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Military Air Force Dog Handler Careers

June 3, 2008 By admin

The United States Military has dealt with canines and working dogs of various kinds since the beginning of World War II.

Since then different units of Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force and other services have used Dog units in various types of work. Dog handlers and their canine charges have served faithfully to protect and defend the United States in many different ways. Military Canine Dog units are comprised of a working military Dog, and their handler. The military K-9 dog handling team is one of the closest examples of loyalty and devotion in action in the military world. Both the military handler and their animal are highly trained, to develop and accomplish a variety of missions as assigned.

Both Military Dogs and their handlers are matched together, and both progress through a highly specialized training program. The program normally lasts for three months, and the dog handler and animal form a close-knit working and personal relationship that extends to all areas or their relationship. Many times personnel are experienced in the security field are selected to work with a K-9 animal. The first step is to build rapport, they spend hours just walking and getting to know one another. After the dog and handler bond is formed, the next step is obedience training, followed by different types of specialized training, depending on the mission the dog team is bound for.

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Military Dog handling units handle missions that range from drug sniffing, drug detection, and missions such as bomb detection. Besides drugs and bombs, there are a number of different missions that military dogs participate in. Military Dog K-9 units can deploy anywhere that U.S. Military Servicemembers are deployed, as well as being assigned on detachment with various other agencies of the United States Government. Most of the breeds that are selected for K-9 units have to be able to handle different environmental and climate conditions. For this reason German Shepherds and Belgian Malanois are often the two top breeds used for this kind of service work in the Military. K-9 Units are used in Southeast Asia, the Balkans, and throughout the US Military, serving as explosive detection teams, sentries, drug detection teams, and other missions. The US Customs Service and DEA are among the agencies that use US Military K-9 dog teams.

Filed Under: Enlist, Updates

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Erik East says

    March 2, 2009 at 11:50 am

    I am a certified Dog trainer and would like to know how i can get into the Military K-9 dog units. Any help would be appreciated.
    Thanks
    Erik East

  2. linwood files says

    September 23, 2009 at 9:23 am

    I am interested in this k9 career. Could you send me some facts about the program.

  3. genee fitch says

    October 26, 2011 at 9:44 am

    THANK YOU

  4. Katie says

    December 15, 2011 at 12:29 pm

    Can you provide me with any information that will help me become a military canine handler or trainer?

  5. Rachel Elaina Leeman says

    February 5, 2013 at 1:42 pm

    I want to be a Veterinarian and i also dont want to be in debt by the time im out of school. My father is retired military and i have been looking into joining. I’d like to open my own office one day and have a training center. I really want to do both. But when i enlist i don’t want to go into medical. I want to work with the dogs. I am currently working at a local vet office and iwalk dogs and clean cages everyday and i am always trying to form a relationship with them, making them comfortable and what not. I want to join really no matter what, but before i do i would like some info on how difficult is it to get in to, Do you go to the training right after boot camp? & what rank you have to be? Also when you are a dog trainer what do you usually do, do you travel alot with them? and are you working with them on an all day basis ir are you doing secuity for a majority of the day and then a couple hours with the dog? Also, should i get a certified dog traing degree firs then join? Would that make it easier to get in to? Thank you for your time, You can also eamil me @ [email protected] thanks again.

  6. Anthony says

    December 5, 2013 at 2:52 am

    Please send info on dog handler.

  7. sean says

    February 8, 2014 at 8:11 am

  8. Jade says

    September 28, 2016 at 8:10 pm

    Hello,I’m just started looking at jobs in the military that works with animals.I’m a true animal lover and I’m thiking if maybe join the military so I want to do something that I love while helping people.is there away I could get more information on this or if there’s any other jobs that you think would be good for animal lovers in the military plz contact me or let me know. I would really appreciate. I’m 17 right now and I’m just trying to figure things out.

  9. Kristina Valentine says

    October 27, 2017 at 10:38 pm

    Quick question..my daughter is in BMT right now at Lackland..so excited she graduates Dec 1st..well she will be going to tech school at Lackland for security forces..i know she wants to work with MWD..would love to be a handler..do u suggest I let here know about 341st squadron ..or is there anything I can suggests for her to do once she gets to tech school after she graduates..thanks..
    Please feel free to email me..thx

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