thedrifter
08-19-03, 06:27 AM
Military working dog born for duty
Submitted by: MCAS Miramar
Story Identification Number: 200381515127
Story by Lance Cpl. Paul Leicht
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif.(August 15, 2003) -- Since he was a puppy, military dog handlers raised him for one purpose: to serve his country as a patrol and detection dog.
His name is Cconner--spelled with an extra 'C' to distinguish him from other military working dogs not born and bred in a military environment at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio--and he's a three-year-old Belgian Malinois.
As one of the Marine Corps' top patrol and detection military working dogs that specializes in drug detection, Cconner has impressed his handlers at the Provost Marshal's Office ever since his arrival here in December 2001.
"Cconner is an amazing work dog," said Sgt. Heath L. Kinder, kennel master, Miramar PMO. "Even on an off-day, he surpasses the other dogs."
Cconner's handler for the past year-and-a-half, Sgt. Thadaile Murray, 25, training noncommissioned officer, Miramar PMO Military Working Dog unit, enjoys working with him and is continually impressed by both Cconner's distinctiveness and abilities.
"The unique thing about him is he was born and bred by the military," said Murray, a Texas native. "There are only about 35 dogs born and bred at Lackland AFB now serving in the entire Department of Defense, and 90 percent of them are overseas."
Cconner is a Belgian Malinois, a rare breed of shorthaired Belgian sheepherding dogs resembling the more relatively common German Shepherd, that is highly suited for the requirements of a military police dog.
"The Belgian Malinois is like the Lamborghini of search dogs," Murray said. "They're faster, more intelligent and more aggressive. We also have Cconner's brother here and his name is Ccisco. They both are extraordinary dogs."
By comparison, the German Shepherd breed has an average working life of eight or nine years, whereas the Belgian Malinois is more like 10 to 13, which means they can serve with Marines longer.
"Right now the problem is there are not enough Belgian Malinois to satisfy the need for them as work dogs," said Murray. "We can't really start a breeding program large enough to support our needs because it would be too costly. Even in a litter of six dogs, maybe two would be suitable military work dogs."
Just like their human Marine handlers, military police dogs have to complete three months of initial training, and just like Marines, they continually train hard when they are not on the job.
On a typical training day here, Cconner, like his fellow police dogs, goes through a confidence course for dogs and practices what handlers call the five phases of aggression.
"The first phase is what we call the false run, which shows that we can control the dog and ensure that they won't try to bite anyone without being told to and if I tell him to stay he'll stay" explained Murray. "The second phase is the false run to bite, which is basically the same as false run, but if someone starts walking away from him, we'll tell them to halt and if they don't then the dog will bite."
When the Marines practice this phase with Cconner, most do not look forward to being taken down by Cconner as compared with other dogs in the kennel.
"Cconner hits hard and really knocks you down," said Lance Cpl. Matthew C. Stigall, 20, dog handler, Miramar PMO, who recently came to Miramar and trains with Cconner. "He also knows exactly where to hit you effectively and has a powerful bite."
Next comes the standoff where the dog is sent after a suspect and called off with the command to stop before the dog gets to the person or makes contact.
"The dog becomes like a retractable bullet," said Murray.
Then, as a well-functioning team, the dog and handler practice searching someone for contraband or drugs before the final escort phase, which is after a subject is searched, handcuffed and taken back to the vehicle.
"If the suspect attempts to run at this point, from there the dog will attack upon command," Murray said.
Adding to his uniqueness, Cconner has a special skill that he practices in his training.
"Cconner also does an advanced command called the revere, which is where he will escort a suspect back to the vehicle totally on his own," said Murray. "Most of the other dogs you have to stand there with them."
But Cconner's special abilities do not stop there.
"Cconner also does the entire confidence course without guidance," added Murray. "I just step out there, give him the command, and he'll do the course all by himself."
Cconner has not deployed because Murray has not deployed, but Cconner could very possibly serve one day with U.S. Customs on Temporary Active Duty since drug dogs typically do not deploy overseas, said Kinder.
Murray, who is not Cconner's first handler, said getting a military police dog to become accustomed to a new handler takes a short period of adjustment.
"To prepare a dog to be accustomed to a new handler, the dog has to go through an adjustment period and is basically isolated for a week or two without interaction with other dogs or people," said Murray. "Dogs are social in nature and after being somewhat isolated for a while, they will warm up to someone new almost right away."
Dogs are also pack animals with a dominance hierarchy and the military always tries to acquire beta dogs rather than alpha dogs.
