Customs sniffer dogs Goku and Cafrey join military K9s marching at Putrajaya National Day

PUTRAJAYA, Aug 31 — Customs Department Labrador Retrievers Goku and Troy, along with 33 other K9 dogs, are marching in the National Day parade today. Goku, a nine-year-old veteran from the Netherlands, has assisted in detecting nearly 620 kilogrammes of amphetamines. The Royal Malaysian Customs Department now boasts 10 Labradors, up from eight last year.

Trainer Johnson Pedro Anak Ateg mentioned that first-time parade participants Cafrey and Riko joined after missing last year's event due to compatibility issues with other dogs. JKDM's dogs undergo intensive training, including special health screenings at Universiti Putra Malaysia’s Veterinary Hospital. The parade preparation involved individual walks and public demonstrations, with the biggest challenge being getting the dogs to march in unison due to some incompatibility issues.

The Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) features 25 dogs from the Army Combat Training Centre’s Wolf Wing, including guard, search, and tracking dogs. K9 Troy leads the military K9s, with Detachment Commander Capt Duin Anak Tat beside him. Most military K9s have participated in the National Day parade multiple times, and every member of the Wolf Wing is trained to handle all dogs in the unit.

Capt Duin emphasized march uniformity and dog compatibility as key challenges, with some dogs tending to pull, follow, or react if they perceive a threat. To manage weather conditions, all K9s received ample water and vitamins, along with regular body temperature, stool, and urine checks. Visitors were reminded to seek handlers' permission before interacting with the military dogs, as they are highly trained and may attack if they perceive a threat.