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NDTV
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Meet Fu Zai, China's First Police Corgi With 400,000 Followers And A Nose For Trouble
Meet Fu Zai-a corgi with short legs, a big appetite, and an even bigger fan base. Once a family pet, Fu Zai is now China's first police corgi and a viral sensation, thanks to his unlikely role in law enforcement and a series of food-related antics that have endeared him to social media users. Since officially joining the Weifang Public Security Bureau in Shandong last October, the enthusiastic little dog has been working as a sniffer dog, using his sharp nose to detect explosives. But it's not just his skills that are getting attention-it's also his charm, goofiness, and a relentless obsession with food. The corgi's transformation from household pet to police recruit began when police trainer Zhao Qingshuai spotted him in a park last year. A quick call of his name had the puppy spinning on command and rushing over-especially when food was involved. "He couldn't resist food, which actually showed he had a strong drive to work," Zhao said in an interview with Chinese state media. That drive has led to both successes and comic mishaps. During a recent patrol, Fu Zai was caught on video snatching a sausage from a child's hand. His handlers have since worked on curbing his culinary temptations, but the incident only boosted his popularity. Supporters flooded social media with encouragement-and offers of more sausages. In another viral clip, Fu Zai was "disciplined" after sleeping on duty and using his food bowl as a toilet. His New Year's treats and toys were temporarily confiscated-another moment that made him an internet favourite. Despite the distractions, Fu Zai has proven to be a capable member of the force. With his small size and low center of gravity, he can access spaces larger dogs can't, like under vehicles and bus seats-making him an unexpected asset. His rise is unusual in police dog circles, where breeds like German shepherds, golden retrievers, and spaniels are preferred for their trainability and focus. Corgis, often seen as playful and easily distracted, are rarely considered. But Fu Zai has defied expectations. "Corgis are like big dogs in small bodies. They're confident but can get distracted," said Leonardo Palacio, a U.S.-based dog trainer. Still, with the right training, their drive can be channelled effectively. Fu Zai's fame has soared through Douyin, China's version of TikTok, where the Weifang police regularly post updates. A dedicated account titled *"Fu Zai and his comrades"* has over 400,000 followers. Fans tune in to watch him don doggy sunglasses, patrol festivals, and complete drills. Even his former owner remains part of the journey-making frequent visits to see him at the police base. From stealing sausages to sniffing out explosives, Fu Zai's journey shows that determination-and a love for snacks-can take you a long way.
Boston Globe
17-05-2025
- Boston Globe
China's first police corgi has 400,000 followers and a nose for trouble
Fu Zai was caught on camera recently grabbing a bite of a sausage in a child's hand during a street patrol. Officers have since tried to train him to better resist food, but many social media users offered support -- and free sausages -- for Fu Zai the next time he patrolled the streets. In another video, some of the corgi's toys and snacks -- part of a Lunar New Year 'bonus'-- were confiscated for sleeping on the job and using his dog bowl as a urinal. Advertisement Dog experts said that such behavior is normal for corgis. 'That's why they're challenging, too, because they get distracted pretty easily. And they also have a lot of prey drive, so if there's anything that moves really quickly, they want to go and investigate,' said Leonardo Palacio, the owner of Real Focus K9, a dog training school in Stamford, Connecticut, that specializes in training dogs with behavioral challenges. Advertisement He added that a corgi often moves with the confidence of 'a big dog in a small dog's body.' Fu Zai is an unusual choice for police work. Traditionally, corgis were bred to work on farms, herding cattle by biting their ankles. In recent times, they have become popular choices for pets or companion dogs, most famously associated with Queen Elizabeth II. But some have retained the propensity to nip. That trait might dissuade trainers when assessing the suitability of a dog for the disciplined forces, said James Leung, a training director at Hong Kong Canine, who has experience training police dogs. 'It's all trainable, but that's just one less thing I have to train,' he said. Golden retrievers and spaniels are more typical choices for sniffer dogs, because they are typically seen by the public as friendly, he added. Fu Zai's trainer at the Weifang police, Zhao Qingshuai, said in an interview with China's state broadcaster that he had initially ruled out a corgi as a police dog because of the breed's reputation for curiosity and distractibility, not to mention the short legs. Meeting Fu Zai changed his mind. Zhao said that after first encountering the dog by chance in the park and chatting with his owner, Fu Zai had come running after Zhao called his name. When offered treats, he was a good sport in games like spinning on demand. 