Once a police dog dropout, Gavel the German shepherd now spends his days welcoming visitors to Government House.

The pooch was fostered out to the Paddington residence of Governor of Queensland Paul de Jersey in April last year while he participated in a training program at the police dog academy.

Gavel didn't quite cut it as a police dog.

Unfortunately life as a police dog was not to be after trainers ruled Gavel too sociable for the frontline.

Government House staff, left wondering what to do with the dog that had won everyone's heart, decided to give Gavel a job at the property.