K-9 team's bond critical to mission, long lasting

  • Published
  • By Samuel King Jr.
  • Team Eglin Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  The phrase "man's best friend" thoroughly explains the deep, even emotional connection between a dog and its master. This is never more apparent than the bonds formed between Air Force K-9 handlers and their furry companions.

New canines arrive to their bases with basic obedience, detection and recognition skills, it is up to security forces handlers to connect with them and build the bond that will make them a trusted, yet lethal team.

"They're just like a brand new Airman with basic skills and we build upon that," said Tech Sgt. Gary King, 96th Security Forces Squadron's kennel master. "All of our training depends on the dog itself and how quickly it progresses."

Eglin's military working dog team is expected to maintain training, perform vehicle searches, patrols, building sweeps, dorm checks and demonstrations. Before any of that can happen, the team has to learn to function together and be certified by a base magistrate - the 96th Mission Support Group commander.

That certification is important because it will determine the reliability of the dog and whether a legal search is authorized based on the dog's nose and discovery.

Certification, and ultimately deployment, begins in those beginning weeks of bonding between the dog and the handler.

"It starts with the rapport," said Staff Sgt. Michael Espinoza, 96th SFS MWD trainer. "The goal is to not be animal and master, but to become a unified team that knows and trusts each other completely - so when (the handler) tells the dog what it needs to do, there's no doubt or hesitation that (the dog) will do it."

The bonding period can take up to a month and within that time the potential team plays together, tossing a ball around then slowly begin to work up to commands. Sometimes, the handler will be the only person to feed his new dog. The dog will connect his handler with his meals and be more attentive to him based on that food connection, according to Sergeant Espinoza.

Most handlers recognize that point when the dog and Airman really connect and become a team. For Staff Sgt. David Aenchbacher and one of his dogs, Sarah, it was the intensive training leading to a deployment to Iraq in 2009.

"Sarah was just a love-hound to begin with," said Sergeant Aenchbacher, a handler for five years. "When we were a team, it never felt like work. We really bonded during the traveling we did for the deployment and the constant contact we had."

During the deployment, Sarah shared a room with Sergeant Aenchbacher and would rarely leave his side.

Team cohesion is an absolute to perform the duties asked of the K-9 teams. If the handler or dog is having an "off" day, it can have an effect on both team members.

"There's a saying handlers have, it's 'emotions run up and down that leash,'" said Sergeant Espinoza, who's handled four dogs. "If the dog has a bad day, it could run up to me and affect my performance and vice versa."

Knowing those moods and attitudes of their dogs is a crucial tool K-9 handlers need to possess.

"Handlers aren't just handlers - they're not just the person who stands behind the dog," said Sergeant Espinoza. "Handlers must be trainers, dog psychologists and best friends - a lot goes into it. We have to be able to read our dog, know how they're feeling and how to respond accordingly."

If handlers notice a change in mood or difficulty with a specific obstacle or command, it is ultimately up to that handler to figure out how to correct it or adjust the training. Handlers can get advice and help, but the dog will be more apt to respond to its teammate than an outsider so the pressure is on the Airman to 'handle' those issues, according to Sergeant Espinoza.

Sometimes a team isn't a good match. If a dog won't get along with the handler, it may be switched to find a proper fit.

"Obedience is a sign of a bad pairing," said Sergeant Espinoza. "Sometimes it just won't listen or it will come 'up leash' and bite the handler. If I have a dog that's constantly attacking the handler, I have to try to split them up, but there's also times when the team just has to work through it. It's just like a relationship."

As in all relationships, there must be a beginning and an end. Splitting up a high-functioning K-9 team takes its toll on both the handler and dog. Some handlers have their dog for three years, but the mission dictates what the need is and if that team will continue.

An Airman's permanent change of station makes the split easier for both the handler and dog, according to Sergeant Aenchbacher. With a PCS, the connection is effectively severed because the handler and dog have no further contact. K-9s are a permanent asset to its base.

After returning from his deployment to Iraq, Sergeant Aenchbacher's dog of two years, Sarah, had to have surgery and would be down for three months. The situation was unclear whether Sarah would return to duty or be adopted, so the sergeant was assigned a new dog, Rex.

Sarah did return to duty and began with a new partner now executing the K-9 mission, but the bond she formed with Sergeant Aenchbacher is still apparent today more than a year later.

"If she hears my voice around the kennel, she'll whine," he said and as if on cue, Sarah let out a sad moan from two rooms away.

Sarah's bond with Sergeant Aenchbacher is so strong, he can't be within her line of sight while she is training because her focus turns to him and she ignores whoever has her leash.

"It is tough to see another handler with your dog, especially when they do things differently than you when you were their handler," Sergeant Aenchbacher said. "It gets frustrating."

There are eight Airmen and eight dogs currently stationed at Eglin. According to Sergeant King, there is an Eglin K-9 team deployed almost year round. The advantage of deploying as a K-9 team is that no matter where the Airmen go their best friend goes with them.