Military dog handlers shared the secret of training animals to detect min.
Dogs have long been used in military science. Faithful four-legged defenders served during the Great Patriotic War, many died, blowing up other people's tanks and pulling the wounded out of the battlefield. And today, specially trained dogs continue to serve, solving problems, sometimes overwhelming – neither for humans nor for technology. A living example of this is mine-detecting dogs. Our correspondent visited the engineering unit training center to get to know modern dzhulbars better.
Photo: Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
Despite the day off and the early morning hours, life on the training ground of the training center of the Moscow region for engineering units of the Russian armed forces was already in full swing. Participants in nine teams arrived to compete for the title of the best of the best at the Pan-European competition for dogs for mine detection. They represent & nbsp; engineering units of central subordination, all military districts and northern & nbsp; Fleet. Called & nbsp; “ Find and Disposal“ competition.
In anticipation of the opening ceremony, the calculations of the dog handlers were placed in the shade. It is difficult for a person and a dog to stay long in the sun.
I meet participants.
Guards Sergeant Ilya Novozhilov, the leader of the mine detection service dogs, came to the competition with a German shepherd named Beretta. The mine search said that six years ago, their joint service began right here at the 66th Training Center. Together they learned the basics of the profession, trained together and went to serve in Murom together. It's been going on for six years. Trust has been tested not only for years, but also for service difficulties.
The military said the dogs would first go through a general training course to learn basic commands. Then a special course begins. Four-legged engineers are trained to first look for a delicacy by smell, and then add a “ scent“. explosives. “ Delicious & # 39; & # 39; gradually removed during training.
“Dogs feel and understand everything”
& mdash; Everyone has it differently. There are breeds that are more prone to looking for explosives. For example, German, Eastern European or Belgian Shepherds. Labradors also work well. Dogs, like humans, have a different psychotype. Some learn and work more actively, some more slowly.
& mdash; Yes, in 2016-2017 we were on a business trip in Aleppo, Syria. At work and during training, the dog should be rewarded for good results. We found something & mdash; & nbsp; they got food. After a while, she got to work so deeply that she was active in the search without further orders. Detects something & mdash; & nbsp; immediately indicates. If the explosive is high, it will sit if it is lying on the ground. Immediately quitting barking and kicking dogs can be dangerous.
Then there was a business trip for the second demining of Palmyra and Deir ez-Zora. And recently we flew with Bera to Nagorno-Karabakh. It was the most difficult business trip. Due to the pressure drops in the mountainous terrain, the animals felt worse than usual, the habituation took a long time.
& mdash; Sure. Before the first business trip, Bera and I spent six hours in the aviary. I was just talking and explaining where we were flying and why.
& mdash; “ Let's not disappoint each other & # 39; & # 39; he said. Everything is the same as communicating with a person. Dogs, on the other hand, feel a counselor and understand everything. I know she understood for sure. And he did not disappoint.
& mdash; They were. Fortunately, these mistakes were on the right side. Bera showed that something was in place, but in fact there was a piece of iron with the smell of explosives. But that's not a bad thing either. Let there be “ false & # 39; & # 39 ;, but they will check it again.
My participant said that in combat conditions, the area of demining is first examined using a non-contact mine detector, which determines the presence of an explosive substance at a certain distance. The second number is a mine search advisor and a dog. And only after them will the sappers start working.
Photo: Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
& mdash ; There are developments, but they are still being tested. While dogs work without protection.
Ilya shared that his love for dogs is his family. As children, pets were always at home. The wife also works as a handler, although at the Ministry of the Interior.
Our conversations were interrupted by the team's calculations to prepare for the start of the competition.
Mystic, Jadwiga and Cleopatra
“ We open the All-Army Contest & # 39; Find and Disarm & # 39 ;, & # 39; & # 39; announced the announcer to the sound of orchestral fanfare. Head of 66th Training & nbsp; centers of the engineer troops of the Russian Armed Forces & nbsp; Colonel & Vasily & Kondratyuk admonished the contestants: & nbsp; “ I want to wish everyone a beautiful and just fight and may they deserve a dignified victory. & # 39; & # 39;
Each team consists of a supervisor and three calculations. The announcer named the repairmen and nicknames of their pets by their surnames, stating their titles:
& mdash; Guard Sergeant Lapshov with his service dog Mystic, guard Sergeant Andreev with his service dog Christina, private Eremeev with his dog Elislav …
Ovation, Yadviga, Olaf … The nicknames of the animals were so unusual and cute that they gave their already charming owners a special charm. A service dog named Cleopatra also took part in the competition.
On the first day of the competition, pet repairmen had to demonstrate seven techniques of a general mine-detecting dog training course and overcome a belt with standard training obstacles installed on the relay race (eight different elements).
Minute readiness and now representatives of the first two teams will appear on the belt. Obstacles, even from the outside, do not seem trivial. The tail sapers must cross the barrier, slip into the suspended tire, crawl under the obstacle and then re-barrier, but much higher than the previous ones.
Final Test & mdash; & nbsp; climbing and descending steep stairs. Finally the coveted red flag and it seems that you can breathe. But it wasn't there. After all, we have to run back fast and pass the baton to another calculation.
Cheering screams from the fans, the emotions of the participants … The already hot air of emotions heats up even more. Some dogs even got a little confused about the excitement and bitterness. But everything went, in my opinion, to an outside observer, well.
Photo: Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
The first day of the competition ended, the best results. Dogs can finally relax in the shade and get a long-awaited delicacy from the owner. Surprisingly, there were those who did not care about fatigue. She took a breath and watched the animals rush to the ball with pleasure, which pleased the children, many of whom were among the spectators.
Can win good
At the beginning of the first day of testing, Lieutenant Colonel Dmitry Churikov, senior teacher training cycle for specialists on mine detection, he told reporters about the competition itself.
It turns out that the competition “ Find and Disposal“ for the first time this year. It will take five days. Dogs will be tested in all major areas of their activity.
& mdash; First day & mdash; & nbsp; the relay phase you saw today & quot; said the officer. & mdash; & nbsp; It involves testing the dog's ability to overcome various obstacles it may face in the performance of official duties. At the same time, the physical endurance of the animal and the team spirit of the leader and the dog are checked.
In the next phases, the calculations will demonstrate training skills according to the general course. These are the execution of various commands: “ sit & # 39; & # 39 ;, “ lie down & # 39; & # 39 ;, “ fetch & # 39; & # 39; … and special skills. For example, searching for explosives under different conditions in a minefield, in a separate building or structure, and checking the quality of the dog's odor indication.
The final two days & mdash; & nbsp; triathlon qualification phase … It is a symbiosis of an obstacle course, general and special training courses with elements of running, swimming, crossing a water obstacle, overcoming a minefield. Advisors will also have a small-bore shot. Based on the results of all tests, the best calculation will be determined.
Winners, of course, honor and praise. But you must recognize that all military dog sappers and their pets who perform such a dangerous and necessary service deserve praise and recognition.
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