Kuala lumpur: The Serigala branch of the Army Combat Training Centre (PULADA) is expected to be a showstopper at the 68th National Day celebrations at Dataran Putrajaya here tomorrow, with the appearance of 25 trained army dogs, compared to only 10 last year.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the Serigala branch is a special unit of the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) that combines army dogs with trained handlers for control, detection, and combat operations. Its assistant head, Captain Duin Anak Tat, 35, who serves as the commander of the MAF war dog detachment, and will lead the K9 dog unit parade for the first time during the National Day celebrations, described the opportunity as a historic moment in his four years of service with the unit.

Duin expressed hope that the public will become more familiar with the role of army dogs as a special asset of the MAF. With the presence of 25 dogs this year, the team appears bigger and stronger, symbolizing MAF’s preparedness to protect the nation’s security. He will be parading a Rottweiler army dog named Storm, alongside other breeds such as German Shepherds, Belgian Shepherds, Dutch Shepherds, Labradors, Pointers, Cocker Spaniels, and Border Collies, each specialized as guard dogs, explosive detection dogs, or tracker dogs.

Meanwhile, dog handler Sergeant Balas Anak Lain, 34, noted that the initial preparations of the Serigala branch team for the celebrations began in Ulu Tiram, Johor. They conducted road walk training with the army dogs for a round-trip distance of about one kilometre to ensure their stamina and control were at their best. The high requests and response from visitors last year were key reasons for the increase in the number of army dogs, which is expected to enliven this year’s celebrations.

However, managing a large number of dogs is challenging, as controlling 25 dogs is not easy due to potential conflicts if they are too close to each other. Various techniques are employed to make the dogs more ‘friendly’ with each other, ensuring they are comfortable sharing space and not affected by the surroundings, including the cheering crowd during the parade. Balas will be handling a brown Labrador named Bruno.

Veterinary staff, Warrant Officer II Anthony Jitol, 46, emphasized the responsibility of supervising and monitoring the health of the dogs, which began a week ago to ensure their good condition for the parade. Dog handlers provide full 24-hour attention, including fitness, nutrition, and health monitoring, to control their body temperature and prevent issues such as fever, stomach ache, fatigue, or heatstroke.

The prolonged hot weather poses a significant challenge. To prevent heatstroke, daily body temperature checks are conducted, with normal ranges being 37.8 to 38.4 degrees Celsius. If a dog’s temperature exceeds this range, the risk of heatstroke and seizures increases. Immediate treatment, including fluid therapy, is administered if necessary, with all treatment equipment on standby.

Additionally, the dogs’ feeding schedule, typically twice a day, might be adjusted during the parade period. They will receive additional vitamins to ensure sufficient energy. For instance, if training ends at 5 pm, a two-hour break is given before feeding at 7 pm. This schedule change is crucial to avoid bloating, which can be fatal.