Military Working Dogs: behind the display of bite and bark

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Marianique Santos
  • 36th Wing Public Affairs
ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam --  The spectators cheer as Mike, a 36th Security Forces Squadron military working dog, obeys his handler's every command and sinks his teeth on the decoy's arm during a demonstration at the University of Guam, March 13.

The decoy for that demonstration, Staff Sgt. Kyle Stout, a 36 SFS military dog handler, was suited up in padded gear built to withstand the pressure of a dog's bite.

"The demos are basically an opportunity for the handler and the dog to showcase their capabilities and their bond," said Sergeant Stout.

Sergeant Stout said the demos show that these dogs are not just attack dogs. They are sociable and won't attack just anyone in sight. It takes a handler to give the command for the dog to bite.

"We are hoping that it serves as a psychological deterrent," said Sergeant Stout. "Because if we did have to release our dogs in a real-world situation, we're talking about 2000 pounds to 4000 pounds per square inch of pressure. The dog will bite and hold, and it will crush the entire bone in their arm."

Aside from the dogs' capabilities in apprehension, the military utilizes the dogs' keen sense of smell to improve war-fighting capability.

"A dog's nose can recognize a chocolate chip cookie, but it can also recognize all the ingredients of the cookie and single in on one ingredient," said Sergeant Stout. "Putting the dog around explosive ordinance is how they are trained."

"The explosives dogs, they can search quicker than Explosive Ordinance Disposal can," said Staff Sgt. Tina Stelly, 36 SFS military dog handler. "Same for a narcotics dog. Instead of having two or three (people), a dog can find it a lot faster."

According to Sergeant Stout, a military working dog's purpose is usually determined by which base they are in.

"For the dogs in the Micronesia area, if anyone from the State Department, like the president, comes to Hawaii or Guam, we'll get tasked to go support the Secret Service," said Sergeant Stout. "These dogs are also amazing at what they do in Iraq and Afghanistan as far as detection goes for explosives. The dogs save hundreds of lives everyday."

"Instead of putting another defender's life in danger, the dog can actually go out and do the searches," said Sergeant Stelly. "The military working dogs are very valuable."

The dogs train and work with their handlers for 12 to 14 hours a day. A dog may be partnered with a handler for years, depending on the circumstances and the length of their tours, said Staff Sgt. Jerry Brooks, 36 SFS military dog handler.

"The training process all depends on the handler and the dog and the motivation that you have to get the training done," said Sergeant Stelly. "Some dogs learn quicker than others. Some, you're going to have to work with. A lot of times, it's definitely worth it."