Life lessons from a military working dog | Andrew Hanus | TEDxGeorgiaTechSalon

I spent the majority of my adult life in

I spent the majority of my adult life in a profession where a hesitation could

a profession where a hesitation could

a profession where a hesitation could mean that and while I’ve been fortunate

mean that and while I’ve been fortunate

mean that and while I’ve been fortunate enough to avoid the life-threatening

enough to avoid the life-threatening

enough to avoid the life-threatening perils myself many of my fellow comrades

perils myself many of my fellow comrades

perils myself many of my fellow comrades does not fare as well see I was a

does not fare as well see I was a

does not fare as well see I was a military working dog handler in the

military working dog handler in the

military working dog handler in the United States Air Force and essentially

United States Air Force and essentially

United States Air Force and essentially it was my duty each day to play with

it was my duty each day to play with

it was my duty each day to play with dogs it was great

dogs it was great

dogs it was great however the term play is often different

however the term play is often different

however the term play is often different for us and it usually looks like this or

for us and it usually looks like this or

for us and it usually looks like this or this even this so how many of you here

this even this so how many of you here

this even this so how many of you here have a dog had a dog play the dog you

have a dog had a dog play the dog you

have a dog had a dog play the dog you know what it is

dogs bark amazing they bring out an

dogs bark amazing they bring out an array of emotions in us when you’re sad

array of emotions in us when you’re sad

array of emotions in us when you’re sad they know it they can sense our movies

they know it they can sense our movies

they know it they can sense our movies they’re also really good at keeping the

they’re also really good at keeping the

they’re also really good at keeping the squirrels out of the art which is

squirrels out of the art which is

squirrels out of the art which is important because I want those acorns

important because I want those acorns

important because I want those acorns for myself

for myself

for myself they can also help with getting all the

they can also help with getting all the

they can also help with getting all the stuffing out of the pillows and more so

stuffing out of the pillows and more so

stuffing out of the pillows and more so they know how to untie your shoes

they know how to untie your shoes

they know how to untie your shoes permanently so being a military working

permanently so being a military working

permanently so being a military working dog handler specifically charged with

dog handler specifically charged with

dog handler specifically charged with the technique improvised explosive

the technique improvised explosive

the technique improvised explosive devices demands a frame of mind that

devices demands a frame of mind that

devices demands a frame of mind that amongst a few things can withstand

amongst a few things can withstand

amongst a few things can withstand intense criticism is crying for any

intense criticism is crying for any

intense criticism is crying for any challenge and has the ability to quickly

challenge and has the ability to quickly

challenge and has the ability to quickly take in data and make decisions this

take in data and make decisions this

take in data and make decisions this this is Benny Mike hey Mike again

this is Benny Mike hey Mike again

this is Benny Mike hey Mike again throughout the duration of our time

throughout the duration of our time

throughout the duration of our time together he was the light of my life he

together he was the light of my life he

together he was the light of my life he remains close to my heart even today

so my time with Benny taught me a lot

so my time with Benny taught me a lot more than just the basic fundamentals of

more than just the basic fundamentals of

more than just the basic fundamentals of doctrine and their so here I was not

doctrine and their so here I was not

doctrine and their so here I was not rare I truly did not anticipate just how

rare I truly did not anticipate just how

rare I truly did not anticipate just how valuable and influential that this

valuable and influential that this

valuable and influential that this profession would be to me outside of a

profession would be to me outside of a

profession would be to me outside of a uniform and it was when my military

uniform and it was when my military

uniform and it was when my military service career ended when I had to make

service career ended when I had to make

service career ended when I had to make the decision of leaving

the decision of leaving

the decision of leaving Benny behind that I realized this is the

Benny behind that I realized this is the

Benny behind that I realized this is the choice I had to deal with so that I

choice I had to deal with so that I

choice I had to deal with so that I could pursue a new path as a civilian

could pursue a new path as a civilian

could pursue a new path as a civilian well then he really never left me behind

well then he really never left me behind

well then he really never left me behind he’s given me significant amount of life

he’s given me significant amount of life

he’s given me significant amount of life lessons that I’ve been able to apply and

