Dog attack decoys provide critical training

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Gary Stevens
  • 1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. (AFPN) --  Sweaty, gray in color, worn and torn with wear is an arm-mounted bite sleeve used to protect "decoys" from canine attack injuries.

These "decoys"  using the protective sleeve provide training so that working dogs understand proper aggression techniques toward assailants.  

All is under the watchful eye of Staff Sgt. Rebecca Lind, 1st Special Operations Security Forces Squadron, and the senior canine decoy training instructor.

Sergeant Lind instructs each decoy to act naturally and realistically, especially when running from the animal. 

"This helps the animal react practically and properly to the assailant's movements," she said.

Sergeant Lind teaches this course only to civilian law enforcement personnel and military individuals requiring proficiency in dog-handling procedures.

Military and civilian police personnel train with 70- to 100-pound military police dogs to ensure that both police personnel and military dogs understand how to better work with one another. Classes usually have 10 to 15 attendees.  Class participants take on the role of decoy using full body and arm only protective sleeves for the dogs to attack.

Students opting for the arm sleeve are kept safe by a steel bar safely attached to interior of the sleeve.

"People typically do not use the full body suit," Sergeant Lind said. "It can limit their mobility, making them uncomfortable." 

After a simple command of "get him" is administered by the dog handler, the dog is underway to subdue the aggressor. The dog bites onto the assailant's arm until the attacker has been subdued, or goes limp.

When the dog handler assertively tells the dog to sit, the animal ceases its attack and remains stationary until the handler can leash and restrain the dog. 

Second Lt. Thomas Brannen, 19th Special Operations Squadron, who played the role of decoy at a recent class, said it was a unique experience.

"How could I possibly pass up the opportunity to be attacked by a dog?" he said.

Comment on this story (comments may be published on Air Force Link)

Click here to view the comments/letters page