RAF police dogs enjoy classical music after a day of detective work around Typhoons
The RAF Police Dog Section at RAF Coningsby is a powerful asset for detection and protection, with one dog doing the work of eight two-legged personnel.
The animals patrol the Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) Typhoons which could be called upon to defend the UK's airspace at a moment's notice.
After a busy shift though, all the dogs are rewarded with some downtime, where they are played classical music to help them unwind.
Sergeant Shaun Perkes, the senior NCO at RAF Coningsby's Police Dog Section, explained their listening choice as it adds "a bit of companionship and interaction, not just silence".
He said this was especially important when sudden loud aircraft noises could startle the dogs.
Sgt Perkes explained how the dogs and their handlers work around the clock, and are "out there night and day throughout the year ... rain or shine, the guys are out patrolling, protecting those assets".
The protection dogs include two-year-old Belgian Malinois Ivan, who under the careful control of his handler is well-versed in detecting and deterring an armed intruder.
Others, like three-year-old black Labrador Kody, are trained for detection, using their noses for vehicle searches to sniff out weapons, explosives and drugs.
All the working dogs undergo a rigorous selection and training programme at the Defence Animal Training Regiment.
They then maintain frequent training days to ensure they are fully equipped for their specialist roles.
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