lessons that I’ve been able to apply and

lessons that I’ve been able to apply and both my professional life personal and

both my professional life personal and

both my professional life personal and even academic there are some of those

even academic there are some of those

even academic there are some of those lessons that I’d like to share with you

lessons that I’d like to share with you

lessons that I’d like to share with you here today and the overarching theme the

here today and the overarching theme the

here today and the overarching theme the concept that I’d like for you to learn

concept that I’d like for you to learn

concept that I’d like for you to learn to take away today I learned while being

to take away today I learned while being

to take away today I learned while being a military working dog handler so being

a military working dog handler so being

a military working dog handler so being the dog handler it requires requires us

the dog handler it requires requires us

the dog handler it requires requires us to pay attention to very minut details

to pay attention to very minut details

to pay attention to very minut details that other people maybe don’t don’t

that other people maybe don’t don’t

that other people maybe don’t don’t foresee and understanding these little

foresee and understanding these little

foresee and understanding these little nuances and the thoughts that Edgar can

nuances and the thoughts that Edgar can

nuances and the thoughts that Edgar can indicate something very important to us

indicate something very important to us

indicate something very important to us that as handlers we all change a

that as handlers we all change a

that as handlers we all change a behavior or COPD see when a dog the

behavior or COPD see when a dog the

behavior or COPD see when a dog the Texan odor such as an explosive that

Texan odor such as an explosive that

Texan odor such as an explosive that handler needs to be aware of it and what

handler needs to be aware of it and what

handler needs to be aware of it and what she you should be aware of it before

she you should be aware of it before

she you should be aware of it before they actually located the dogs are

they actually located the dogs are

they actually located the dogs are trained to

trained to

trained to final response at the source of the odor

final response at the source of the odor

final response at the source of the odor and the last thing that you want is to

and the last thing that you want is to

and the last thing that you want is to be standing right over an explosive

be standing right over an explosive

be standing right over an explosive device so some dogs they get energized

device so some dogs they get energized

device so some dogs they get energized there are tales and ears they’ll do

there are tales and ears they’ll do

there are tales and ears they’ll do weird things there are other subtle

weird things there are other subtle

weird things there are other subtle changes as well as they’re sniffing

changes as well as they’re sniffing

changes as well as they’re sniffing behavior or maybe even a possum

behavior or maybe even a possum

behavior or maybe even a possum these steel bees could be so slight it

these steel bees could be so slight it

these steel bees could be so slight it can easily go on notice especially to

can easily go on notice especially to

can easily go on notice especially to the untrained eye and this is just one

the untrained eye and this is just one

the untrained eye and this is just one example of how in sync a dog team really

example of how in sync a dog team really

example of how in sync a dog team really needs to be so let’s put this in the

needs to be so let’s put this in the

needs to be so let’s put this in the context of something that we might all

context of something that we might all

context of something that we might all be familiar whether that’s patients how

be familiar whether that’s patients how

be familiar whether that’s patients how many of you here have served in Atlanta

many of you here have served in Atlanta

many of you here have served in Atlanta all right

all right

all right or maybe you’ve just been provoked by

or maybe you’ve just been provoked by

or maybe you’ve just been provoked by another driver out on the road maybe you

another driver out on the road maybe you

another driver out on the road maybe you found yourself in the one-and-only

found yourself in the one-and-only

found yourself in the one-and-only checkout line at the grocery store now

checkout line at the grocery store now

checkout line at the grocery store now imagine the amount of patience that dog

imagine the amount of patience that dog

imagine the amount of patience that dog must have been waiting all day to home

must have been waiting all day to home

must have been waiting all day to home this is play daily training is essential

this is play daily training is essential

this is play daily training is essential to maintaining military working dogs

to maintaining military working dogs

to maintaining military working dogs proficiency it’s the duty and the

proficiency it’s the duty and the

proficiency it’s the duty and the responsibility of the handler along with

responsibility of the handler along with

responsibility of the handler along with the assistance of trainers and of of

the assistance of trainers and of of

the assistance of trainers and of of seasoned cameras to hone in on the

seasoned cameras to hone in on the

seasoned cameras to hone in on the abilities and building built skill sets

abilities and building built skill sets

abilities and building built skill sets of the mwd and the team and so training

of the mwd and the team and so training

of the mwd and the team and so training like this requires an immense amount

like this requires an immense amount

like this requires an immense amount patience some of you might be familiar

patience some of you might be familiar

