(KCEN) -- From drugs to explosives, Bosco is learning to sniff out danger and warn soldiers.
When he finds something, he gets his favorite toy and lots of love.
It's a big part of Lackland Air Force Base's 120 day basic training program for dogs.
Military Working Dog Trainer Jeff Justice said, "Their nose just picks up the various particles and when they indicate and give us what we call a passive response, like you saw Bosco do, it lets us know that, 'I found what you told me to look for. It's right here.'"
In combat, dogs go in front of troops, getting into places they might not be able to safely go.
Military Working Dog Handler SSG Chad Atchley said, "These dogs are pretty accurate. We train, we do a lot of exercises to prepare for those scenarios, so the dogs are really important for us to use."
In a mock theatre, the dogs look for training aids, some of which are filled with common bomb-making materials. Finding them in a combat zone could potentially save our soldiers' lives.
Usually, about 1,500 dogs are in training at Lackland.
Justice said, "We're always doing gunfire training. You can take the dogs to the range to experience the various types of small arms fire that they're going to go through."
Once the dogs get their certificate, they're moved to their duty station.
"It's the actual base that they're assigned to. It's their responsibility to push and progress that dog to where it's even more advanced than it was when it left here," Justice said.
Because these guys are both man's best friend and most faithful.
