By
PTE Simone Heyer
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Sergeant
Alan Grossman with Recruit Dog Bak and Warrant Officer Paul
Andersen with Recruit Dog Eden at RAAF Base Amberley. Photo
by LAC Greg Pierce
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THE Air Force is responsible for the addition of three new top-notch
dogs to the ADF breeding program for military working dogs (MWDs).
Bak, Eden and Freedom were obtained from Lackland Air Force Base
in San Antonio, Texas.
Sergeant Alan Grossman travelled to the US to choose the dogs,
which he says are vital to the future of the ADF’s military
working dogs.
“We plan to supply the ADF with our own bloodlines,”
he said. “Dogs are needed for the specific purpose of being
MWDs. We want them so they’ve got a good nose, they’ve
got endurance, longevity, good health and the ability to bite.
They have the drive that we want, so they go out in the field
and they’re exceptionally good dogs.”
The three were rejected from the US working dog role but more
than adequately met the ADF’s high standards.
SGT Grossman explained that US dogs are expected to meet dual
roles.
“Over there they must be trained in explosives or narcotics
as well as being patrol dogs,” he said. “If they fail
narcotics or explosives they’re no good for the program.”
This is no problem for the ADF’s dogs who only need one role
– that of patrolling, including tracking and attack work.
He said that as part of the program, the Air Force was looking
at similar cooperation with the British and US militaries and
the German Polizei.
The three dogs are elite with their capabilities and bloodlines
essential to the growth of the ADF kennels.
The three will continue their Australian military training during
the next year.
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