Two of Arlington's newest police recruits have been in training since October. Their daily regimen begins at 7 p.m. with agility drills, evidence searches and patrol work. If they do well, they're rewarded with a rubber chew toy until quitting time at 5 a.m.
Lobo and Mako, 18-month-old male German shepherds, are training for the Arlington Police Department's K-9 unit. The dogs, imported from the Czech Republic, will join four other canines in the unit next month upon successful completion of their training program.
Arlington County police officers Matt Heimberger, left, and Tom Binckley pose with their new partners, Lobo and Mako, respectively. Since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, the need for dogs that can perform bomb sweeps has grown.
(Juana Arias -- The Washington Post)
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Lt. Karen Herchenroder, commander of the K-9 unit, said the unit has become increasingly important amid concerns about terrorism.
"There's been a great need since September 11 -- especially for the canines to do bomb sweeps," she said. "Hopefully, [Lobo and Mako] will be cross-trained into being bomb dogs."
The department has had to borrow dogs from other jurisdictions when none of its own was available, said Matt Martin, spokesman for the Arlington police. "With four canine units, we didn't always have one in service," Martin said. "With six, we have a better chance of the canine service."
The dogs' handlers, Cpls. Tom Binckley and Matt Heimberger, are also new to the unit. Binckley, a 10-year veteran of the police department, and Heimberger, a nine-year veteran, not only train and work with the dogs but also live with them.
Each officer got to choose his dog: Lobo, the feistier of the two, with a thick coat and light eyes, or Mako, the friendlier, slightly thinner puppy with the dark brown face.
"The dog's personality is supposed to match the trainer's, so I picked Mako," Binckley said. "He's more laid-back."
While in training, the dogs are taught to listen to and trust no one but their respective trainers. When a trainer is absent from work, so is his dog. "If I'm on vacation, he's on vacation," Binckley said.
For now, Lobo and Mako are working on refining the skills they have learned. If they do well, they can continue training for sniffing out explosives and drug evidence.
Heimberger said Lobo is doing well with all aspects of his training, but could be better at obedience. "He does obedience, but he doesn't like it," Heimberger said. "It's difficult with him being so hyper. His drive is so high."
Binckley said dogs in the K-9 unit rarely work together.
"It's that whole alpha-male thing," he said. "This dog [Mako] doesn't get along with that dog [Lobo]."
Although the dogs were bred in the same kennel, Lobo barks and growls at Mako upon sight.
