They are animals with quite a few temperament, but working with them so closely is simply a reason for large satisfaction – says Grzegorz Polanowski from the 3rd Regional Logistics Base in Krakow, who completed a course for pretenders at the Military Centre for Pharmacy and Medical Technology in Celestynowo. “The function of the pretender is invaluable,” says the captain.
This year, about 20 people will complete the course for the appearance of service dogs. The interest is very large – it exceeds the number of seats. The Celestinian centre so resumes specified activities, responding to the expanding needs of the army. – Training is aimed at people who will aid dogs make in defence work. The function of the pretender is invaluable due to the fact that 90% of the dog's skills depend on him. It is he who creates exercises and allows the animal to make fresh skills – explains Captain Mateusz Szczur from WOFiTM in Celestynowo.
Thanks to pretenders who work in military units, the skills of service dogs are grinded to keep animals in form at all times. On a regular basis, quadrupeds do not always have the chance to participate in defensive actions. It may origin them to lose their abilities. – Soldiers, guides of service dogs, who know the specifics of these animals, usually become pretenders. They can foretell their behaviours and reactions, and during the course they learn fresh techniques of dog training – explains Captain Mateusz Szczur. They should be very efficient and be able to measure the form of a dog on a given day.
Film: Anita Blinkiewicz, Marcin Łobaczewski/ZbrojnaTV
Grzegorz Polanowski from the 3rd Regional Logistics Base in Krakow is finishing his training. He explains that his adventure with service dogs began a year ago erstwhile he finished his course as a guide. – The natural step for me is the pretender's course, on which you can learn much more about working with a dog, how to sense the animal and foretell its reaction – he says. “After this course, in addition to the regular patrols that I do all day with a dog, I will be able to train my four-legged, as well as another dogs that are in the unit, in terms of defence and maintaining combat capabilities at the appropriate level,” Polanowski explains.
The student admits that during the class he was constantly confronted with amazing situations due to the fact that it was working with a surviving animal. “Every dog is different, and despite being trained, we are inactive dealing with an component of unpredictability. They are temperamental animals and you should be careful, but working with them so closely is besides a reason for immense satisfaction – says Polanowski and ensures that during the performance of tasks he feels no fear, alternatively adrenaline appears. He besides admits that preparing to be a pretender, first you request to get utilized to a circumstantial outfit without which it would be impossible to do this job. The suit is dense and limits movement. – The problem may be simply improving the collar or hat. But safety must be first – she notes.
How does Grzegorz Polanowski feel contact with the dog during the exercise? “When an animal bites me, I feel tight jaws, but that’s even better, due to the fact that we know if it has caught well; whether it is full grip, or should improve,” he points out. He describes the bites as being blunt-forced. “There are bruises sometimes, but wounds don’t happen,” says the student.
The course lasts 5 days. In the first period, the emphasis is placed on the safety of both the pretender and the guide dog, who cooperate with each other. Then comes the time for tactical activities, besides in various conditions and areas – urbanized, forest, during dense noise, in smoke, stress or in the presence of a large number of another animals and people. - We train dogs for defence work. By creating different scenarios, we prepare candidates for appearances for various situations that may happen in their work – explains Captain Mateusz Szczur.