'He could not resist food, an indication that he has a strong drive to work for food,' Zhao said. He later invited Fu Zai to train at the police base to assess his skills. Over the next few months, the corgi excelled in detecting explosives. Moreover, he could fit under tight spaces some other dogs couldn't reach, making it easy to sniff out the bottom of vehicles and inspect the underside of bus seats. Advertisement 'His short legs have actually become an advantage, allowing him to perform tasks that larger dogs can't,' Zhao said. Fu Zai, whose name means something like 'Lucky Youngster,' became a full-fledged member of the Weifang police in October. He has since been beamed around the Chinese internet as a friendly face for the regional force, making frequent appearances on the Weifang Public Security Bureau's official account on Douyin, China's version of TikTok. A separate account the department maintains, named 'Fu Zai and his comrades,' has more than 400,000 followers. The videos show a glimpse of police dog life: practicing drills, patrolling a regional kite festival and riding on the back of a motorcycle, doggy shades on. (His former owner pays him regular visits, according to videos on her Douyin account.) But the drive for food that helped him land the job also gotten him into some of his troubles. While a working dog needs enough self-control to consistently follow instructions, it is also important that it keeps its natural drive or instincts, said Vivien Chin, the owner and principal trainer at Active K9 Academy, a dog training school in Singapore. 'You want it to be a bit more independent and a bit of a go-getter to actually go out and get the guy, or to brave all the different environmental obstacles that may come its way,' she said. Whether as temptation he can't resist or a treat used in training, there will probably be more sausage in Fu Zai's future. And whatever his performance review says, his status as a social media star is unlikely to fade. Advertisement This article originally appeared in
Time of India
16-05-2025
- Time of India
China's first police Corgi has 400,000 followers and a nose for trouble
Fu Zai has won top workplace reviews as an unusual breed of sniffer dog. But his lack of selfcontrol cost him his annual bonus/ NYT (Screengrab) With a keen sense of smell and legs that seem too short for his body, Fu Zai has won a huge social media audience that has followed him doing official duties since he started as a sniffer dog last fall. He was a puppy when a trainer spotted him at a park and recruited him to Weifang Public Security Bureau in Shandong. A love of earning treats as rewards has earned Fu Zai strong performance reviews. But it's also proved a challenge, as his trainer has found that keeping him in line is not easy. Fu Zai was caught on camera recently grabbing a bite of a sausage in a child's hand during patrol. Officers have since tried to train him to better resist food, but many on social media offered support — and free sausages — for Fu Zai the next time he patrolled the streets. In another video, some of the corgi's toys and snacks — part of a Lunar New Year 'bonus'— were confiscated for sleeping on the job and using his bowl as a urinal. Experts said such behaviour is normal for corgis. 'That's why they're challenging, too, because they get distracted pretty easily,' said Leonardo Palacio, owner of a training school in Connecticut. Fu Zai is an unusual choice for police work. Traditionally, corgis were bred to work on farms, herding cattle by biting their ankles. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Thousands Are Saving Money Using This Wall Plug elecTrick - Save upto 80% on Power Bill Click Here Undo In recent times, they have become popular choices for pets, most famously associated with Queen Elizabeth II. But some have retained the propensity to nip. That trait might dissuade trainers when assessing the suitability of a dog for disciplined forces, said a trainer at Hong Kong Canine. Fu Zai's trainer said he had initially ruled out a corgi as a police dog because of the breed's reputation. Meeting Fu Zai changed his mind. He later invited Fu Zai to train at the police base. Over the next few months, the corgi excelled in detecting explosives. Moreover, he could fit under tight spaces some other dogs couldn't reach. Fu Zai became a full-fledged member of Weifang police in Oct. He has since been beamed around the internet as a friendly face for the force, making frequent appearances on its official account on Douyin, China's version of TikTok. A separate account, named 'Fu Zai and his comrades,' has more than 400,000 followers. But the drive for food that helped him land the job also gotten him into some of his troubles. Whether as temptation he can't resist or a treat used in training, there will probably be more sausage in Fu Zai's future.