patience some of you might be familiar with trying to teach sauce tricks like

with trying to teach sauce tricks like

with trying to teach sauce tricks like stay or pullover and it can be

stay or pullover and it can be

stay or pullover and it can be frustrating when they don’t walk away

training is an enduring process

training is an enduring process sometimes it lacks motivation I say lack

sometimes it lacks motivation I say lack

sometimes it lacks motivation I say lack serious motivation

serious motivation

serious motivation I found very quickly that my impatience

I found very quickly that my impatience

I found very quickly that my impatience was not welcome in the training center

was not welcome in the training center

was not welcome in the training center for attitudes can significantly diminish

for attitudes can significantly diminish

for attitudes can significantly diminish the quality of training and this seems

the quality of training and this seems

the quality of training and this seems it seemed unprepared and not fit for

it seemed unprepared and not fit for

it seemed unprepared and not fit for duty learning is difficult the academic

duty learning is difficult the academic

duty learning is difficult the academic environment can often be a full and

environment can often be a full and

environment can often be a full and ancient animal I found myself under

ancient animal I found myself under

ancient animal I found myself under immense pressure when transitioning from

immense pressure when transitioning from

immense pressure when transitioning from the military to a university set

the military to a university set

the military to a university set sometimes things are moving too best

sometimes things are moving too best

sometimes things are moving too best through the other times too slow so I

through the other times too slow so I

through the other times too slow so I never was a good student in fact I

never was a good student in fact I

never was a good student in fact I almost a lot ISIL and to meet college I

almost a lot ISIL and to meet college I

almost a lot ISIL and to meet college I was born on vaccine however when I did

was born on vaccine however when I did

was born on vaccine however when I did find myself in the role of a student

find myself in the role of a student

find myself in the role of a student once again it was easier than I could

once again it was easier than I could

once again it was easier than I could recall why that’s finally because I now

recall why that’s finally because I now

recall why that’s finally because I now have the patience that it takes to learn

have the patience that it takes to learn

have the patience that it takes to learn to be a student I just repeat that to my

to be a student I just repeat that to my

to be a student I just repeat that to my time with men my high school so would

time with men my high school so would

time with men my high school so would have never imagined graduating my

have never imagined graduating my

have never imagined graduating my undergrad was snooping Lotte Alex it was

undergrad was snooping Lotte Alex it was

undergrad was snooping Lotte Alex it was unreal so when you find yourself getting

unreal so when you find yourself getting

unreal so when you find yourself getting angry at that driver or father that the

angry at that driver or father that the

angry at that driver or father that the cashier is taking too long or maybe for

cashier is taking too long or maybe for

cashier is taking too long or maybe for some of you it’s writing that one line

some of you it’s writing that one line

some of you it’s writing that one line of code or creating the right bowing

of code or creating the right bowing

of code or creating the right bowing primers whatever it might be

primers whatever it might be

primers whatever it might be pay attention to your Co pianist

pay attention to your Co pianist

pay attention to your Co pianist so there’s another there’s another kind

so there’s another there’s another kind

so there’s another there’s another kind of contact that I’d like to share and I

of contact that I’d like to share and I

of contact that I’d like to share and I think many of us are late to it in one

think many of us are late to it in one

think many of us are late to it in one way or maybe the experiences some degree

way or maybe the experiences some degree

way or maybe the experiences some degree highlight and that’s hesitation

highlight and that’s hesitation

highlight and that’s hesitation so military working dogs big massive

so military working dogs big massive

so military working dogs big massive hesitation fear of pain or death is

hesitation fear of pain or death is

hesitation fear of pain or death is often an afterthought sit back and I can

often an afterthought sit back and I can

often an afterthought sit back and I can tell you a dozen stories about MWDs who

tell you a dozen stories about MWDs who

tell you a dozen stories about MWDs who a sidestep hesitation to protect their

a sidestep hesitation to protect their

a sidestep hesitation to protect their handler their partner or those around

handler their partner or those around

handler their partner or those around them and in the act of doing so has

them and in the act of doing so has

them and in the act of doing so has seriously injured themselves for

seriously injured themselves for

seriously injured themselves for instance this is pepper peppers a

instance this is pepper peppers a

instance this is pepper peppers a Belgian Malinois who while pursuing the

Belgian Malinois who while pursuing the

Belgian Malinois who while pursuing the hostile individual lost on lake while

hostile individual lost on lake while

hostile individual lost on lake while jumping over a fence today he’s happy at

jumping over a fence today he’s happy at

jumping over a fence today he’s happy at home with his handler he’s just as loved

