Moody AFB welcomes new pups

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Melissa K. Mekpongsatorn
  • 23rd Wing Public Affairs
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  Lola, Diyi and Arco, three military working dogs who finished dog training school at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, arrived at Moody Nov. 4th to join the 820th Base Defense Group.

The three dogs are patrol and explosive detection dogs and go through a technical training school much like their handlers do.

"All dogs have gone through extensive training prior to getting here. They have 90 days of patrol training and 90 days of protection training," said U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jeremy Burkeen, 820th Combat Operations Squadron military working dog trainer. "They are trained to detect and prevent explosive attacks, so we are on the front lines searching roadways."

When the dogs arrived at Moody, they went through an initial health exam and a two-week acclamation period to get adjusted to their new environment and climate.

The dogs go through something similar to the physical health assessment that Airmen go through, added Burkeen. They have their temperature taken, and pulse, respiration and weight checked just as Airmen would if they went to the doctor.

Each dog is matched with a handler and goes through rapport training that includes walks, playing ball and just getting to know one another.

Arco, a Belgian Malinois, was recently matched to his first handler, Senior Airman Erik Smith, 820th COS MWD handler. This will also be Smith's first dog as a handler.

"Arco and I hung out all weekend. I fed him, played with him and groomed him. We got to know one another," said Smith. "I literally slept here over the weekend.

"We train every day with the dogs, but it has to be fun for them. It's important that they enjoy what they are doing or they won't want to work," he added.

Once the rapport and acclamation period is over, the dogs will train every day to get them prepared for their base protection mission and to prepare to deploy to contingency operations around the globe..