Gavel the puppy may have started from the bottom, but now he’s one of the fanciest dogs in the world — with the title of Vice-Regal Dog in Queensland, Australia. 
 
 The German shepherd was originally enrolled in a police dog academy with the Queensland Police Service. But his handlers there decided he was too friendly and did not have the “necessary aptitude for a life on the front line,” BBC News reports. 
 
 So in February they kicked him out of the 16-month program early. Fortunately, he wasn’t out on the streets. Gavel had been living at the official residence of the Queensland governor since April 2016, and once he realized he wasn’t suited for police work, Gov. Paul de Jersey gave his four-legged friend a new job. 
 
 “He has outgrown four ceremonial coats, undergone a career change (his official title is now Gavel VRD, ‘Vice-Regal Dog’), and brought untold joy to the lives of the governor, Mrs de Jersey, Government House staff, and the thousands of Queenslanders who have since visited the estate,” the office of Governor Paul de Jersey told BBC News. 
 
 While Gavel may not be tracking criminals as the police department once hoped, he has been hard at work welcoming guests and playing with tour groups at the governor’s house. Since his promotion to vice-regal dog became official in February, the governor’s office has started posting many photos of Gavel’s best moments on social media. 
 
 “We hope Gavel’s with us for a long, long time into the future,” Governor de Jersey told 7 News Brisbane. ||||| Image copyright Governor of Queensland Image caption Gavel had time to outgrow four uniforms before police decided he wasn't suited to the front line 
 
 Gavel the puppy was facing a tough change when he flunked out of police dog academy for being too sociable. 
 
 Instead of tackling hardened criminals, the German shepherd pup liked to meet strangers, and police in Australia felt he "did not display the necessary aptitude for a life on the front line". 
 
 Luckily, he had been fostered at the official residence of the Queensland governor since he was six weeks old. 
 
 So the governor gave his four-legged friend a brand new job. 
 
 Image copyright Governor of Queensland Image caption His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey gets acquainted with Gavel 
 
 "He has outgrown four ceremonial coats, undergone a career change (his official title is now Gavel VRD, 'Vice-Regal Dog'), and brought untold joy to the lives of the governor, Mrs de Jersey, Government House staff, and the thousands of Queenslanders who have since visited the estate," the office of Governor Paul de Jersey said. 
 
 A year after the puppy first arrived, staff shared Gavel's story and photos on social media. 
 
 Gavel's promotion came about in February, after his handlers decided he didn't have "the right aptitude" for police work, and gave him a trial as a ceremonial participant. 
 
 Image copyright Governor of Queensland Image caption Gavel's new role involves much less predatory work 
 
 When he first arrived at his foster home last year, a press release from police said: "Gavel comes from a long line of pedigree... if the family bloodline is anything to go by, in 16 months Gavel will be tracking and catching criminals as a proud member of the Queensland Dog Squad!" 
 
 Sadly, it wasn't to be. But "at one of Brisbane's most prestigious addresses, it is unlikely Gavel will be complaining any time soon", it added. 
 
 Image copyright Governor of Queensland Image caption Gavel is, Queenslanders are told, a fan of the Maroons rugby team 
 
 Citizens are assured that everything he lacks in crime-fighting aggression, he now makes up for in his duties of welcoming guests and tour groups to the grounds of Queensland's Government House. 
 
 He also partakes in special ceremonial occasions - and the job comes with a custom-made uniform featuring the state emblems of Queensland. 
 
 "We hope Gavel's with us for a long, long time into the future," Governor de Jersey told 7 News Brisbane.
– What happens to dogs that are kicked out of the police academy for being "too friendly"? In the case of Gavel, a German shepherd puppy in Australia, post-expulsion life is, um, not so bad. After the companionable dog was rejected by the Queensland Police Service—he "did not display the necessary aptitude for a life on the front line"—he was welcomed into the home of Queensland Gov. Paul de Jersey and has now taken on the title of "Vice-Regal Dog," reports the BBC. His main duties: greeting and playing with guests, per Time. (He's also quite the social media celebrity.) As the police service quipped earlier, "it is unlikely Gavel will be complaining any time soon."