They can swim ashore from a landing vehicle, let the handler know which paths are safe, which are not, and if there are any people in the area. These dogs can operate up to a mile away from the handler, pretty much as far as the radio signal can go. Īnother way these dogs can be used is to clear routes of explosives. The only surefire way to get the dog to release the bite is to wait for the handler to get there and tell the dog to let go. If the target hits the dog or tries to harm the dog, it will only cause the dog to bite down harder and thrash about, making it even harder to escape. Most people find it very difficult to run away with a 70-pound dog hanging off of their arm. Once they catch up to the target, they are trained to get the biggest bite that they can (ideally getting a 'full mouth bite'), and holding onto the target, not letting them get away. Usain Bolt could not outrun these dogs, and Arnold Schwarzenneger could not intimidate them. The standards are just higher.Ī Marine dog handler taunts his working dog during a training session. While the special forces have their own programs to procure dogs, which are confidential, the traits that they look for are the same. Over up to 10 days, the dogs are judged on their ability to search and detect, their aggressiveness, and their trainability. If they pass the medical screening, they are further assessed on their temperament. Dogs with skin conditions, eye issues, or ear problems are ruled out. They perform x-rays to ensure that there is no hip or elbow dysplasia or other skeletal defects. They evaluate each dog to ensure that they will not have any medical issue that will prevent them from serving for at least 10 years. A military working dog chases a suspect during a demonstration.Īirman 1st Class Jacob Derry/US Air Forceįour times per year, a team of canine handlers, trainers, veterinarians, and other specialists from the 341st Training Squadron at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio Texas - the home of the Military Working Dog Program - make the trip abroad to buy dogs.

Delta operators killed in action