The Military Dogs In Iraq. Sniffing Out Danger And Saving Lives.

Whether sniffing out bombs or patrolling bases, military working dogs (MWDs) assist their human counterparts in ways that only a canine can. The military has developed other instruments to detect the presence of dangerous chemicals and bomb making substances, “but nothing that compares to a dog,” says Sergeant John Dornstadter Jr. of the Multi-National Division and a Military Working Dog Assistant Program Manager in Baghdad. “The MWDs are typically more productive at finding hidden things because they use their sense of smell alone without the sense of sight, sound or touch. A soldier has no other means while searching an area other than to physically see or touch,” putting them at risk because they must get much closer to something in order to thoroughly investigate.

The best dogs for the job, says Dornstadter, have an excellent sense of smell, a strong play/prey drive, some aggressiveness and the ability to learn. Most MWDs begin training between one to three years of age and after several months of rigorous schooling are paired up with their handler. For Dornstadter and his dog, Benni, who have been together two years now, it was a fairly easy process; a good grooming and a few days of playing fetch. But some have to work a little harder to form that special bond. “I have also seen handlers who have slept outside of their MWD’s kennel just for the dog to become more comfortable and accustomed to them,” says Dornstadter.

Once out in the field the MWDs are eager to put their new skills to use and earn the reward of a job well done, in Benni’s case a rubber chew toy. Most MWDs are rewarded with a toy or play rather than food, as army veterinarians keep them on a strict diet. But what’s makes Benni and other dogs so uniquely suited for this type of work is not just their sense of smell; it’s their ability to react consistently to a stimulus. While human beings judge and react to a situation based on reasoning, what they think it means, a dog will simply react.

A well-trained dog will respond to a particular stimulus the same way each and every time, allowing the handler to know exactly what it senses. The military dogs’ work is invaluable in helping soldiers quickly assess a situation and determine possible dangers. In the field that time can often equate to safety and lives. When it comes down to it, not even the latest in technology can come close to man’s best friend, “There really is no comparison to the amount of time they save,” says Seargent Dornstadter.