Mexico’s National Guard has a new recruit, and he weighs about as much as a bag of kibble. Comando is a 13-month-old chihuahua, roughly 8 inches tall and 15 pounds, and he turned up to a recent training session in Mexico City wearing protective goggles, a fitted tactical vest, and a tiny camera strapped to his head.
The guard’s canine unit is mostly Labradors and German shepherds, so Comando stands out for the obvious reason. His handlers say that is partly the point. He is training for search and rescue while also serving as a mascot, and he has already made school visits, civic ceremonies, and Mexico’s Independence Day celebrations, as iHeartDogs reported.
His story started in a rescue center, not a kennel. Comando had lived with an elderly couple who could no longer care for him. About six months ago the National Guard adopted him out of the northern border state of Chihuahua, which is where his name comes from. Officers say they hope he helps people see a friendlier side of the uniform.
What this means for your dog
Comando is a good reminder that working ability has little to do with size. Small dogs can learn scent games, tricks, and basic search work at home, and most of them love having a job to do. If you have ever written off a chihuahua as a lap dog, he makes a solid counterargument. Our story on a rookie K9 who found three lost children on his first shift covers the other end of the size range.