SFS conducts joint canine training

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Katherine Holt
  • 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany --  The 86th Security Forces Squadron conducted canine training with the 230th Military Police Company and German Polizei Monday on Ramstein.

Twenty-two canine teams participated in the training that covered four scenarios: building searches, bite work, high-risk traffic stops and detection.

"This is the first time we were able to bring these agencies together for training," said Master Sgt. Duane Stinson, 86th SFS kennel master. "This was a great opportunity to interact and see the different techniques used to train their dogs."

Not only were the the agencies able to get daily training in, but the Polizei had the opportunity to practice crowd control with people for the first time.

"We work the FCK soccer games and use our dogs for crowd control," said Mario Scholz, German Polizei dog handler. "Today we were able to train our dogs with actual people making noises and interacting with them."

This five-hour training provided teams with a break from the normal training routine while teaching new tools.

"We were able to break away from our day-to-day and learn some new techniques," said Sgt. Edward Pfeifer, 230th MP Co. military working dog trainer. "Personally, I learned to give my dog more slack during detection to let him work more freely. I also learned to reward more for making the detection and to make it fun for the kanines."

According to Stinson, the day was successful and everyone learned alot from each other.

"We all actually work together," he said. "Today we became more familiar with each other and we are all looking forward to more training like this to occur in the near future."