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ITBP Dog Wing Earns its Stripes

2016/5/3 9:15:41
The Dog Training Wing of the force has seen an exponential growth due to the rapidly changing security scenario and implementation of new strategies to combat the challenges facing the nation. Dogs have been employed effectively as a force multiplier by security organisations in multifarious operational endeavours, and their role in negating the designs of ANEs is well documented. It is also proven that the efficiency of dogs in detecting explosives and contraband scores over man-made electronic devices. The presence of a K-9 contingent at any location acts as a psychological deterrent. Employment of this security asset for explosive detection makes sound operational sense.
The National Training Centre for Dogs(NTCD), located at Bhanu, that has been tasked to train dogs and handlers of ITBP, State Police Forces and other CPMFs (like CRPF, CISF,SSB etc), has seen an unprecedented expansion in infrastructure and training facilities during this year, that has culminated in its enhanced stature.

4 month old pups with their handlers.
The NTCD had been entrusted with the mammoth task of procuring , training and deploying 40 explosive detection dogs for the Commonwealth Games (CWG 2010), after the DG ITBP confidently assured the MHA that the Force has the necessary will and competence to achieve this pivotal security goal. The Officers and troops of NTCD tightened their belts and started sourcing genetically sound puppies from all over the country, that were found fit to undergo this rigorous training. All three month old pups were house-broken and married-up with their specially selected handlers. These handlers were selected from physically tough, mentally robust and dog loving jawans of ITBP, through a specialized test designed by NTCD called the DHAT (Dog handler Aptitude test). On attaining the age of 5 moths the dogs were trained in basic obedience and explosive detection by positive reinforcement motivational training methodology. The dead-line for the deployment of these dogs at Delhi, 15th September , loomed large in the minds of the commanders of NTCD. This was an operationally sensitive task, and any failure or delay would have had massive negative security ramifications. New and advanced training aids and methodologies were adopted and the dogs were exposed to all types of vapour scents, so that they can identify the target odour in the explosive-scent-bouquet (ESB).


28 EDDs with DHs of the 42nd Basic Obedience and 34th Explosive Detection Course

The first batch of Explosive Detection dogs were trained in Feb 2010 and the second batch passed out in July 2010 and the third phase was completed in Sep 2010. It was a comfortable buffer, when ITBP had overshot its aim and trained 56 dogs instead of 40 dogs, as promised by ITBP to the MHA. The remaining 16dogs had been kept as a strategic reserve, to meet any unforeseen eventualities. This was a historic and herculean effort on the part of the trainers, dogs and their handlers to accomplish the assigned task, with minimum fanfare, since Himveers are used to functioning serenely under high stress conditions with razor sharp deadlines. The dogs and handlers have successfully returned, after their sting at Delhi for anti-sabotage duties during CWG, with a satisfied smile lingering on their faces, after a job well done.

Motivational Training in progress


ITBP Pup negotiates Burma Bridge
Indo Tibetan Border Police(ITBP) has become the first Paramilitary Force in India to induct Malinios or Belgian Shepherds to act as force multipliers during anti-terrorist operations. An effort was launched to induct these dogs in the Force for multifaceted security duties like insurgency operations in jungles and other specific terrains.

Improvised Obstacle negotiation.

The father with his son (right)


Even a 3 ?month old ITBP pup shows devilish glee in biting !!
Malinois are very hardy dogs which can adapt to all terrains, having stood the test of time in the IDF(Israeli Defence Forces) during deployment in deserts and the US Army in the mountainous Afghan terrain. ITBP envisages to use these dogs as early warning elements during cross country patrolling in varied terrains and under extreme climatic conditions.
The first batch of 7 Malinois dogs, are undergoing Infantry Patrol training at NTCD and the second batch of 3 dogs are expected to arrive at Bhanu in Oct last week, after undergoing foundation training at an undisclosed location in the southern part of the country. After the pioneering steps taken by ITBP in training of this new breed, feelers have started coming from other Forces to induct Malinios dogs for infantry patrolling in their area of responsibility.
This elite centre, after having proved its training mettle, has started getting requests from many organisations to allot seats in explosive detection, tracking, infantry patrol, narcotics detection and search & rescue. Now, due to the enhanced capacity for training, after the construction of new kennels, ITBP is able to cater to the needs of other Forces also.
Recently ITBP SAR dogs tasted operational success during the Leh Tragedy, by rescuing 2 ladies and one child buried below the rubble for 3 days.
ITBP dog wing is going great guns, in the highest traditions of this elite Force.
Trainers at NTCD always are guided by the motto, ?it is not the size of the dog in the fight that matters ; it is the size of the fight in the dog that is the is pivotal ?