Intelligent Armour has introduced a Dog Collar and Lead.
Manufactured from Crye Precision MultiCam or A-TACS webbing, Austialpin 1″ Cobra Buckle and HK Snap Hook and sewn with nylon bonded thread. Order by color, collar circumference and lead length. Allow two weeks for delivery.
www.body-armour-protection.co.uk/IA-Dog-Collar-Lead
TSE specializes in technical surveillance and specialized communications applications. They have developed a waterproof (IP 67 water and dust proof) camera system for K-9 use. In addition to its waterproof features, the extreme lowlight black and white wireless camera also offers IR sensing and illumination as well as excellent range (~300m in addition to 3 reinforced concrete walls with steel hatch doors). The system boasts a 2.5 hour run time and the camera mast is spring loaded so that it will not break off if the dog runs into an obstacle. The mast can also be stowed for rest periods and transport. The receiver unit incorporates a 2.5″ screen and can be wrist or chest mounted.
Due to our coverage last week of AUSA, we were remiss in telling you about Fight and Flight Tactical’s K9 products. They’ve introduced the Basic MK VII Tactical K9 Harness Bundle.
Bundle includes:
(1) MK VII Tactical K9 Harness
(1) set of K9 Harness Pouches, Medium
(1) Medium Folding Dog Food/Water Bowl
The Mark Seven harness itself includes these features:
* Angled yoke and chest piece prevent choking, unlike other harnesses with a horizontal chest strap
* Lined with 3mm airmesh on body, chest piece and Skidplate
* PALS on sides for mounting pouches and patch panels
* PALS on top front for mounting lights and/or strobes
* Skidplate underneath provides two functions:
– interior pocket for cooling packs
– body strap channels have hook fastener inside, which mates with the loop fastener on the straps, preventing shifting of the harness
– Skidplate does not interfere with the natural functions of male dogs (customers have asked this repeatedly)
– Skidplate inner layer is 3mm airmesh, outer layer is heavy mesh, for durability and breathability
* Inner harness (with detachable leg loops) designed to take the stresses of rappelling
* 4″x9″ loop velcro on the back for mounting sensors or other equipment
* 2″x6″ loop velcro on yokes for nametapes and ID patches
* Fore and aft handles run the entire length of the harness, through the inner harness, for strength and durability
* 1.75″ drop-forged V-rings fore and aft for patrol or tracking use
* 1.75″ Cobra buckle closure on sides
* All inner harness webbing and hardware parachute spec rated (harness cannot be used for airborne operations)
* Optional PALS panel mounts on to 9″x4″ loop area for mounting PALS-compatible sensors (sold separately)
www.fightandflight.com/index.php/k9-1/basic-mkvii-harness-bundle
War dogs have been a part of military operations pretty much since canines were first domesticated. Back in February we reported on the book Soldier Dogs by Maria Goodavage (original story). It’s out now, and the author has recently completed a series of radio and television interviews about the book (like this one on Fox and Friends).
“…The garrison were asleep after an orgy, the dogs alone kept watch and the fifty pickets fell on the enemy like lions; all but one were casualties. Sorter, sole survivor, retiring from the conflict, fled to town to give warning and roused the drunken soldiers, who came forth to battle. To him alone were the honors of victory, and the grateful town…erected a monument engraved with his name and those of the forty-nine heroes who fell.” From an account of the Pelopponesian War cited in War Dogs, Michael Lemish
Soldier Dogs is a very good book, covering a number of different aspects of the Military Working Dog program, though if you’re looking for chapters and chapters about Cairo and canines assigned to USSOCOM you’re going to be disappointed. For obvious reasons there isn’t a lot of information about that side of things. Don’t let that stop you though, even if that was the catalyst for your interest in Soldier Dogs. You certainly don’t have to be a puppy pusher to enjoy it. This is a great read, covering dogs and handlers from the acquisition process to Lackland AFB to the Yuma Proving Grounds to paws on the ground downrange. There’s a full review over on Under the Radar, or you can go straight to the book’s official website and just buy one for yourself.
-DR
Military Working Dogs and their Handlers have served in all branches of the United States Armed Services since World War II. By US law (Public Law 110-181, Section 2877), there is a move to create a National Monument to these teams of men and dog. The tentative location is Lackland AFB TX home of the DOD MWD Training Center.
Our favorite way to support a great cause is when you get something for your efforts that can be used or worn. Generally, others see it and want to help as well. I mean sure, it feels good to help out with something of this magnitude but Garrett Container Systems has sweetened the pot with their Benchmade 375 Adamas knife promotion.
