Talisman Sabre gives military dog handlers a chance to learn

Exercise Talisman Sabre is not just for soldiers from different nations learning to train and work together, but also for the military working dogs to pick up a few new tricks.

Air Craftsman Dylan McClintock from the New Zealand Air Force with his working dog Keno and RAAF Working Dog Handler Corporal Renee Cahill at RAAF Base Townsville. Picture: Evan Morgan

Exercise Talisman Sabre is not just for soldiers from different nations learning to train and work together, but also for the military working dogs to pick up a few new tricks.

Air Craftsman Dylan McClintock from the New Zealand Air Force has been in Townsville with his working dog Keno for the past three week in a mutual training exercise with Military Working Handlers at RAAF Base Townsville.

He said one of the biggest challenges initially was keeping Keno cool as it was currently a lot colder in New Zealand.

“The temperature change is very different, but muggier over here, the dog can’t do as much training. He can’t go out as long just because he’s more of a fluffier dog as well. It’s just a little bit harder on them. I’ve got equipment to keep them nice and cold,” he said.

He said the pair of them had also come over for Exercise Pitch Black in Darwin last year and the experiences were an invaluable training experience.

“Just having fresh eyes from the Australian handlers just gives a different perspective,” he said.

RAAF Working Dog Handler Corporal Renee Cahill with Dejzr at RAAF Base Townsville. Picture: Evan Morgan

Air Craftsman Dylan McClintock from the New Zealand Air Force with his working dog Keno at RAAF Base Townsville. Picture: Evan Morgan

Military working dog handler Corporal Renee Cahill and her trusted companion Dejzr are part of 27 Squadron security at RAAF Base Townsville.

She said the interoperability training with her New Zealand counterparts had been fantastic.

“It’s been really, really a positive experience, just seeing how the New Zealand handlers operate, in comparison how we operate and how we can consolidate our training together,” she said.

“Throughout my night shifts and evening shifts, we’ve been conducting building clearances, building searches, wind detections (using wind to detect scent) together and just overall, seeing how there’s differences between each dog capability, however, we can meet somewhere in the middle, which is fantastic.”

The corporal said she had also the chance to work closely with AC McClintock’s working dog Keno.

“I’ve received a bite from Dylan’s military working dog, Keno, and that was good fun. That’s when we are wearing our PPR bite suits and the level of drive some of their dogs have is astounding,” she said.

Originally published as Talisman Sabre gives military dog handlers a chance to learn