Canine care for games venues

ITBP trains 50 dogs to identify explosives terrorists can use.

The upcoming Commonwealth Games have not just changed the face of Delhi. Away from the limelight, the Games have forced another change — the syllabus for police dogs.

This is the first time a dog squad has been trained by the Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) Force to identify new explosives that could be used by terrorists and anti-nationals to disrupt the event.

The dogs have been trained to identify substances like ammonium nitrate and liquid explosives. The training, to 40 dogs, went on for a gruelling 24 weeks. The dogs will provide “close proximity security” to athletes and VIP dignitaries coming for the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

Although more than 50 dogs were initially trained at National Training Centre for Dogs and Animals in Haryana, only 40 dogs were selected.
 

THE TRAINING PROCEDURE

STAGE ONE: A 12-week basic obedience training of dogs. Once the dogs complete these tests, exams are conducted. Those who clear the tests are promoted for explosive detection courses 

STAGE TWO: A 12-week explosive detection course that includes training at busy market places, stadiums, railways stations, residential complexes, cars, buses and trucks. 

DAILY ROUTINE:
6:50 am - 8:10 am: Falling in and lecture 
8:10 am: Breakfast
9:30 am-11:00 am: Training
11:00 am - 3:00 pm: Rest
3:00 pm-7:00 pm: Training 
7:00 pm: Dinner
Late night training once a week 
during 9:00 pm-01:00 am

“We started training when they were only four-and-a-half-months old. They have been trained for new threat perceptions and will be brought to Delhi for acclimatisation well before the Games. These were handpicked by trainers and doctors who met all well-known dog breeders in the country to select the best available pups,” said Deepak Kumar Pandey, the spokesperson of ITBP.

Officials said the dogs would be used to sanitise the safe passages that had been identified for players and dignitaries, hotels, training facilities, the venues of opening and closing ceremonies, the Games Village, as well the various event venues.

Sources say these dogs can operate on their own and don’t need a trainer to be with them. “They can check the entire area without any help from the trainers,” said a senior official who has closely monitored the training.

Interestingly, these dogs have also been trained to identify explosives from different odours, especially diesel, petrol, perfumes and sports equipment. The aim is to prevent smuggling of bombs inside the venues.

“Apart from training, these dogs have been given pre-cooked packaged food from the beginning so that they don’t fall ill during the Games and there is no attempt to manipulate their food. The food is according to the established international standards,” added the officer.

After the six-month training, they had to undergo refresher courses in identifying different explosive mixtures of RDX that could be used by the terrorists. “We don’t want to take any chances, so we conducted refresher courses,” said Pandey.