F e a t u r e s
Protection dogs and handlers are deployed worldwide and working as a team, are trained to deter, detect and when necessary, detain intruders who would do harm to personnel or cause damage to MoD property. A highly visual deterrent, protection dog teams patrol every day of the year, day and night and in all weathers to ensure the safety of those they protect.
Calm and Bold
A more specialised role for the shepherd breeds is policing. Police dog teams are highly trained in the dark art of tracking. Tracking is not only used to track down fleeing criminals but is also used in search operations for missing children and other such vulnerable individuals. The dogs are trained to find discarded articles that may have been used at the scene of a crime, an invaluable tool when covering large search areas.
With a view to the rule of minimum force, a police dog is trained to ‘guard’ a criminal who has made the wise decision to give him or herself up. The Shepherd has been so well
trained it will bark and keep the criminal in one place until the handler reaches them, or, if the criminal thinks they will make one last bid for freedom, the dog is trained to bite and hold until the handler orders it to release. Police dogs are not manic biting machines, but calm bold animals that once teamed with a trained handler, provide the MoD with a formidable tool!
The Gundogs
Then there are the gundogs, used as specialist search dogs for items such as drugs, explosives, weapons and associated materials. In the ‘old days’, search dogs were taught to be pro-active. Once they found the target scent, they would dig with their paws at the area giving a full indication of a find to its handler.
Nowadays, in the era of booby traps and forensic science, search dogs are trained to give a passive response. Once the target scent has been found, an operational dog will sit/stand and stare at the point the scent is emanating from. This reduces the risk of detonation and injury to both dog and
handler and preserves any forensic evidence other agencies may be able to capture.
Dogs Save Lives
Whilst search dogs are used by many countries around the world, the UK Armed Forces value these assets with such high regard, that all handlers are trained in canine first aid and every area of operations is supported by a fully qualified vet officer and support team.
The RAF Police contingent at the Centre trains both the dogs and handlers, and the RAF Police are deployed across the operational spectrum providing a life-saving asset to Force Protection agencies as well as forward operating troops.
This Christmas, men and women from the RAF Police will be deployed with their canine counterparts in support of Op HERRICK. Without doubt, dogs save lives and if it were not for the dogs’ ability and sheer willingness to please us, many more lives would be lost. This continuous loyalty proves that the dog truly is man’s best friend!
Anyone who would consider donating a dog should call 01664 418668 or 418615.
www.raf-ff.org.uk
Winter 2009
9
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56