Straits Times
16-05-2025
- Straits Times
China's first police corgi has 400,000 followers and a nose for trouble
Fu Zhai lost his Lunar New Year 'bonus' for sleeping on the job and using his dog bowl as a urinal. PHOTO: CHINA DAILY/ASIA NEWS NETWORK China's first police corgi has 400,000 followers and a nose for trouble BEIJING – China's first police corgi will do anything for food. With a keen sense of smell and legs that seem too short for his body, Fu Zai the corgi has won a huge social media audience that has followed him doing official duties since he started as a sniffer dog in September. He was a pet puppy when a dog trainer spotted his potential at a park and recruited him to the Weifang Public Security Bureau, in the northern coastal province of Shandong. A love of earning treats as rewards has earned Fu Zai strong performance reviews. But it's also proved a challenge, as his trainer has found that keeping him in line is not easy. Fu Zai was caught on camera recently grabbing a bite of a sausage in a child's hand during a street patrol. Officers have since tried to train him to better resist food, but many social media users offered support – and free sausages – for Fu Zai the next time he patrolled the streets. In another video, some of the corgi's toys and snacks – part of a Lunar New Year 'bonus' – were confiscated for sleeping on the job and using his dog bowl as a urinal. Dog experts said such behaviour is normal for corgis. 'That's why they're challenging, too, because they get distracted pretty easily. And they also have a lot of prey drive, so if there's anything that moves really quickly, they want to go and investigate,' said Mr Leonardo Palacio, owner of Real Focus K9, a dog training school in Stamford, Connecticut, that specialises in training dogs with behavioural challenges. He added that a corgi often moves with the confidence of 'a big dog in a small dog's body'. Fu Zai is an unusual choice for police work. Traditionally, corgis were bred to work on farms, herding cattle by biting their ankles. In recent times, they have become popular choices for pets or companion dogs, most famously associated with Queen Elizabeth II. But some have retained the propensity to nip. That trait might dissuade trainers when assessing the suitability of a dog for the disciplined forces, said Mr James Leung, a training director at Hong Kong Canine, who has experience training police dogs. 'It's all trainable, but that's just one less thing I have to train,' he said. Golden retrievers and spaniels are more typical choices for sniffer dogs because they are typically seen by the public as friendly, he added. Those short legs Fu Zai's trainer at the Weifang police, Mr Zhao Qingshuai, said in an interview with China's state broadcaster that he initially ruled out a corgi as a police dog because of the breed's reputation for curiosity and distractibility, not to mention the short legs. Meeting Fu Zai changed his mind. Mr Zhao said that after first encountering the dog by chance in the park and chatting with his owner, Fu Zai came running after Mr Zhao called his name. When offered treats, he was a good sport in games like spinning on demand. 'He could not resist food, an indication that he has a strong drive to work for food,' Mr Zhao said. He later invited Fu Zai to train at the police base to assess his skills. Over the next few months, the corgi excelled in detecting explosives. Moreover, he could fit under tight spaces some other dogs couldn't reach, making it easy to sniff out the bottom of vehicles and inspect the underside of bus seats. 'His short legs have actually become an advantage, allowing him to perform tasks that larger dogs can't,' Mr Zhao said. Fu Zai, whose name means something like 'Lucky Youngster', became a full-fledged member of the Weifang police in October. Social media star He has since been beamed around the Chinese internet as a friendly face for the regional force, making frequent appearances on the Weifang Public Security Bureau's official account on Douyin, China's version of TikTok. A separate account the department maintains, named 'Fu Zai and his comrades', has more than 400,000 followers. The videos show a glimpse of police dog life: practising drills, patrolling a regional kite festival and riding on the back of a motorcycle, doggy shades on. (His former owner pays him regular visits, according to videos on her Douyin account.) But the drive for food that helped him land the job has also gotten him into some of his troubles. While a working dog needs enough self-control to consistently follow instructions, it is also important that it keeps its natural drive or instincts, said Ms Vivien Chin, owner and principal trainer at Active K9 Academy, a dog training school in Singapore. 'You want it to be a bit more independent and a bit of a go-getter to actually go out and get the guy, or to brave all the different environmental obstacles that may come its way,' she said. Whether as a temptation he can't resist or a treat used in training, there will probably be more sausage in Fu Zai's future. And whatever his performance review says, his status as a social media star is unlikely to fade. NYTIMES Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Express Tribune
28-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
China's first corgi police dog loses bonus for workplace misconduct
China's first corgi police dog, Fu Zai, has captured the internet's attention for his exceptional achievements and recent humorous missteps. Despite his minor infractions, Fu Zai was celebrated for his remarkable contributions as an explosives-detection dog in 2024. Fu Zai, whose name means "Lucky Boy," joined the Weifang Public Security Bureau in Shandong province in January 2024 as a reserve explosives-detection dog at just four months old. Despite his small size, Fu Zai quickly distinguished himself with his talent, becoming a fully qualified police dog by October. However, Fu Zai's end-of-year review revealed some 'workplace misconduct.' The playful corgi was caught falling asleep on duty and even urinating in his food bowl, leading to a temporary loss of his year-end bonus. Officers humorously confiscated his bonus toys and treats during the review, leaving him with only a red flower as a reminder of his achievements. 'Hope you make more persistent efforts in the future,' an officer joked in a video posted on Douyin, the Chinese equivalent of TikTok. The post, shared on the Weifang Public Security Bureau's account, quickly gained traction, amassing over 10,000 likes and hundreds of comments. Social media users rallied behind Fu Zai, with one commenter saying, 'Poor Fu Zai worked hard all year, only to lose his bonus. I can relate so much.' Another quipped, 'He peed in his own bowl, not his boss's ... return his bonus immediately!' In response to the outpouring of support, the police posted a follow-up video reassuring fans that Fu Zai had been well rewarded. To mark the Lunar New Year, he was gifted a lavish package including Pacific herring, pumpkin soup, dumplings, rabbit meatballs, and even a pet-friendly version of Buddha's Temptation (Fotiaoqiang), a traditional Chinese delicacy. Despite his playful errors, Fu Zai was honored with the Annual Award of Defying Fate in a special video on Saturday, cementing his status as a beloved figure both in his unit and online. His journey, from a mischievous pup to a celebrated explosives-detection dog, continues to win hearts across China.