"In theory, we as handlers try to replace the alpha role," explained Murray. "Certain behaviors at a young age will indicate whether a dog is a beta or an alpha, like whether they will try to bite you if you try and take their food away, or when they are pups and you roll them over on their stomach and see if they fight to get up. Some beta dogs still have alpha traits and will try to challenge and establish dominance, but we don't really have any dogs here that fit in that category though."
Cconner's most powerful trait isn't his six-foot high leap, or his 1,200 pounds-per-square-inch bite or his 40 mph takedown-run--it's his nose, which he uses to locate items such as contraband or drugs.
"All our dogs are patrol certified, either in narcotics or explosives," Murray said. "A few weeks ago Cconner found 18 ounces of marijuana at the gate after someone threw it out the window of their car before reaching the gate. His sense of smell is amazing."
With a dog's olfactory sense of smell-which is about 1,000 times better than humans--various odors are separated and identified one at a time.
"For instance when we smell pizza, we smell pizza, the combination of various odors," explained Murray. "With a dog, they smell each individual smell--dough, tomato, cheese, pepperoni, etc."
The methods Murray uses to train Cconner are the same as other dogs, but he said that Cconner quickly adapts and learns commands faster than others, routinely delivering a high level of performance.
"When we train we use the reward system," explained Murray. "Whenever the dog finds something or does something right, he gets a toy or some kind of reward. All you have to do is find out what the dog wants and he'll do what you tell him to do. It's amazing how well the theory works because of how intelligent dogs are."
But to experienced handlers like Murray, there are qualities in Cconner that make him stand out from the rest of the pack.
"Cconner is what they call a super dog," said Murray. "He was bred to do this job just like his brother Ccisco and he does it extraordinarily well."
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/2003815151719/$file/Cconner6_small.jpg
Sgt. Thadaile Murray military working dog training NCO, Provost Marshal's Office and Cconner, military working dog, Provost Marshal's Office.
Photo by: Lance Cpl. Paul Leicht
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/2003815152452/$file/Cconner4_small.jpg
Cconner executes the revere command alone while escorting "suspect" Lance Cpl. Jason Becker, dog handler, Provost Marshal's office, back to the patrol vehicle during training here Aug.11.
Photo by: Lance Cpl. Paul Leicht
Sempers,
Roger
:marine:
Submitted by: MCAS Miramar
Story Identification Number: 200381515127
Story by Lance Cpl. Paul Leicht
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif.(August 15, 2003) -- Since he was a puppy, military dog handlers raised him for one purpose: to serve his country as a patrol and detection dog.
His name is Cconner--spelled with an extra 'C' to distinguish him from other military working dogs not born and bred in a military environment at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio--and he's a three-year-old Belgian Malinois.
As one of the Marine Corps' top patrol and detection military working dogs that specializes in drug detection, Cconner has impressed his handlers at the Provost Marshal's Office ever since his arrival here in December 2001.
"Cconner is an amazing work dog," said Sgt. Heath L. Kinder, kennel master, Miramar PMO. "Even on an off-day, he surpasses the other dogs."
Cconner's handler for the past year-and-a-half, Sgt. Thadaile Murray, 25, training noncommissioned officer, Miramar PMO Military Working Dog unit, enjoys working with him and is continually impressed by both Cconner's distinctiveness and abilities.
"The unique thing about him is he was born and bred by the military," said Murray, a Texas native. "There are only about 35 dogs born and bred at Lackland AFB now serving in the entire Department of Defense, and 90 percent of them are overseas."
Cconner is a Belgian Malinois, a rare breed of shorthaired Belgian sheepherding dogs resembling the more relatively common German Shepherd, that is highly suited for the requirements of a military police dog.
"The Belgian Malinois is like the Lamborghini of search dogs," Murray said. "They're faster, more intelligent and more aggressive. We also have Cconner's brother here and his name is Ccisco. They both are extraordinary dogs."
By comparison, the German Shepherd breed has an average working life of eight or nine years, whereas the Belgian Malinois is more like 10 to 13, which means they can serve with Marines longer.
"Right now the problem is there are not enough Belgian Malinois to satisfy the need for them as work dogs," said Murray. "We can't really start a breeding program large enough to support our needs because it would be too costly. Even in a litter of six dogs, maybe two would be suitable military work dogs."
Just like their human Marine handlers, military police dogs have to complete three months of initial training, and just like Marines, they continually train hard when they are not on the job.
On a typical training day here, Cconner, like his fellow police dogs, goes through a confidence course for dogs and practices what handlers call the five phases of aggression.
