Kuala lumpur: While their daily routine involves tracking drugs at national entry points or performing military guard duty, K9 dogs Goku and Troy share a common mission today, namely marching alongside 33 other dogs at the National Day parade in Dataran Putrajaya.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM) features 10 Labrador Retrievers - up from eight last year - led by Goku, a nine-year-old veteran dog from the Netherlands that has helped detect about 620 kilogrammes of amphetamines. Senior Customs officer and JKDM narcotics K9 trainer Johnson Pedro Anak Ateg, 40, noted that first-time parade participants Cafrey and Riko were also featured after missing last year's event due to compatibility issues with other dogs.

He added that all JKDM K9 dogs underwent two weeks of intensive training, matching processes, and special health screenings at Universiti Putra Malaysia's (UPM) Veterinary Hospital. 'JKDM sniffer dogs are specifically trained to detect drugs, including methamphetamine, amphetamines, ketamine, cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, cannabis, and precursor chemicals,' he stated. The K9 unit had recorded 41 drug detection cases up to August this year. Johnson Pedro explained that initial training for the parade involved walking the dogs individually before pairing them with compatible dogs to march side by side, providing early public exposure through school demonstrations and walks in public areas. He mentioned the challenge of getting the dogs to walk together in unison due to incompatibility issues and aggression towards one another.

Meanwhile, the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) features 25 dogs from the Army Combat Training Centre's (PULADA) Wolf Wing, comprising guard, search, and tracking dogs, with K9 Troy out front alongside Detachment Commander Capt Duin Anak Tat. Duin highlighted that most military K9s had participated in the parade multiple times, and each member of the Wolf Wing is trained to handle all dogs in the unit. He noted that march uniformity and dog compatibility remained key challenges, as some dogs might pull or react if they perceived a threat, prompting veterinary officers to closely monitor their stamina and health.

To cope with current weather conditions, Duin stated that all K9s were provided with ample water and vitamins, undergoing body checks before deployment. He advised parade visitors to seek permission from handlers before interacting with the military dogs, emphasizing that although the dogs are highly trained and appear well-behaved, precaution is necessary to prevent potential attacks.