Dog eat dog: Travis set to host K9 competition

by Senior Airman Nicole Leidholm
60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

5/12/2014 - TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Travis is hosting the 2014 Defenders K9 Trials May 16 and 17 where military and civilian police dogs will show off their best.

The trials, organized by the Travis Defenders Association and the Western States Police Canine Association, has 39 different police agencies from Northern California set to come out to Travis to compete with their dogs. Teams will also be coming from Beale and Edwards Air Force Base.

These trials are the season opener for the Western States Police Canine Association. These trials also mark a first for Travis and a first for the Western States Police Canine Association having a military installation hosting the trials.

On May 16, the detection portion of the competition will be scheduled to take place. The event starts at 1 p.m. and is only open to those in uniform. In the detection portion, the dogs will be searching for narcotics and explosives. The event takes place at the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Office, at the corner of Hickam Avenue and Ragsdale Road.

On May 17, the dogs and their handlers will be back at it again working on patrol, obedience and protection at 8 a.m. The teams will have the opportunity to showcase their abilities in K9 agility and searching vehicles. The all-day event will have Humvees, smoke and explosions. The event will take place at Johnson and National softball fields and is open to the general public. Food, drink and souvenirs will be available.

"Travis has spent weeks planning for this event," said Tech. Sgt. Christopher Smith, 60th Security Forces Squadron Military Working Dog kennel master. "We have done everything from building and reserving equipment to fundraising for the event. There are a lot of agencies coming out, it takes a lot of preparation."

Smith said that it has just been training as usual for the dogs.

"We're not going to cheat," he said. "We're not out there showing them what's going to be happening. We're just sharpening their obedience and practicing searching vehicles and looking for the bad guys."

While Travis has teams competing in the trials, they are not eligible for a trophy.

"Because we're hosting the trials, we cannot be eligible," Smith said. "It just looks bad on us."

These trials are important because they are a great learning tool for the dogs.

"It's basically training," Smith said. "It's new stuff for the dog, new area, new scenarios, new challenges. After the competition it gives the dogs a new tool to put in the toolbox from what they learned."

Smith went on to say how it also helps them network with outside agencies.

"We're able to meet individuals who have experienced unique situations," he said. "They are able to tell us how they accomplished it so when we're faced with the same situation, we also know what to do."

The last competition that Travis participated in was in October 2013 in South Lake Tahoe, California

"It was the first time military had won," Smith said. "We earned the opportunity to host because of winning."

Other agencies have opportunities to showcase their abilities such as the Firemen's Challenge and Air Mobility Rodeos, Smith said.

"Other agencies have their opportunity to show off their skills," he said. "These trials give us the opportunity to show off what we're made of; show off our smart and talented dogs. We're really excited for this opportunity. It just helps to bring recognition and credibility to Security Forces and really to Travis."

Senior Airman Andrew Hanus, 60th SFS MWD handler, said he's excited to be participating in the trials with Beni, 60th SFS MWD.

"Last year we didn't get to compete because we were deployed, so this is our first competition," he said. "We don't know what to expect, but we just want to go out and have fun."

Those wishing to compete or watch the trials that do not have a Department of Defense ID card or police agency badge must pre-register for the trials.

For more information on the K9 trials or how to pre-register, contact Smith at 424-3155 or email travisafbk9@gmail.com.