On a bright afternoon in early March, senior police dog trainer Long Ling worked seamlessly with a Kunming dog named Kunkun as the duo successfully completed three advanced training exercises.

Two-year-old Kunkun is a demonstration canine at the Ministry of Public Security's Kunming police dog base in Yunnan province, a key center for training such animals.

Kunkun is well-behaved. He is friendly but not overly excitable around people and loves playing with children. However, he can turn fierce when confronting suspects.

Long describes Kunkun as having an "Eastern" temperament — reserved and restrained, but capable of being intimidating when needed.

At the training session, when Long praised Kunkun for his good nature and strong capabilities, the dog lay on the ground wagging his tail. But when Long mentioned Kunkun had bitten another dog and needed to be watched more closely, the canine immediately stood up with his ears pricked.

The bond between Long and Kunkun started in 2024 during an evaluation of puppies' suitability for police dog training. Just two and a half months old at the time, Kunkun scampered over and bit Long's pant leg, showing fearless curiosity. This confidence convinced Long to choose the puppy and name him Kunkun.

Over the past two years, Long has treated Kunkun like a family member, personally taking care of the dog's feeding, even during holidays. He gives Kunkun a treat once a week — a hearty serving of personally cooked beef.

Under Long's care and training, Kunkun has developed into an all-around police dog, excelling in areas such as tactical coordination, close reconnaissance, and long-distance obedience. He is an exceptional example of the Kunming dog breed developed in China, Long said.