Handling working dogs: not a walk in the park Published April 22, 2014 By Airman 1st Class Dawn M. Weber 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England -- Providing the 48th Fighter Wing with the ultimate detection capability and the psychological deterrent to protect the base and its people is what the men and women of the 48th Security Forces Squadron military working dogs unit do on a daily basis. It takes constant on-the-job training to keep the handlers and dogs readily prepared for base patrols, real-world scenarios and combat situations. "The dogs' sense of smell gives us the upper hand of detecting something; as a human, our eyes don't allow us to see, whether that be an item wedged in the seats of a vehicle or a perpetrator in a low visibility scenario," said Staff Sgt. Chris Maziarka, 48th SFS MWD trainer. "Every day is different with the dogs," said Staff Sgt. Christian Cykman, 48th SFS MWD handler. "Having a strong and trusting bond helps us as handlers adjust to the dogs' moods and attitudes." According to Cykman, knowing what agitates the dog and what spots are OK to touch helps the handlers recognize changes in behavior and better communicate commands. Like the MWD handlers, some of the dogs are trained at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, through the Department of Defense working dog course, while others may be purchased from U.S. or overseas private K-9 contractors. Once the dogs are acquired by the different MWD units throughout the Air Force, on-the-job training begins immediately. For the K-9s at Royal Air Force Feltwell, weekly training is conducted for combat obedience, as well as working on the tactical obedience training course. "The relationship between a handler and dog is the most important aspect of the team," Cykman said. "Without a strong rapport and bond, the consequence is a weak working team when involved in real-world scenarios." Coming in after hours to do something as simple as taking the dog for a walk helps build the relationship between a handler and K-9. Being a constant presence for feeding time or any medical or grooming appointments also strengthens the military working dog team, Cykman added. Once established, the bond between handler and dog is unbreakable, Senior Airmen Anthony Peters, 48th SFS MWD handler, said. "Working with [MWD] Gina, I feel that when I leave at the end of the day that I have completed something. Whether it is through training or building positive camaraderie, every day feels like an accomplishment that benefits our team," Peters said.