Meet the four-legged heroes protecting Sail250 Maryland & Airshow Baltimore

There will be some furry friends working alongside military personnel during Sail250 Maryland and the Airshow Baltimore. The military dogs will help keep residents safe during the large-scale celebrations. 

WJZ got to take a look at the training that the dogs undergo at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling. 

"We want them basically to trust their nose almost more than their eyes," said Naval District Washington military working dog handler Lt. Gregory Bottom.

The K-9s undergo daily training, which can include obstacle courses or re-enacting various situations with a handler in a bite suit. 

"We also do what they call random anti-terrorism measures where we go out to random bases around the National Capital Region, and we perform random vehicle inspections or building searches," Lt. Bottom said.

The working dogs must be able to detect signs of hostility and remain alert at all times.

"We also respond to calls for services for things like active shooters, unattended bags, suspicious persons, felony traffic stops," he explained.

But Lt. Bottom said that one of the most important parts of having a military K-9 is the bond with the handler. 

"They're dogs first," Lt. Bottom said. "They like to get treats and snacks and take naps and play tug of war."

He explained that the dogs do not interact well with anyone besides their handler. He recommended that anyone attending any of the upcoming celebrations give the dogs some space. 

"Any dog can feel crowded in and feel like they need to defend themselves. So, that's really the biggest thing," he said.