Under the establishment of Operations Wing, the Special Duties Unit (SDU), popularly known as the “Flying Tiger Squad”, is one of the elite special teams in the Force which operates in environments covering sea, land and air, and specialises in countering terrorist attacks, as well as handling hostage takings and armed criminal activities. All SDU officers have undergone stringent selection process and vigorous training. The assault team members of the SDU can also serve as dog handlers to lead assault dogs to carry out different missions. This issue of OffBeat unveils the mysteries of SDU’s assault dogs.

Q: Do the names of the assault dogs have to be kept confidential?

A: Their names are not confidential information. Each assault dog has its own name. An assault dog is capable of recognising the voice of its handler and it only obeys the commands from its handler. Even if other people call its name to give an order, it will not respond to the command.

Q: What are the differences between SDU’s assault dogs and ordinary police dogs?

A: SDU’s assault dogs are Malinois purchased from abroad, with an aggressive temperament and strong obedience. Serving assault dogs are between three and eight years old, and weigh 30 to 35 kilograms. As the assault dogs have to work with SDU officers in extreme environments, they must know how to swim and are not afraid of heights. They must also be capable of obeying complicated commands, including jumping in specific directions, climbing, squeezing into narrow spaces and attacking targets.

Q: What kind of training do the Malinois have to undergo in order to qualify as assault dogs of the SDU?

A: The Malinois are required to undergo a four-month basic training upon their arrival in Hong Kong. They are trained to obey commands from their handlers, get through obstacles and take part in scenario-based training.

Q: How do assault dogs perform their duties?

A: After assessing the situation on the ground, a handler will decide whether to deploy an assault dog to eliminate threats or subdue a fleeing suspect. Generally speaking, a handler will only remove the muzzle of the assault dog when it is about to initiate an attack. After the handler gives a command, the assault dog will only attack a particular part of the target’s body in order not to inflict fatal injuries on the target. The assault dog will only stop the attack until the handler instructs it to stop.

Q: Are assault dogs equipped with protective gear while discharging duties?

A: Depending on the actual circumstances, SDU officers will help the assault dogs put on appropriate protective gear, including goggles, ear muffs, bulletproof vests and boots.

Q: How do the handlers look after the assault dogs? Will the assault dogs be adopted after retirement?

A: The assault dogs live in the kennel at the SDU’s base and are looked after by their handlers. The handlers shoulder great responsibility as they need to return to the base to visit their dogs even when they are on leave. Since the assault dogs are fiercer than ordinary dogs, they are not suitable for adoption. Instead, they will stay in the kennel of the SDU after retirement and continue to be taken care of by their handlers.