Page 27 - Chiron 2024

operation was to improve MWD training, welfare, and the handling skills of the Pakistani Army Dog Handlers.
Specifically, the MWD Training team’s mission at the Army Canine Centre Rawalpindi, was to provide a course that trained both Arms and Explosives Search Dogs alongside qualifying their handlers as Master Trainers (A qualification of high esteem within
the Pakistani
Army).
the while heavily influencing the importance of caring for your dog.
The next four weeks were spent selecting dogs for Arms and Explosive search training; our first major challenge of the operation due to the vast numbers, various breeds and overall condition of dogs held at the ACC.
Dogs were tested in the same manner that is conducted for
detection at
the Defence Animal Training Regiment; a blind retrieve,
a delayed retrieve,
a normal retrieve and environmental
checks. At the end of the four weeks after having tested over seventy dogs, fifteen were selected for course and then the real work began.
Over the following weeks we lead a training regime comparable to that of the DATR AES Sections, concentrating heavily on
environmental training, relationship between handler and dog, indication and scent training and lastly pattern training.
The overall result in December 2023 was fifteen AES dogs passed
out at a ‘KPI Standard, out of this number approximately ten had pushed past the required level of one scent one room and had progressed onto indicating the presence of various explosive samples on rummages, building exteriors and vehicles. The mission of the next
Op Hallex, starting in January 2024 was to take these fifteen dogs and continue their training with a different set of students.
Despite encountering many challenges and obstacles along
the way the MWD Training team remained positive, strong, and steadfast in their mission to improve MWD welfare and training within the Pakistani Army, this was evident in the standard of student produced at the end of course, some of which have remained good friends with both Op Hallex teams.
The first two
weeks of course
concentrated
heavily on the
theoretical
training of our
twelve students,
two sections of six, helped by our two Pakistani Veterinary Officer translators; we delivered lessons on various subjects including but not limited to; MWD husbandry, basic veterinary training, selection of dogs, scent and pattern training, obedience and agility training all
“At the end of the four weeks after having tested over seventy dogs, fifteen were selected for course and then the real work began”
Chiron Calling / 25