Page 30 - DATR 2019

Initial Trade Training (RAVC)
Initial Trade Training (ITT) for the Royal Army Veterinary Corps is an intensive 9 week course that teaches the foundation knowledge of dog handling to all RAVC soldiers, once they have finished their Basic Training at an Army Training Regiment. The course runs with a maximum of 15 students and the DATR holds 3 courses a year. Students are taught the basics of Protection dog handling, including looking after their dogs’ daily needs both in camp and roughing it out in the field. They also do regular physical training to keep them fit and healthy, and ready for the Field Army.
Week 1 – This is induction week and the students are given some mandatory briefs and get to meet all their instructors. They are taught dog first aid, so they can treat any minor injuries or illness. They are also shown how to look after their dogs; feeding, walking and cleaning up after them.
Week 2 – They are introduced to some fun stuff like obedience and agility (running and jumping over obstacles). We show the students how to groom properly, brushing the dogs’ coat and helping to build a bond with their dog.
Week 3 – The students start learning more handling techniques and get to release their dogs for real onto one of the instructors (wearing some safety equipment of course!).
Week 4 – The students will be taught how to be a Practical Training Assistant (the person in the big suit) and take a bite from a dog safely. They then start “baiting” for each other.
Week 5 – We continue to build on all the new skills they have been taught and grow the handlers’ confidence and knowledge
Week 6 – First field exercise where students get to sleep under a poncho (camouflaged water proof sheet) with
Pte Brown and Pte Mathis getting ready for a patrol
their dogs, and practice some of the more advanced handling techniques like crowd control and patrolling at night.
Week 7 – During this week we try and improve on any areas that the students struggled with during the first exercise and get them ready and confident for the final exercise.
Week 8 – Final exercise where the students can put everything they have learnt on the course into practice in an arduous realistic scenario.
Week 9 – Final physical and medical tests, and the week is finished off with a pass out parade in front of the students’ proud friends and family.
The ITT course is a tough introduction to the life of a dog handler but we are lucky to have motivated and enthusiastic students that are willing to learn, and are driven by their love of dogs. If they are successful in getting onto the course then the ITT sets them up for a long and successful career in the RAVC.
30 | Defence Animal Training Regiment