SOMEBODY'S GOTTA DO IT: IT'S A DOG (HANDLER'S) LIFE

In the second feature of the series, the dog handlers from the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Military Working Dogs Unit (MWDU) reveal there's more to the job than being dog whisperers.

Third Sergeant (3SG) Lim Zuo Ting eyed the trespasser warily. "Riso, stay," he told the German Shepherd at his side. When the intruder lunged forward a few seconds later, 3SG Lim shouted: "Attack!" At his handler's command, Riso sprang towards the intruder and clamped down on his arm with his powerful jaws.

This typical scenario was part of 3SG Lim's and Riso's training for security operations. Besides such duties, handlers and dogs in MWDU are deployed to search for targets, as well as for enforcement operations such as detecting arms, explosives and drugs.

Said Master Warrant Officer (MWO) Rajamanikam, who heads the MWDU: "Our unit enhances the security of SAF camps, as well as identified key installations in Singapore... The presence of military dogs at these areas provides a strong deterrence to potential perpetrators, and at the same time, offers security troopers a less lethal option when apprehending suspects."

Good housekeeping

At the MWDU, trainees go through a two-week Basic Dog Handler Course during which they learn basic obedience commands and attack work for guard operations. The course also covers the grooming of dogs, identification of harmful parasites, and basic treatments such as ear cleaning when there is an infection.

After the training phase, handlers and dogs bond through their daily routine, which involves about three hours of training the dogs, and a lot of picking up after them.

According to dog handler 3SG Shannon Lee, a day at work begins with taking the dogs to the exercise grounds so that handlers can scrub the kennels.

Handlers will then groom the dogs, bathe them and administer basic treatments before conducting training. Finally, the day ends with the handlers feeding them and then cleaning the kennels again.

3SG Lee explained the need for hours of extensive cleaning: "Whenever the dogs do their 'business', we have to clean it up so that they don't live in a dirty place that will affect their health. On Tuesdays, we even disinfect the kennels to prevent the spread of diseases."

Unseen humdrum

While these handlers have friends who envy their jobs, they are quick to point out that there are unseen aspects to their work.

"It's not all fun and games," said 3SG Lee. "Some people think that we're lucky because we get to play with dogs every day, but they don't see what we have to do for the upkeep of the dogs and their environment. On top of that, like any other soldier, we also have training. When we train our dogs, we are actually undergoing training as well."

It's a physically tiring job that requires plenty of personal discipline and pride to ensure that the dogs are well taken care of, another handler Corporal (CPL) Heng Zhi Pang commented. "Kennel washing is quite taxing, especially when we need to disinfect the kennels. There's a lot of scrubbing, squeezing foam and rinsing to do, but it's worth it. After you're done, you see a clean kennel, and the dogs are healthy and happy."

To Lance Corporal (LCP) Wong Guo Tai, who has a Diploma in Veterinary Technology from Temasek Polytechnic, dogs are fun to be with, but they can also be a handful at times. He explained: "Some dogs are jumpy, so when you're trying to give them treatment, it can be quite frustrating because they keep struggling."

He added with a laugh: "Sometimes after treatment, we'll reward the dogs with treats, so that they'll associate treatment with a good thing. But all this is easier said than done."

Tender loving care

Outside of training and operations, the work of a dog handler may be tedious and uneventful at times, but these dog lovers have no complaints. Said LCP Wong: "When I see my dogs recovering fast, there's a sense of achievement knowing that my treatment works."

The best reward, perhaps, comes from the bonds they form with their dogs, said CPL Heng. "It's very satisfying when your dogs are happy to see you, and they recognise you as their master. Like how soldiers take care of their weapons, we take care of live animals. The difference is that here, when we show love and care to our dogs, they respond to us in the same way and it s a very good feeling."

For some of the handlers, whose Operationally-Ready Date (ORD) is sometime this year, completing their National Service comes with mixed feelings.

On whether he is looking forward to his ORD, LCP Wong, who adopted a retired Labrador from the unit last June, said: "Of course, I'll be happy to reach my ORD, but I'll also miss my dogs."

Giving a contemplative nod, he added: "I'll definitely miss my dogs more."