Drug suspects dog surrenders with owner during police raid becomes viral sensation

A suspected drug dealer's dog  who lay down and surrendered with its owner during a police raid has become an internet sensation in Brazil.

If officers were expecting any trouble from a gang's guard dog during the drug bust, they were pleasantly surprised.

The picture shows a line of suspected drug dealers, some with tattoos, lying face-down against a wall.

And the submissive hound also lay down alongside its owner, stretching its head in a clear sign of doggy surrender.

The incident happened during a joint police and military operation in the neighbourhood of Vargem Grande, in southern Brazil.

Police spokesman Filippo Valdez said: "The officers had been observing the gang for some time.

"When they arrested them, they recovered a substantial quantity of marijuna and cocaine, as well as weighing scales, guns and ammunition.

"There was a male dog that was barking when officers burst onto the scene but when it saw its owners obeying the command to lie down, it ran over and laid down as well."

Brazilian animal psychiatrist and dog trainer Barnie Rico said: "The dog lying on its back exposing its belly is a classic sign of submission in the dog world.

"By exposing its soft underbelly to any potential attacker it is showing that it doesn't mean any trouble.

"The dog is also turning its head away as looking at the potential enemy can also be seen as a sign of aggression to another dog.

"It is clearly a very clever animal because it saw the rest of its pack give in, and decided to copy them."

The dog was reportedly not arrested with the rest of the gang.