Kirill Vartanov, a military dog handler, talks about marker training, tactical uniforms, and duels between four—legged fighters and bears
To engage in a fight with a bear, to find explosives that a mine detector will not detect, and to remain a devoted friend to the end — army service dogs are capable of this. Hundreds of four—legged soldiers go on duty every day, guarding military installations and helping sappers. In order to protect people and perform difficult tasks, they undergo rigorous selection and training. Kirill Vartanov, senior lecturer at the 470th Training Order of the Red Star of the Service Dog Breeding Center of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, told Izvestia how service dogs are trained, why they need a snowman and why they use handlers.
To engage in a fight with a bear, to find explosives that a mine detector will not detect, and to remain a devoted friend to the end — army service dogs are capable of this. Hundreds of four—legged soldiers go on duty every day, guarding military installations and helping sappers. In order to protect people and perform difficult tasks, they undergo rigorous selection and training. Kirill Vartanov, senior lecturer at the 470th Training Order of the Red Star of the Service Dog Breeding Center of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, told Izvestia how service dogs are trained, why they need a snowman and why they use handlers.
"Our dogs can be found from Kaliningrad to Vladivostok"
— How do dogs get into the service?
— Dogs enter the service, as a rule, at the age of ten months to three years. They are purchased under a government contract for the needs of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. We select thoroughbred and healthy animals suitable for service. They must have documents confirming their origin and veterinary certificates. After the check, the animals are vaccinated and quarantined. Only then are they placed in enclosures and begin training. In addition, in addition to the government contract, we can accept dogs as gifts free of charge from individuals and legal entities. We also have puppies that were born in our wonderful breeding kennel Krasnaya Zvezda. They grow into reliable defenders and friends who help our fighters.
Kirill Vartanov, a military dog handler
Image source: Photo: IZVESTIA
— What kind of dogs are being raised at the center?
— On the basis of our training center, dogs of the guard, mine-search, search and rescue and patrol-search services are being trained. We are practically the only place, with the exception of the 66th interdepartmental training center of the Engineering Troops, where dogs are trained for the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. Therefore, our dogs can be found in Kaliningrad, Vladivostok, Novaya Zemlya, and Crimea.
Image source: Photo: IZVESTIA/Dmitry Korotaev
— Did you breed your own breeds?
— During the Soviet Union, we had a Russian black terrier, a Moscow watchdog and a diver in our kennel. Dogs of all these three breeds began to serve in our military unit. They have repeatedly proved their effectiveness and uniqueness.
— What dog breeds are currently serving in the army?
— There are a large number of breeds in service. These are the South Russian, German, Central Asian, Eastern European, Caucasian, Belgian Malinois Shepherd, Labrador, Moscow guard dog and Russian black Terrier. These are the main breeds. We also trained Labrador Retrievers and Anatolian Shepherds as an experiment. Previously, Cocker spaniels and Russian hunting spaniels were used. The choice of the dog that we will use depends on the task that we have to solve. Shepherds are the most versatile, especially German and Eastern European ones. One such dog can perform a large number of combat missions.
Image source: Photo: IZVESTIA/Dmitry Korotaev
— What are the conditions for dogs in your center?
— Each of them has an open-air aviary with a double-walled booth. It is insulated in winter. Each dog has a feeder and a swill in the enclosure. In winter, we put a snowman instead of the last one. Each dog also has a special litter in front of the doghouse. All enclosures are marked to find out which dog lives here. Cleaning equipment is assigned to a specific enclosure. And the special equipment used for training and caring for the dog is stored in the storeroom.
— How many dogs does your center train?
— We send several hundred annually to the troops for the protection of particularly important facilities and for mine clearance, including to the zone of the SVO and the border regions. We have no shortage of service dogs.
— Is the teaching methodology changing?
— Now we come to the marker training system. We try to work with the animal in a more partner-like manner. This leads to a more stable behavior of the ward in difficult conditions, a stronger bond between the dog and the soldier.
Image source: Photo: IZVESTIA/Dmitry Korotaev
— How much is given for dog food per day?
— This is a slightly floating amount. It depends on what products are being purchased, which is about 600-700 rubles per day. Believe me, it pays off. A dog can do things that no device can do. The same mine detector cannot find a shell-less mine. And the dog can handle it — it's trained to detect explosives.
"Our dog defended the military unit by chasing away a big bear"
— Do you know any cases when your pupil saved people's lives?
— In the Murmansk region, our service dog recently defended the military unit entrusted to it. While being guarded, she faced a big bear in a duel and won: she drove the beast away, did not allow him to enter the territory. It turns out that she didn't let them attack our people. And dogs often work on violators, and this is not a feat for them, but a daily job.
Image source: Photo: IZVESTIA/Dmitry Korotaev
— Dogs are currently working in the SVO zone, they are getting injured. How are they treated?
— Our dog handlers are trained to provide first aid to their pets. They help the dogs according to the situation. If this happened in battle, then first you need to evacuate her to a safe place, and help her there to reduce the risks of shock and blood loss. In the rear positions, initial measures are recommended, followed by immediate delivery to veterinarians. You can give an anti-shock injection, wrap your paw in case of a fracture, but only a specialist can provide a full cycle of care.
— Do they make prosthetics for dogs?
— Dog handlers love their pets, and I know many stories when they pay for prosthetics so that dogs can continue to live a full life. It's not cheap, it's expensive and quite complex operations, but they exist.
— Can we say that they are fighting for the life of dogs to the last?
— Yes, they do operations. A dog is both a faithful friend of a dog handler and a highly qualified specialist. They need to be educated for a long time, and their value is difficult to measure with money, but it is considerable.
Image source: Photo: IZVESTIA/Dmitry Korotaev
— Can a dog be discharged from the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation after being wounded?
— If a dog has a serious injury that prevents it from serving, of course, it is discarded, but it must be transferred to good hands.
"We are looking for new owners for our pets — in no case are we putting them to sleep"
— What kind of outfit should a dog wear? Are there any bulletproof vests?
— The standard set includes a collar, leash, harness, chain, regular and strict collars. There are bulletproof vests, tactical shoulder pads and gas masks for service dogs. If necessary, they are given out in military units where our students go to serve. There are shock muzzles for assault dogs, but their use is isolated.
Image source: Photo: IZVESTIA/Dmitry Korotaev
— Is the service life of dogs limited?
— We see four-legged people off to retirement after eight or ten years. We don't abandon anyone. Many dog handlers take dogs in. In addition, we are finding new owners who are ready to take care of the "pensioners". Friends are willing to take dogs, we post information in newspapers and on specialized websites. We are actively working with the Star Dog club. His staff helps to arrange retirement-age service dogs from law enforcement agencies free of charge. We are looking for new owners for our pets — in no case do we put them to sleep, unless, of course, there are medical reasons.
— Are there departmental or state awards for distinguished dogs?
— Departmental or government agencies have not yet developed it. Our dogs have been repeatedly awarded medals and rosettes at exhibitions, including international ones. They often win. In the near future, we plan to attend an event within the framework of the Zoofest festival, which will be held in Moscow.
Image source: Photo: IZVESTIA/Dmitry Korotaev
Due to the current situation, there are much fewer international exhibitions. We participate in the domestic ones. This is another reason for our dogs to show themselves and their beauty and increase the prestige of the dog training service in the Russian Armed Forces.
Bogdan Stepovoy
