Iron Dog Competition: challenges both ends of the leash

Photo By Sgt. Ida Irby | U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jacob Twaddle, Joint Base Andrews Canine Unit, and his working dog X participate in an iron dog competition Oct. 23 aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico. Military working dogs and their handlers often collaborate with outside agencies to improve detection training and bite-work training. The four-year-old working dog has been with his trainer for two years.  

QUANTICO, VA, UNITED STATES

10.23.2015

Story by Ida Irby 

Marine Corps Base Quantico

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. — Twenty-three K-9 and handler teams participated in an iron dog competition, a two-mile challenge for both ends of the leash.

After competing and winning multiple events, Quantico’s K-9 kennel master Sgt. Christopher Vogt organized Quantico’s first competition Oct. 23 at Quantico’s canine kennel. “K-9 competitions are something trainers take pride in,” he explained.

According to Vogt, working dogs in America are the “few and the proud,” as they attain a unique level of trust-worthiness, flexibility and intelligence. During the competition, canines were challenged to gauge their overall performance. Although, each animal maintains peak conditioning year-round.

“Military working dogs are in better shape than most people, therefore the competition can be more physically draining on the handler while the animal is challenged through detection skills,” said Stephen Williams, Provost Marshal Office dog handler. Much of the scenarios were contingent on the type of working dog.

To demonstrate that point, the timed event included: a dummy drag, an agility course, firearm event, tactical obedience and two-mile run. For the course’s finale, each handler chose between explosive detection, narcotics detection and patrol bite work to test the dog’s specialized training.

Canines sat calmly waiting for their handler’s queue to begin the timed event, which took more than four hours for the group to complete. Each team competed to place in one of three categories: patrol, drug, and bomb. Cpl. Michael Amorino, Prince George’s County Police was first place in patrol. Sgt. Shawn Eden, Quantico Canine Unit, was first in drug detection. Cpl. Jacob Saucedo, Quantico's K-9 Unit, was first in bomb detection.

Military working dogs come in many breeds. Most commonly, German Shepherds are trained as working dogs to provide a non-lethal deterrent during military or police operations. They also assist with bomb detection, searching for lost people, and searching for narcotics.

Training with local law enforcement and other government agencies is beneficial to our K-9 teams, said Williams. “We always need to know how to work in support of local law enforcement and they need to know benefits or limitations of working with our dogs.”

Many agencies attended the event to include teams from U.S. Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command, Price George County, Md., Fauquier County, Va., Hyattsville Maryland Police Department, Takoma Park Maryland Police Department, Harrisonville Missouri Police Department, and Joint Base Andrews (U.S. Airmen).

Although working dogs have different missions throughout the U.S., “we’re all on the same team,” said Williams. He considers competitions to be a great time to “establish trust” amongst civilian and DOD partners.

Dog handlers are part of a small community. Servicemembers attend the three-month initial training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas and often see each other again on missions, duty assignments and in competitions.

“This competition is important to the canine community,” an association built of “networking and cross training,” said Vogt who works daily to provide basic obedience and daily care to military working dogs. “Each handler has a different experience with their dog, and our main goal is to improve through participating in these events and showcase how much work we have put into training.”

The event was sponsored by Rocky Mountain Dawgs Project, an organization established in honor of Cpl. David Michael Sonka, and his multi-purpose canine Flex. Sonka and Flex were killed in action on May 4, 2013 in Farah Province, Afghanistan.

“When my son was killed, I vowed to never let his name die,” said Kevin Sonka, the director of the organization since July 2013. “For me, it is healing to be around servicemembers and watch the dogs work. All handlers deserve a steak dinner. Mostly, they deserve someone to come out, shake their hand, and say thank you for what you do.”

Following the strenuous competition, sponsors cooked a grilled steak lunch for all the participants and volunteers.

“When I talk about the love that handlers have for their dogs … I get goose bumps thinking about the phenomenal dedication,” said Master Gunnery Sgt. John Alen, Quantico Provost Sergeant.

• Date Taken: 10.23.2015
• Date Posted: 11.02.2015 15:34
• Story ID: 180640
• Location: QUANTICO, VA, US
• Hometown: HARRISONVILLE, MO, US
• Hometown: HYATTSVILLE, MD, US
• Hometown: JOINT BASE ANDREWS, MD, US
• Hometown: PRINCE GEORGE, VA, US
• Hometown: TAKOMA PARK, MD, US