Bomb-sniffing dogs dropped from helicopters off Galveston coast







less A Coast Guard K-9 handler from the Marine Safety and Security Team in Galveston, Texas, and his bomb-sniffing dog are lowered from a MH-65 Dolphin from Air Station Houston to a boat, Feb. 7, 2014. The hoist was part of training designed to acclimate the dog and handler with the aerial entry process. A Coast Guard K-9 handler from the Marine Safety and Security Team in Galveston, Texas, and his bomb-sniffing dog are lowered from a MH-65 Dolphin from Air Station Houston to a boat, Feb. 7, 2014. The hoist ... more Photo: U.S Coast Guard Photo/Petty Officer 3rd Class Manda M. Emery Photo: U.S Coast Guard Photo/Petty Officer 3rd Class Manda M. Emery Image 1 of / 24 Caption Close Bomb-sniffing dogs dropped from helicopters off Galveston coast 1 / 24 Back to Gallery

You've probably never seen a dog in goggles and ear protectors being lowered from a helicopter, but military fans in Galveston were treated to just that over the weekend.

Coast Guard K-9 handlers from the Marine Safety and Security Team were doing hoist training with two bomb-sniffing dogs, whose job it is to sniff out potential explosives on container ships coming into the port.

The dogs were lowered from a height of 30 to 50 feet from an MH-65 Dolphin deployed from Air Station Houston to a boat waiting below. It's a simulation of real-life situations the dogs might have to face if suspect ships came into the Gulf.

"My dog Bert is a seasoned veteran," said Petty officer Chandler Nuttal of his 5-year-old German Shepherd who he says has been hoisted onto ships four times to sniff out bombs. "The hoist training went very well."

The dog looked a natural in his goggles and chest harness with legs poised out like a super hero.

His younger colleague Diggo still had some work to do though.

"He's a young dog, he had some cabin fear but he'll get used to it," Nuttal said.

The idea of the training is to get new dogs like Diggo accustomed to the extreme sounds and motion of a helicopter, a skill necesssary for all 14 dogs on the team.

"Some dogs will be a little scared, get afraid in the cockpit, other dogs will be more like, 'Dad, I'm ready to go!' and jump right in," said officer Nuttal.

It seems Bert is one of those.