Feeling the bite: Current military dog handlers meet Vietnam-era predecessors

By Nick DukeOctober 30, 2013

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(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT BENNING, Ga., (Oct. 30, 2013) -- Two generations of military dog handlers came together Saturday on Fort Benning, as veterans from the Vietnam War took a tour of the military working dog kennels.

Veteran dog handlers met some of the nine dogs housed at the facility, and viewed demonstrations on the dogs' search, obedience and attack capabilities.

Donnie Jones, one of the veterans who helped organize the visit, said most of the techniques used by today's dog handlers are similar to those used during the Vietnam War.

However, he said the facilities and infrastructure available now are impressive.

"We had about 250 dogs, we had kennels to support about 125 of them and the rest were tied to pine trees," Jones said. "So, that's a lot different, but a lot of the techniques are the same and the equipment is the same."

Jones also said that the breed of dogs used has largely stayed the same, as German shepherds are the most common military working dogs.

"We had German shepherds as well, and they were the ones who were most adaptable to mankind and to the countries that we were going to," Jones said. "We had Labradors for tracking and German shepherds for attacking and scouting."

Staff Sgt. John Thomas, the acting kennel master, said it was educational to learn how dog handling has changed over the last 40 years.

"It's interesting, especially how they lived with their dogs back then," Thomas said. "The veterans were telling me that they didn't really have dog kennels back then. They just kind of had dogs tied to a tree. They did a lot less attack work, which actually surprised me because I thought they did more back then. But, the basic principles of having a dog embedded with units to help keep the Soldiers safe has pretty much stayed the same."

The dogs' attack capabilities were included in the demonstration, as Soldiers who work at the kennels donned thick padded suits and role-played as enemy forces.

"The equipment is made so you won't get hurt, but I would say the adrenaline rush as you're running away from the dog and the fact that you don't know where the bite is coming can be a little bit exciting," Thomas said. "But, it doesn't hurt."