BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan- Pebbles and dust flew as the black and tan German Shepard, Larry, a working dog from United States Forces-Afghanistan Mad Dog Kennels, hurtled toward his intended target, a burly man from AMK9's contract working dog team in a bite suit. In an explosion of muscle and fur, Larry launched himself at the man, clamping his jaws around a healthy portion of the suit. After a few moments, his handler, Spc. Austin Lancaster, native of Amarillo, Texas and military working dog handler for the 180th Military Working Dog Detachment at Fort Leonard Wood, gave Larry the command to release the man and Larry obliged with a few excited whines. Clipping a leash back onto Larry's collar, Lancaster and Larry proceeded to lead the "perpetrator," the man in the bite suit, toward the other end of the facility, in an exercise of escorting him off the premises. Soldiers, contractors and D.A. Civilians watching from the wooden benches on the other side of the fence cheered enthusiastically, ending Larry's run and ushering in the next working dog team in the K9 competition.

United States Army Article