K9 Spotlight: Ben Jack & Rio

Ben Jack & Rio
Paramedic

From puppyhood, Rio was formally trained to be an emotional support and wellness dog. He was placed to perform his job, but unfortunately, at 12 months old, Rio did not really care to be sitting complacently under someone’s desk day after day.

As we sadly know how this story goes for many Belgian Malinois, Rio ended up in a few different homes between 12 and 17 months, until he landed in a shelter in Wenatchee with a woman named Colleen, who specializes in rescuing this challenging breed. She also offers boarding services, which we use while traveling.

My family and I met Rio after Thanksgiving last year, when we were picking up our HRD dog, Bolt, after returning from visiting family. Rio surprised us immediately with his enthusiasm to engage and take commands. He was clearly very obedient and eager to please. Colleen asked if we would be willing to test Rio to see if he had potential to become a live-find dog for Northwest Disaster Search Dogs. After working through some logistics, we brought Rio home a couple of weeks later to meet the team. He passed the screening tests with flying colors.

Over the last five months, Rio has become a great partner and teammate. He has picked up live-find disaster training very well. He loves climbing ladders, running through blind tunnels, and—most importantly—finding and barking at his search targets, the hidden “victims.” Rio is destined for greatness. His favorite thing in the world is chasing a ball. He will do anything to get that ball, and I’ve really enjoyed utilizing his desire to further our training—especially after his previous homes said he wasn’t motivated by anything.

Their Gear: Rex Specs, Mutt Muffs, Nylon Collar with Handle

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