Tactical Life Gun Magazine: Gun News and Gun Reviews
  • News
  • Guns
    • Rifles
    • Handguns
    • Shotguns
    • Special Weapons
  • Gear
    • Accessories
    • Ammo
    • Holsters
    • Knives
    • Optics & Sights
    • Suppressors
  • Lifestyle
    • Culture
    • Military & Police
    • Tactics & Training
  • Videos
No Result
View All Result
Tactical Life Gun Magazine: Gun News and Gun Reviews
  • News
  • Guns
    • Rifles
    • Handguns
    • Shotguns
    • Special Weapons
  • Gear
    • Accessories
    • Ammo
    • Holsters
    • Knives
    • Optics & Sights
    • Suppressors
  • Lifestyle
    • Culture
    • Military & Police
    • Tactics & Training
  • Videos
No Result
View All Result
Tactical Life Gun Magazine: Gun News and Gun Reviews
No Result
View All Result
 
FREE GUN FRIDAY > Enter to WIN the Ruger PC Charger & PC Carbine, Ammo from Black Hills and the Caldwell Portable Range Kit!

DOGS OF WAR

Len Waldron by Len Waldron
January 4, 2015
in Uncategorized
0
DOGS OF WAR
5
SHARES
2
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Relentless and high-tech. This modern working dog, a Belgian Malinois, is wearing a K-9 Storm Intruder vest that includes an integrated camera, communications package and Kevlar side panels.

Evolutionary biologists tell us that our modern-day domestic dog can trace its roots back most directly to the gray wolf. Dogs and man have lived, fought, hunted and died with one another for thousands of years. In a remarkable testament to their ongoing ability to adapt and form close relationships with their handlers, working dogs now accompany humans on law enforcement patrols, jump from military aircraft and track everything from lost children to improvised munitions. The complexity of modern-day law enforcement and military missions calls for an evolved and stable dog that can adapt to constantly changing threat levels and respond proportionately with skill and courage.

110312-M-CL319-154
A military working dog keeps enemy combatants secured in a containment area. DoD Photo

Making the Cut
Modern working dogs typically come from a small number of preferred breeds (German Shepherd, Belgian Shepherd, Belgian Malinois, and Labrador Retrievers are some of the most common), and of those, few make the cut for ultimate selection. For both military and law enforcement duties, nearly 30 percent of candidates are eliminated for reasons such as unstable temperament, lack of courage or poor athletic ability. Erich Grasso, a trainer and breeder of working German Shepherds in Connecticut, stresses the value of proper breeding and selection programs. “Between 24 and 36 months old, the dog’s character is fully formed. We have to see strong nerves, which means an ability to handle stress. These dogs must go from boats, to patrol cars, to planes and all the while be around people. They have to have a balance of fight, drive and sociability. Show dog lines or dogs bred simply for profit without quality control often result in weak-nerved dogs that will bite from fear or fail to handle a dynamic environment.” Such skills and characteristics do not come cheap. Over time, a healthy dog can be expected to serve for eight to 10 years.

Dogs at Work #2Y81 Len Waldron
A Stamford, Connecticut, PD officer and his canine partner stand ready to engage a suspect in a high-risk traffic stop training exercise.

Raising the Warrior
So how does a dog go from a sock-chewing puppy to a street and battlefield warrior willing to HALO from a high-performance aircraft or accompany a law enforcement officer down an alley behind a crack house? The first step is environmental conditioning. “You would be surprised at what will upset a dog, get his mind off the task at hand, and thereby put everyone in danger.” says Grasso. “We take our dogs to parking garages, put them in shopping carts and push them around where people are coming and going, slamming doors, honking horns, kids are screaming and tires are squealing. The cart is rattling, the dog is not in control of where it is going and there is a lot to adjust to. Fairly quickly, it’s all just a fun game, but they can’t be expected to adapt if all they have seen is a manicured backyard before they hit the street. Sometimes adaptation is totally out of context, but the habit of stabilizing themselves in strange environments is what we are trying to instill.”

