1 00:00:00,020 --> 00:00:02,770 (birds chirping) 2 00:00:05,290 --> 00:00:07,310 - Hi, I'm Staff Sergeant Albert Middleton, 3 00:00:07,310 --> 00:00:09,010 99th Security Forces Squadron 4 00:00:09,010 --> 00:00:11,653 Military Working Dog Handler for canine, Alfie. 5 00:00:15,140 --> 00:00:16,940 Alfie's day-to-day routine consists 6 00:00:16,940 --> 00:00:18,150 of me getting him out of his kennel, 7 00:00:18,150 --> 00:00:20,660 taking him to the obedience yard, 8 00:00:20,660 --> 00:00:24,150 grooming him and then conducting center line drills. 9 00:00:24,150 --> 00:00:26,650 It's a form of physical conditioning for him, 10 00:00:26,650 --> 00:00:29,270 just to warm him up before we head out 11 00:00:29,270 --> 00:00:31,733 to do day-to-day operations. 12 00:00:33,080 --> 00:00:35,920 The different type of training that's required for canine 13 00:00:35,920 --> 00:00:38,520 and particular to Alfie, is detection training, 14 00:00:38,520 --> 00:00:40,740 aggressor training and obedience training. 15 00:00:40,740 --> 00:00:41,940 Good boy! 16 00:00:41,940 --> 00:00:44,790 I familiarize myself with Alfie 17 00:00:44,790 --> 00:00:47,530 by taking him on walks, rucks. 18 00:00:47,530 --> 00:00:50,910 Also taking him to the obedience yard to conduct grooming 19 00:00:50,910 --> 00:00:53,400 and again to conduct center line drills 20 00:00:53,400 --> 00:00:55,803 where we build a solid rapport daily. 21 00:00:57,120 --> 00:00:59,680 For the most part, I will be assigned to Alfie 22 00:00:59,680 --> 00:01:04,081 until, pretty much until I make rank or until he retires. 23 00:01:04,081 --> 00:01:06,153 (soldier yelling commands) 24 00:01:06,153 --> 00:01:07,050 (dog barking) 25 00:01:07,050 --> 00:01:10,170 The reason why we use canine is for area security, 26 00:01:10,170 --> 00:01:14,580 detection, combat and nine comeback operations 27 00:01:14,580 --> 00:01:15,912 on a daily basis. 28 00:01:15,912 --> 00:01:16,745 - Oh, good boy! 29 00:01:16,745 --> 00:01:17,880 (dog barking) 30 00:01:17,880 --> 00:01:21,080 - [Albert] Something that canines can do that humans can't, 31 00:01:21,080 --> 00:01:22,976 is track human odor. 32 00:01:22,976 --> 00:01:24,070 - Get him! 33 00:01:24,070 --> 00:01:26,990 - [Albert] Canine are able to go out and track them. 34 00:01:26,990 --> 00:01:30,870 Be able to go to places where suspects hide 35 00:01:30,870 --> 00:01:33,913 that sometimes we aren't able to find the suspect. 36 00:01:36,200 --> 00:01:38,010 Alfie has a great personality. 37 00:01:38,010 --> 00:01:40,640 Obviously, he knows when I'm getting ready to pull him. 38 00:01:40,640 --> 00:01:42,010 I grab his collar and leash, 39 00:01:42,010 --> 00:01:44,740 he does circles for me in his kennel. 40 00:01:44,740 --> 00:01:47,330 Put it on, take him outside for a little walk. 41 00:01:47,330 --> 00:01:50,343 Let him do his grown man thing. 42 00:01:51,300 --> 00:01:54,110 And then we start the day. 43 00:01:54,110 --> 00:01:56,160 I know they're loving and fun and cute 44 00:01:57,090 --> 00:01:58,180 but the signs are on him for a reason 45 00:01:58,180 --> 00:01:59,630 so please do not pet the dog. 46 00:02:03,224 --> 00:02:05,880 When you see Alfie out and about, 47 00:02:05,880 --> 00:02:10,330 he's not simply looking to cause any harm. 48 00:02:10,330 --> 00:02:12,450 He's out there to save lives 49 00:02:12,450 --> 00:02:15,319 and protect everyone that's here on the installation, 50 00:02:15,319 --> 00:02:16,152 whether it's here, 51 00:02:16,152 --> 00:02:18,410 whether it's on a presidential 52 00:02:18,410 --> 00:02:21,340 or vice-presidential mission in another state, 53 00:02:21,340 --> 00:02:24,750 he just out there just trying to make everything safe 54 00:02:24,750 --> 00:02:26,373 for those in attendance. 55 00:02:27,300 --> 00:02:28,640 The reason why we pet the dog, 56 00:02:28,640 --> 00:02:30,740 is because we have to continue to build that bond. 57 00:02:30,740 --> 00:02:34,160 We have to allow the dog to feel safe with us, 58 00:02:34,160 --> 00:02:35,980 and for them to trust us at the end of the day, 59 00:02:35,980 --> 00:02:40,690 because we are on the road, we're doing multiple tasks, 60 00:02:40,690 --> 00:02:43,810 daily operations that consists of 12 to 14 hours daily. 61 00:02:43,810 --> 00:02:47,929 So that bond that we build every time that we're out 62 00:02:47,929 --> 00:02:51,104 has to be on point. 63 00:02:51,104 --> 00:02:53,771 (serious music)