The knife is engraved with the Monument logo as well as Garrett’s Top Dawg logo. When you purchase this knife, GCS will donate a portion of the proceeds to the Military Working Dog Teams National Monument. But this gets even better because Benchmade will donate a portion of funds from Adamas sales to the Ranger Assistance Foundation.
To get your knife visit www.gcswarrior.com
Regardless of whether you purchase a knife, your tax free donation will help build a National Monument that will forever honor service and sacrifice of our K9 teams to save American lives.
For more information on the National Monument to US Military Working Dog Teams visit www.jbmf.us.
I like dogs. I like veterans. I like organizations that legitimately support injured or troubled veterans. So I love Paws and Stripes and thoroughly enjoyed my time with Jim Stanek and his service dog Sarge (both of whom you may have seen previously with Jim’s wife and Paws and Stripes co-founder Lindsay on Oprah’s ‘Ultimate Favorite Things’ episode, which they were nominated to attend by a Paws and Stripes veteran’s wife.)
Paws and Stripes was founded to pair service dogs with physically or emotionally injured veterans at no cost to the veteran. As good a service as that is, what makes it even more interesting is the source of the dogs “enlisted†for the canine therapy working dog program: they come from animal shelters, and in many cases could have been euthanized if not selected for service.
Al veterans are given the opportunity to select their own service dog, though the founder of Stars and Stripes jokes that it’s often the canines who make the selection. Selected canines are evaluated by Paws and Stripes trainers before being brought into the program—the veterans themselves enter an equipment contract to complete the training.
Jim Stanek and Sarge of Paws and Stripes
Veterans train with the dog and trainer throughout the program to strengthen their bond, to increase the understanding of the dog’s capabilities and to provide therapy. It also increases the veterans understanding about the canine’s instinct, natural pack tendency and so on. It takes approximately six months for Paws and Stripes to complete a training cycle.
As Paws and Stripes says, “Many organizations have a strict curriculum for their service dogs, requiring they learn the basic 86 commands associated with service dogs. Our enrollees, however, are not blind, deaf or paralyzed. They have unique disabilities that generate unique daily symptoms, so the dogs are trained custom to the veteran.â€
Often the simple presence and actions of a service dog mitigates or even prevents the onset of an anxiety, PTSD or similar episode the veteran might otherwise suffer. They have been trained to sense the onset of psychiatric disorders and will ground the individual or even bring them back from an episode by licking the veteran’s face, pawing or barking. As might be expected, they are very solicitous of their veteran’s needs and welfare, and will even assist or seek help for an incapacitated handler.
Right now the organization is looking for help from people with the right backgrounds. Support can include directed funds, general funds, expertise, gear for an auction, whatever. Right now they are in desperate need of a bookkeeper and a grantwriter. They Staneks and their friends are overtaxed as far as time goes now, though they are driven to succeed and don’t appear to take much time off.
“How can I rest now with these guys coming back with this hanging over my head?†Jim said during our interview. “This program can make a difference, and those guys deserve the help. I can’t slack off.â€
Watching the interaction between he and Sarge (a polite young lady of labrador, pit, pug, Catahoula and who knows what other mix), it was clear how well mannered, intuitive and helpful she was
They’re working on an auction now and have been talking to several big name companies to help out (including Larue, LWRC, Hornaday, Troy, Doublestar and several others). During SHOT the guys at Predator Tactical gave up a four thousand dollar custom 1911 pistol for auction and started the bidding out at $3,000 to raise money for Paws and Stripes.
Jim Stanek and the winner of the Predator Tactical pistol provided to auction for Paws and Stripes. Bidding started at $3k.
You can find more about Paws and Stripes on their website or on the Paws and Stripes Facebook page. Please take a look and consider supporting them.
-DR
Recently, there have been a great deal of new products designed specifically for the K9 and handler released on the market. In response to requirements from the community, 215 gear has developed several new products including collars, leashes, and leads.
Seen below is the Hands Free K9 Leash with Quick Release Buckle. It is a bungee type dog lead that extends from four feet to seven feet and is designed to allow the handler to have both hands on his weapon. 215 Gear has also integrated a large, formed non-slip control handle close to the dog for situations when more control is called for. The Leash attaches to a common riggers type belt, via a quick-release snap shackle and to the dog’s collar via a H&K type snap hook.
The entire line can be found here.
Garrett Container Systems (GCS) has launched their own brand of professional handler canine gear. “Our new TOP DAWG line of leashes, leads and muzzles were designed and manufactured based on direct input from canine handlers in the field , including our elite Special Operations Forcesâ€, said Danny Goforth , VP Sales at GCS.
The new products are all Berry Compliant and the line includes leads and leashes made of the latest materials including Biothane.
TOP DAWG gear can be purchased online at GCSWARRIOR.COM
