bang" because we weren't using live shells!' he said.
Very little is said when Nick and Cappa are working — it's mainly a case of body language. Man and dog watch each other constantly, which Nick describes as 'silent expectation'.
'The key thing with a hydro dog is you don't give them a set area. You take him to the area you suspect and he is trained to find the vapour trails himself,' said Nick.
Cappa's extraordinary sense of smell, several thousand times greater than the human olfactory system, enables him to find evidence of tiny amounts of accelerants extremely quickly — even in huge burnt out buildings soaked from firefighting hoses.
Cappa can 'find' in seconds, even days after a blaze. According to Nick, it saves the fire service 'phenomenal' sums in terms of manpower and time, plus millions in bogus insurance claims.
'The message is — anyone thinking about using accelerants, Cappa will undoubtedly find them!' said Nick.
His hardest task is to make sure Cappa is safe in sometimes dangerous situations.
'He's not afraid of anything because he knows I'm right behind him. There's nothing he wouldn't go through, that's why I have to be on top of things all the time.
'He gets very worried and agitated if I'm not there.'
In ten months Cappa has been involved in 47 calls where arson was suspected — in 90 per cent of cases he found evidence of accelerants. Then the human element takes over and the fire investigation work begins.
But Cappa isn't the only star of the show. Nick is pioneering community work for Devon Fire Service with his other Zurich-sponsored Labradors, William and Bagheera, normally known as Baggy — the only brigade in the country to use animal-assisted therapy.
He has been closely involved with the Chelfham schools at Bere Alston and at Kilworthy near Tavistock, teaching students about the dangers and consequences of fires.
He said as a result of support from these schools, he now travels all over Devon with the dogs and has a special interest in children with emotional and behavioural difficulties, stemming from his own years in a children's home.
He is also asked to help with youngsters who have been involved 'fire-setting'.
'A lot of them will be very honest about what they've been up to. It's not for us to discipline them, it's for us to educate them about the dangers they're putting themselves and others in.
'It's very rewarding and with the dogs there, I'm allowing them to handle something of mine, so it builds up that trust.'
'I don't get into the psychology side, all I cover are the dangers of fire, Before I see a child I always discuss the background first, I'm totally under the guidance of professionals.'
He is enthusiastic about the educational work that he and William undertake — and at the same time absolutely honest about the appalling consequences of fire.
'You can't gloss over these things. I don't pull my punches, you have to be very up-front about the effects that fire has.'
Nick also visits the elderly with his more mature dog, Baggy, teaching the importance of fire prevention.
The dogs live at home with Nick in specially made kennels, courtesy of Tavistock Woodlands Sawmill. Their health is taken care of by Westmoor Veterinary Centre in Tavistock.
'It's great, it means that more money can be put into fire prevention work,' said Nick.
'There's nothing like the reward I feel when I'm working with the kids. There's nothing better than getting trust and a response back from them.'
l Organisations who feel they could benefit from an educational visit by Nick Mills and his dogs should contact him on 07968 320470.