home with his handler he’s just as loved

home with his handler he’s just as loved and happy and scared enough he’s still

and happy and scared enough he’s still

and happy and scared enough he’s still fast so we hesitated for a number of

fast so we hesitated for a number of

fast so we hesitated for a number of greece’s anxiety it may be a decision

greece’s anxiety it may be a decision

greece’s anxiety it may be a decision pretending RV boat or to sting

pretending RV boat or to sting

pretending RV boat or to sting risk-averse the capacity does not

risk-averse the capacity does not

risk-averse the capacity does not hesitate and translate into a number of

hesitate and translate into a number of

hesitate and translate into a number of scenarios it opened the door to

scenarios it opened the door to

scenarios it opened the door to opportunity and it can even serve as a

opportunity and it can even serve as a

opportunity and it can even serve as a course of confidence-building I’ve done

course of confidence-building I’ve done

course of confidence-building I’ve done things in my life that I never would

things in my life that I never would

things in my life that I never would have imagined I was blessed with the

have imagined I was blessed with the

have imagined I was blessed with the opportunity to work the White House for

opportunity to work the White House for

opportunity to work the White House for each day I was surrounded by brilliant

each day I was surrounded by brilliant

each day I was surrounded by brilliant minds face formidable and intellectual

minds face formidable and intellectual

minds face formidable and intellectual challenges today pursuing students

challenges today pursuing students

challenges today pursuing students master’s degrees at this fine execution

master’s degrees at this fine execution

master’s degrees at this fine execution path I never anticipated and you

path I never anticipated and you

path I never anticipated and you probably wouldn’t believe me if I told

probably wouldn’t believe me if I told

probably wouldn’t believe me if I told you but I won the local strongman

you but I won the local strongman

you but I won the local strongman contest this year I might know I was

at the forefront of each of these

at the forefront of each of these endeavors I recognized my hesitation I

endeavors I recognized my hesitation I

endeavors I recognized my hesitation I fear failure and embarrassing and in

fear failure and embarrassing and in

fear failure and embarrassing and in that baby myself

that baby myself

that baby myself kind of trust myself I’m not as good as

kind of trust myself I’m not as good as

kind of trust myself I’m not as good as he is and not as smart as she is I can’t

he is and not as smart as she is I can’t

he is and not as smart as she is I can’t hear that I’m too shy then he taught me

hear that I’m too shy then he taught me

hear that I’m too shy then he taught me how to trust myself because he trusted

how to trust myself because he trusted

how to trust myself because he trusted it be sometimes more than others promise

had I given in even the smallest amount

had I given in even the smallest amount about my abilities those opportunities

about my abilities those opportunities

about my abilities those opportunities and achievements would have never

and achievements would have never

and achievements would have never happened so

you’re all probably pretty familiar with

you’re all probably pretty familiar with sensing when you’re experiencing emotion

sensing when you’re experiencing emotion

sensing when you’re experiencing emotion or noticing a behavior change after the

or noticing a behavior change after the

or noticing a behavior change after the facts maybe you have a nervous tic

facts maybe you have a nervous tic

facts maybe you have a nervous tic or maybe your heart size of ambassador

or maybe your heart size of ambassador

or maybe your heart size of ambassador perhaps like posture change whatever it

perhaps like posture change whatever it

perhaps like posture change whatever it is the challenge here is to recognize

is the challenge here is to recognize

is the challenge here is to recognize those emotions before they ought to be

those emotions before they ought to be

those emotions before they ought to be set in it all right so I’m gonna do

set in it all right so I’m gonna do

set in it all right so I’m gonna do something now but actually I’m gonna

something now but actually I’m gonna

something now but actually I’m gonna bring upon you up to the stage and we’re

bring upon you up to the stage and we’re

bring upon you up to the stage and we’re gonna demonstrate how to recognize your

gonna demonstrate how to recognize your

gonna demonstrate how to recognize your Cioffi

Cioffi

Cioffi any takers all right

any takers all right

any takers all right this is just a test I’m kidding of

this is just a test I’m kidding of

this is just a test I’m kidding of course I’m not really going to bring any

course I’m not really going to bring any

course I’m not really going to bring any of you up here

of you up here

of you up here however did you notice your Co V when I

however did you notice your Co V when I

however did you notice your Co V when I indicated that one of you might be

indicated that one of you might be

indicated that one of you might be brought to the stage maybe you’re an SI

brought to the stage maybe you’re an SI

brought to the stage maybe you’re an SI or a little nervous in your excited

the key here is to recognize these

the key here is to recognize these sensations in their embryonic stage

assess a situation and then react

assess a situation and then react accordingly refrain yourself so you’re

accordingly refrain yourself so you’re

accordingly refrain yourself so you’re better positioned to handle the

better positioned to handle the

better positioned to handle the situation so whether you’re in an

situation so whether you’re in an

situation so whether you’re in an interview talking to a stranger deciding

interview talking to a stranger deciding

interview talking to a stranger deciding whether or not to take that global

whether or not to take that global

whether or not to take that global internship position or standing in front

internship position or standing in front

internship position or standing in front of an audience understand that you are

of an audience understand that you are

of an audience understand that you are in charge of you and well frankly just

in charge of you and well frankly just

in charge of you and well frankly just stay ahead of your CEO be thank you

stay ahead of your CEO be thank you

stay ahead of your CEO be thank you [Applause]