Photo By Staff Sgt. Michael Selvage | Sgt. Craig Penny and Spc. Mike Arnold, both military working dog handlers assigned to...... read more read more
FORT DRUM, N.Y. - More than 30 second-graders from Port Leyden Elementary School and Glenfield Elementary School made a trip June 15 to Fort Drum to see a military working dog demonstration.
The students were given a chance to see how the Army uses man’s best friend with the help of the 8th Military Working Dog Detachment, 91st Military Police Battalion.
Sgt. Craig Penny and Spc. Mike Arnold, both military working dog handlers, volunteered to host the demonstration for the youths.
The two handlers worked together, providing students with interesting facts about the dogs that are used as MWDs.
“Did you know that German shepherds are ranked third out of the top 10 hardest-biting domesticated dogs?” Penny asked the crowd of wide-eyed youths.
As the demonstration went on, the students listened more and more intently to what the handlers had to say.
After the fun facts about the MWDs, the handlers explained each dog’s specialties.
Arnold explained how his dog, Military Working Dog Janett, is a patrol explosive detector dog, while Penny told the kids that his dog, Military Working Dog Suzie, is a patrol drug detector dog. Both dogs have been trained in a different specialty and will execute on command.
“I like working with the dogs because they help save Soldiers’ lives,” said Arnold with a tiny smirk on his face. “And because I get paid to play with dogs all day.”
The students were shown the different tools and toys the trainers use to train the dogs on a day-to-day basis. They were provided an opportunity to touch the different training tools and ask the trainers questions about them.
Once the students had the answers to every question they could imagine, the demonstration was coming to an end, but most would say that the best was saved for last.
The trainers went into the kennel and brought MWDs Suzie and Janett and put on a show for the kids.
The dogs demonstrated their obedience by following the commands given by their trainers. They jumped over hurdles and stayed where they were told to as their trainers walked away.
Arnold described how important it is for their dogs to listen and how obedience is the key to their job.
After each correctly executed command the dogs were rewarded with their favorite chew toys to encourage the good behavior, but if the dogs failed to listen, they didn’t get to play with their toys.
Arnold and MWD Janett showed the students just what she was trained to do. Arnold gave a command to MWD Janett to find the explosives that were hidden in a van.
She took off and started searching all over the van for any explosive chemicals. Once she located them, she simply sat down and looked back at her trainer to show that her job was done.
The last demonstration of the day was used to show the students patrol work and controlled aggression.
With Arnold wearing a bite training protective sleeve, Penny instructed MWD Suzie to attack. In an instant, she latched onto the training sleeve and did not let go. With one command from Penny, she released the arm just as fast as she was on it.
“This kind of demonstration isn’t just for the kids,” Penny said. “We use this class to inform military police about the different capabilities the dogs can provide them.”
| Date Taken: | 07.17.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 07.20.2015 13:17 |
| Story ID: | 170551 |
| Location: | FORT DRUM, NY, US |
| Web Views: | 77 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Not just any old dog show, by SSG Michael Selvage, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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