Didn't find what you were looking for?

CLICK HERE FOR COMMENTS

RELATED POSTS

A direct mount option is now available for Glock MOS pistols for LE agency purchase

Glock MOS with Direct Mounting Now Available for LE Purchase

Mossberg 590 Shockwave review for home defense myths

4 Home Defense Myths You Need to Stop Repeating

The Hill People Gear Runner's Kit Bag is an excellent piece of gear for concealed carry

Hill People Gear Runner’s Kit Bag Review

Air Force OSI Selects Glock

Air Force OSI Selects Glocks for New Duty Pistol

Load More

TACTICAL-LIFE ARTICLE PAGE VIDEO

Discussion about this post

FEATURED POST

A direct mount option is now available for Glock MOS pistols for LE agency purchase

Glock MOS with Direct Mounting Now Available for LE Purchase

One of the biggest and most criticized weaknesses of the Glock MOS pistols is the mount system. An entire cottage industry exists...

Read more

TRENDING

ATF Agent James Burk sued Columbus police, excessive force, reup

VIDEO: ATF Agent James Burk Tased by Columbus Police, Files Suit

...

Mossberg 590 Shockwave review for home defense myths

4 Home Defense Myths You Need to Stop Repeating

...

The Dicken Drill is named for Eli Dicken who saved many lives in the Greenwood Mall

The Elisjsha Dicken Drill

...

what are the best revolvers for home defense

Best Revolvers for Home Defense [2022]

...

PICK A CATEGORY

TACTICS & TRAINING SPOTLIGHT

Mossberg 590 Shockwave review for home defense myths

4 Home Defense Myths You Need to Stop Repeating

We cover home defense related issues a lot here on Tactical Life. Whether it's using a revolver for home defense,...

TACTICS & TRAINING SHOWCASE

The Dicken Drill is named for Eli Dicken who saved many lives in the Greenwood Mall

The Elisjsha Dicken Drill

You've got your concealed carry gun on you and get stopped by the cops. What do you do next?

What to Do When Pulled Over with a Concealed Carry

If you're serious about learning tactics for stopping an active shooter, you have to train hard

Tactics for Stopping an Active Shooter

it's important to know concealed carry laws by state

Concealed Carry Laws by State

Gun cleaning gunk 5000 rounds

Gun Cleaning: 5 Reasons Why You Need to Clean Your Firearms

learning the art of clearing pistol malfunctions could save your life

Clearing Pistol Malfunctions: A Lifesaving Self Defense Skill

Top 10 Lifesaving Concealed Carry Tips for 2022

Top 10 Lifesaving Concealed Carry Tips for 2022

Stippling a handgun

6 Steps to Stippling a Gun for Beginners

What Are NFA Trusts?

What Are NFA Trusts?

site logo
Tactical Life Gun Magazine: Gun news, gun reviews and gun magazines for gun enthusiasts, military and law enforcement
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • California Privacy Notice
  • Cookie Policy
© Athlon Outdoors, All Rights Reserved.
You use of this website constitutes and manifests your acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy, Cookie Policy, and awareness of the California Privacy Rights. Pursuant to U.S. Copyright law, as well as other applicable federal and state laws, the content on this website may not be reproduced, distributed, displayed, transmitted, cached, or otherwise used, without the prior, express, and written permission of Athlon Outdoors.

Manage your GDPR consents by clicking here. Manage your CCPA consents by clicking here.
No Result
View All Result
  • Guns
    • Rifles
    • Handguns
    • Shotguns
  • Knives
  • Gear
    • Holsters
    • Optics & Sights
    • Accessories
    • Ammo
    • Suppressors
  • Military & Police
  • News
  • Tactics & Training
  • Videos
    • LATEST VIDEOS
    • FREE GUN FRIDAY
    • RELOADING ZONE
    • SCCY Branded Videos
  • Publications
  • Advertising
  • Contact Us

© 2022 JNews - Premium WordPress news & magazine theme by Jegtheme.