Mar 8, 2012

Canine Companions Senior Leadership Attends Sergeant Rex Book Signing

Al Canine Companions for Independence, Marines, Military Working Dogs Veterans, Working Dogs

I generally don’t talk much about military working dogs here, although I have occasionally, but I just read Sergeant Rex: The Unbreakable Bond Between a Marine and His Military Working Dog a few weeks ago – super book, definitely recommend you read it.

I also discovered a little Canine Companions for Independence connection after I read the book that I want you to know about since you probably haven’t heard about it anywhere else.

I found out last week that Corey Hudson, CCI CEO, and Paul Mundell, National Director of … Read More

Sep 1, 2010

Don’t Try This At Home

Al Military Working Dogs Working Dogs

I see a lotta working dog pictures, but this is a first (at least for me), so thought I’d post it here for a little change of pace.

Just saw it on Twitter from the Australia Defence Force: “Defence photo of the day. A Royal Australian Air Force Military Working Dog jumps through a ring of fire at Australia Defence Force Academy Open Day.” (Click the photo for a much larger image.)

And if you don’t like it or think it’s cruel, contact the ADF, not me, OK? I … Read More

Mar 25, 2010

Labrador Retrievers In Combat As IED Detector Dogs

Al Marines, Military Working Dogs Working Dogs

One of the best Military Working Dog articles I’ve seen is in the Marine Corps Times today, and this one’s about a very specific subset of MWDs – Labrador Retrievers who are trained to work off leash as Improvised Explosive Device Detector Dogs.

Marines train at the K2 facilities near Marston, N.C., to use bomb sniffing dogs. The dogs work off the leash and will be assigned to the same Marine for the whole deployment to Afghanistan.

“Dogs becoming essential in fight against IEDs”

Doesn’t pull any punches in describing how dangerous a job this is or how tough life can be for these dogs, but also gives you a real look at how much their handlers love the dogs and the relationship they … Read More

Jan 17, 2010

Police K-9 Koda Memorial Service Held In Utah Yesterday

Al Working Dogs

A quick follow-up to my last post about Koda, the police K-9 killed by a fleeing robbery suspect on New Year’s Day in Midvale, UT.

Koda’s memorial service was held yesterday – here’s a very sad but moving video of the service that’s definitely worth watching.

“Memorial service held for fallen police dog“

Jan 16, 2010

Salt Lake County DA’s Office Writes $10,000 Check For New Police K-9

Al Working Dogs

I didn’t write anything about this incident when it happened New Year’s Day because it was such a sad story, and I didn’t really think we all needed to hear one more sad story. Still very sad, but now something smart has come from it, and seems to me it’s a model that oughtta be adopted everywhere.

The sad part is that Koda, a 3-year-old Belgian Malinois working dog in Midvale, UT, was shot and killed by a suspected robber who was himself killed by police during the same chase.… Read More

Oct 21, 2009

OK, So All Cats Aren’t Worthless – Even Military Working Dogs Like This One

Al Air Force, Military Working Dogs, Veterinarian Working Dogs

Max, a 21-pound (!) tabby at the Luke Air Force Base clinic in Phoenix, is so cool even the military working dogs like him.

: Max, a 21-pound gray tabby cat, and Kisma, 56th Security Forces military working dog, greet each other at the Luke Air Force Base Veterinary Clinic in Glendale, Ariz. (U.S. Air Force courtesy photo – click for larger).

‘Clinic cat on orders to Luke’

I hafta be honest, though, and say it is a little disappointing a vet clinic would let a cat get that heavy. Plus … Read More

Oct 4, 2009

Military Working Dog Makes Historic Tandem Parachute Jump

Al Army, Military Working Dogs Working Dogs

I saw a brief newspaper article about this jump a few weeks ago with a small picture and figured it was just a matter of time before we’d see the usual hi-res official Army photos. Well, sure enough, they’re out (click on them for the giant versions):

U.S. Army 1st Sgt. Chris Lalonde, center, holds his military working dog, Sgt. Maj. Fosco, and jumpmaster Kirby Rodriguez behind them, as they free fall through the air making history with the military’s first tandem airborne jump from an altitude of 12,500 feet … Read More

Sep 3, 2009

“Seventy-pound Labrador retrievers take up half the bed.”

Al Air Force, Army Working Dogs

I cracked up when I read that in this story today about military working dogs at Joint Base Balad in Iraq:

“MWDs ‘out of the doghouse’ at JBB”

U.S. Army Specialist Chris Belville, 25th Infantry Division dog handler, spends time with his canine, Cookie, in his living quarters here Aug. 28.

It doesn’t surprise me – I know enough handlers to know how they are about their dogs, and the stories over the years about them sleeping with the dogs, usually under hostile conditions in the field, are legion.

But … Read More

Aug 8, 2009

MRE For An MWD: Meal, Ready-To-Eat For A Military Working Dog

Al Army, Ray Allen Working Dogs

: 1st Lt. John Reed, a Milton, Del., native and platoon leader with 15th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, attempts to evade Capka, a military working dog, during a demonstration at Forward Operating Base Warrior in Kirkuk, Iraq, Aug. 1. (Click on photo for larger version)

There are military working dog articles on the military websites (e.g., Defenselink.mil, Army.mil, AF.mil) all the time with a lotta great pictures – this one just struck me as funny.

If you read the accompanying article, you’ll … Read More

Jul 19, 2009

So What’s Next? Cloned Service Dogs? This Is Creepy. Period.

Al Canine Scent Detection Working Dogs

Assuming it’s true, of course.

“Cloned sniffer dogs begin duties”

Al Brittain

Working Dogs