Top dog: NSG’s Labradors to make way for the more ferocious Belgian Malinois

Belgian Malinois attacking a “terrorist” during an NSG drill. (Express photo by Gajendra Yadav)

The NSG’s Labrador squad will gradually make way for the highly intelligent and ferocious Belgian Malinois. While earlier, Labradors were used for sniffing and tracking, and German Shepherds for attacking, the NSG is now training its Malinois dogs to carry out all three tasks — sniff, track and attack.

Sources said the Malinois squad will help NSG’s Black Cat commandos with their anti-terror operations, including hostage situations.

“The operational squads will become leaner (due to the Belgian Malinois). Else, we would have to take two sets of dogs along with their trainers and other logistics. It impacts mobility and stealth,” NSG Director General M A Ganapathy said.

The breed is considered highly intelligent and ferocious. (Express photo by Gajendra Yadav)

Lieutenant Colonel R B Sharma, who is in charge of NSG’s K9 canine unit, said training for the new inductees started in August 2023 and the squad is now sufficiently trained.

“The squad has three breeds of dogs at present — Labradors, cocker spaniels and Belgian Malinois. We have 20 Labradors (aged 4-7 years) currently. We are not acquiring more Labradors since we plan to retire them gradually. As their replacement, we have acquired 14 Belgian Malinois and they are now our lead dog squad. Belgian Malinois is the preferred breed of the best forces in the world. The US forces that hunted down (al-Qaeda chief) Osama Bin Laden in Pakistan had Malinois dogs in tow,” Lt Col Sharma said.

Handlers say the Belgian Malinois are more alert compared to other breeds. (Express photo by Gajendra Yadav)

In 2019, a Belgian Malinois played an important role in a military operation led by the US that resulted in the death of fugitive Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in northwest Syria. The breed was also used with success by NATO troops.

Lt Col Sharma said unlike Labradors, who have great olfactory senses but are docile, the Malinois’s sniffing capabilities are only slightly lower. However, he said, they have greater alertness, besides possessing the ability to attack and paralyse terrorists, giving security forces “golden moments” before their intervention. The breed was developed in Belgium’s Malines area in the 1800s.

“Labradors get tired very easily and can get playful during operations. These are not issues we face with the Malinois. Labradors are constantly looking for affection and are eager to please their masters. They also want treats constantly. Malinois are more professional that way,” Lt Col Sharma adds.

Training for Belgian Malinois inducted into the NSG’s K9 squad started in August 2023. (Express photo by Gajendra Yadav)

NSG second-in-command Major Rishi, who is the main dog trainer, said the Malinois are far more agile than other breeds and can also be trained better.

“They can also be trained to follow laser beams. So a bag can be pointed out with a laser beam at a distance, and the dog can reach it and sniff it without the involvement of its handler, thus reducing the risk to the soldier,” he said.

Belgian Malinois are the preferred canine companions of special forces in the United States, Europe and Israel. (Express photo by Gajendra Yadav)

The NSG dog squad has also acquired the Canine Remote Delivery Systems (CRDS). The technology has been designed especially for dog squads, for remote operations and real-time feedback. The technology allows a dog to wear a camera-fitted visor and a radio set is attached to its collar. The trainer can stay far from the operation site and send in the dog alone, passing on instructions through the radio set. The camera-fitted visor relays live visuals to the handler of the operation area covered by the dog.

Major Rishi said, “The equipment has a range of 1 km and is one-of-a-kind in India. The Malinois have already been trained to sniff out explosives and attack terrorists based on directions given remotely via CRDS.”