"The first phase is what we call the false run, which shows that we can control the dog and ensure that they won't try to bite anyone without being told to and if I tell him to stay he'll stay" explained Murray. "The second phase is the false run to bite, which is basically the same as false run, but if someone starts walking away from him, we'll tell them to halt and if they don't then the dog will bite."
When the Marines practice this phase with Cconner, most do not look forward to being taken down by Cconner as compared with other dogs in the kennel.
"Cconner hits hard and really knocks you down," said Lance Cpl. Matthew C. Stigall, 20, dog handler, Miramar PMO, who recently came to Miramar and trains with Cconner. "He also knows exactly where to hit you effectively and has a powerful bite."
Next comes the standoff where the dog is sent after a suspect and called off with the command to stop before the dog gets to the person or makes contact.
"The dog becomes like a retractable bullet," said Murray.
Then, as a well-functioning team, the dog and handler practice searching someone for contraband or drugs before the final escort phase, which is after a subject is searched, handcuffed and taken back to the vehicle.
"If the suspect attempts to run at this point, from there the dog will attack upon command," Murray said.
Adding to his uniqueness, Cconner has a special skill that he practices in his training.
"Cconner also does an advanced command called the revere, which is where he will escort a suspect back to the vehicle totally on his own," said Murray. "Most of the other dogs you have to stand there with them."
But Cconner's special abilities do not stop there.
"Cconner also does the entire confidence course without guidance," added Murray. "I just step out there, give him the command, and he'll do the course all by himself."
Cconner has not deployed because Murray has not deployed, but Cconner could very possibly serve one day with U.S. Customs on Temporary Active Duty since drug dogs typically do not deploy overseas, said Kinder.
Murray, who is not Cconner's first handler, said getting a military police dog to become accustomed to a new handler takes a short period of adjustment.
"To prepare a dog to be accustomed to a new handler, the dog has to go through an adjustment period and is basically isolated for a week or two without interaction with other dogs or people," said Murray. "Dogs are social in nature and after being somewhat isolated for a while, they will warm up to someone new almost right away."
Dogs are also pack animals with a dominance hierarchy and the military always tries to acquire beta dogs rather than alpha dogs.
"In theory, we as handlers try to replace the alpha role," explained Murray. "Certain behaviors at a young age will indicate whether a dog is a beta or an alpha, like whether they will try to bite you if you try and take their food away, or when they are pups and you roll them over on their stomach and see if they fight to get up. Some beta dogs still have alpha traits and will try to challenge and establish dominance, but we don't really have any dogs here that fit in that category though."
Cconner's most powerful trait isn't his six-foot high leap, or his 1,200 pounds-per-square-inch bite or his 40 mph takedown-run--it's his nose, which he uses to locate items such as contraband or drugs.
"All our dogs are patrol certified, either in narcotics or explosives," Murray said. "A few weeks ago Cconner found 18 ounces of marijuana at the gate after someone threw it out the window of their car before reaching the gate. His sense of smell is amazing."
With a dog's olfactory sense of smell-which is about 1,000 times better than humans--various odors are separated and identified one at a time.
"For instance when we smell pizza, we smell pizza, the combination of various odors," explained Murray. "With a dog, they smell each individual smell--dough, tomato, cheese, pepperoni, etc."
The methods Murray uses to train Cconner are the same as other dogs, but he said that Cconner quickly adapts and learns commands faster than others, routinely delivering a high level of performance.
"When we train we use the reward system," explained Murray. "Whenever the dog finds something or does something right, he gets a toy or some kind of reward. All you have to do is find out what the dog wants and he'll do what you tell him to do. It's amazing how well the theory works because of how intelligent dogs are."
But to experienced handlers like Murray, there are qualities in Cconner that make him stand out from the rest of the pack.
"Cconner is what they call a super dog," said Murray. "He was bred to do this job just like his brother Ccisco and he does it extraordinarily well."
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/2003815151719/$file/Cconner6_small.jpg
Sgt. Thadaile Murray military working dog training NCO, Provost Marshal's Office and Cconner, military working dog, Provost Marshal's Office.
Photo by: Lance Cpl. Paul Leicht
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/2003815152452/$file/Cconner4_small.jpg
Cconner executes the revere command alone while escorting "suspect" Lance Cpl. Jason Becker, dog handler, Provost Marshal's office, back to the patrol vehicle during training here Aug.11.
Photo by: Lance Cpl. Paul Leicht
Sempers,
Roger
:marine: