A POLICE dog who became a web sensation mothering her newborn pups live on the internet retired from the force yesterday.

Heidi, a German shepherd, has bred 28 puppies in three litters for Northumbria Police, the majority of which have gone on to be working dogs.

A force spokesman said: ‘‘Heidi has retired from Northumbria Police after more than five years of faithful service.

‘‘The average number of litters produced by a police breeding dog is one to two, so for her to have had three is quite unusual.’’ Heidi, who was born in July 2004, lives in Northumberland with owner Rachel Willis, one of the force’s kennel attendants.

Ms Willis said: ‘‘Although not a trained police dog, she always came to work with me at the kennels and as her pedigree is from working lines she enjoys obedience training, agility and search games.

‘‘She has had three litters of puppies over the years – two litters of nine pups and one litter of ten.

‘‘She has always been a fabulous mother and takes excellent care of them all, making things so much easier for us.’’ Heidi was watched by thousands of people over the internet when she had her last litter of puppies last October.

Northumbria Police set up a webcam so people could follow Heidi and the puppies during their first few weeks together.

The Puppy Watch page was viewed more than 320,000 times by people from as far afield as Papua New Guinea, Brazil, China, Peru, Russia and Iran.

Ms Willis said: ‘‘Things will not change too much for Heidi now that she has retired, as she will continue living at home with me.”