K9-Marshal meets Workingdogs & Dogsport
June 30, 2025
Service dogs have become an integral part of everyday military operations. Their abilities – whether detecting explosives, securing patrols or providing psychological support to soldiers – make them indispensable team members in every mission.
But how can you train these four-legged specialists as realistically, efficiently and safely as possible? The answer: with Marshal from Erler-Zimmer, our highly realistic service dog simulator.
Why service dogs are so important
When deployed, dogs demonstrate what technology alone cannot achieve: they combine instinct with obedience, sensitivity with endurance. This makes them particularly valuable in complex and dynamic environments – and saves lives in emergencies.
Their most important tasks include:
• Explosives detection: With their keen sense of smell, they can detect mines and hidden explosives.
• Reconnaissance & Patrol: They detect hazards at an early stage and support monitoring measures.
• Security & protection services: They serve as a deterrent and protection for the safety of camps and troops.
• Rescue operations: In crisis areas, they find people who are buried or injured.
• Persecution & arrest: They help track down and apprehend fugitives.
• Psychological support: They provide emotional support and reduce stress – an often underestimated but crucial factor in the field.
Dogs have served humans for centuries. We see them in a variety of roles: assistance dogs, sporting dogs, police dogs, military dogs... Dogs were also used during the world wars to deliver messages and pull carts. Even though these special tasks are now a thing of the past, dogs are still valuable and indispensable partners in the police, military and emergency services. In fact, their roles are expanding. Think of medical detection dogs, seizure alert dogs (for people with epilepsy or diabetes), assistance dogs for people with PTSD, or other care and therapy dogs that support victims during police interviews, for example. These dogs can literally make the difference between life and death or take on tasks that are still beyond the reach of humans or technology. That is precisely why such dogs deserve the same protection and care as their handlers. A course like TECC – adapted for dogs – was therefore essential. After all, accidents can happen quickly."
"Administering medication, performing needle decompression – inserting a needle into the chest to release air in the event of a tension pneumothorax – these are the kinds of procedures that are part of our daily reality in the field. And that applies not only to humans, but also to dogs. These are life-saving skills, which is why I believe it is so important that dog teams also have access to solid medical training."
Marshal – Simulation that creates reality
This is where Marshal from Erler-Zimmer comes in: an innovative service dog simulator that takes training to a whole new level. Designed for realism, repeatability and maximum efficiency, Marshal offers a realistic training environment – without the risk of real danger. Whether for beginners or experienced dog handlers, Marshal from Erler-Zimmer enables precise training in a wide variety of scenarios. From explosive detection to protection services, the simulator helps to develop specific skills and identify mistakes early on.
Jeffrey Heuninckx & Workingdogs & Dogsport
Jeffrey Heuninckx regularly uses our K9-Marshal in his K9 TECC training courses. Marshal was recently put through its paces – with great success.
Participants were:
• The trainers at the K9 Training Centre
• The staff at the Best Friends dog kennel and boarding facility
• The professional dog handlers at K9 Detection Belgium
The feedback was consistently positive: particularly striking were the realistic simulation, the high training intensity and the versatility of the system. Marshal from Erler-Zimmer proved to be a valuable tool in modern service dog training.
Jeffrey Heuninckx also explains that demand for such courses continues to grow. The main target groups include police forces, fire brigades and search and rescue dog organisations. With our K9 Marshal, all emergency services are prepared for emergencies.
Jeffrey Heuninckx explains what the dog service simulator from Erler-Zimmer can do:
"Pretty much anything that can happen in a real emergency. We can open an airway, simulate an amputation or gunshot wound, treat cuts and even perform needle decompression to reduce pressure in the chest. K9-Marshal can also make noises – barking, whimpering or growling – to increase stress levels during training. It can even be used for CPR. This simulator is absolutely indispensable in my classes. It allows participants to train under conditions that are very close to reality – without any risk. (...) There is simply no better preparation than this."
Are you interested in K9-Marshal from Erler-Zimmer? Then please contact us here.
But how can you train these four-legged specialists as realistically, efficiently and safely as possible? The answer: with Marshal from Erler-Zimmer, our highly realistic service dog simulator.
Why service dogs are so important
When deployed, dogs demonstrate what technology alone cannot achieve: they combine instinct with obedience, sensitivity with endurance. This makes them particularly valuable in complex and dynamic environments – and saves lives in emergencies.
Their most important tasks include:
• Explosives detection: With their keen sense of smell, they can detect mines and hidden explosives.
• Reconnaissance & Patrol: They detect hazards at an early stage and support monitoring measures.
• Security & protection services: They serve as a deterrent and protection for the safety of camps and troops.
• Rescue operations: In crisis areas, they find people who are buried or injured.
• Persecution & arrest: They help track down and apprehend fugitives.
• Psychological support: They provide emotional support and reduce stress – an often underestimated but crucial factor in the field.
Dogs have served humans for centuries. We see them in a variety of roles: assistance dogs, sporting dogs, police dogs, military dogs... Dogs were also used during the world wars to deliver messages and pull carts. Even though these special tasks are now a thing of the past, dogs are still valuable and indispensable partners in the police, military and emergency services. In fact, their roles are expanding. Think of medical detection dogs, seizure alert dogs (for people with epilepsy or diabetes), assistance dogs for people with PTSD, or other care and therapy dogs that support victims during police interviews, for example. These dogs can literally make the difference between life and death or take on tasks that are still beyond the reach of humans or technology. That is precisely why such dogs deserve the same protection and care as their handlers. A course like TECC – adapted for dogs – was therefore essential. After all, accidents can happen quickly."
"Administering medication, performing needle decompression – inserting a needle into the chest to release air in the event of a tension pneumothorax – these are the kinds of procedures that are part of our daily reality in the field. And that applies not only to humans, but also to dogs. These are life-saving skills, which is why I believe it is so important that dog teams also have access to solid medical training."
Marshal – Simulation that creates reality
This is where Marshal from Erler-Zimmer comes in: an innovative service dog simulator that takes training to a whole new level. Designed for realism, repeatability and maximum efficiency, Marshal offers a realistic training environment – without the risk of real danger. Whether for beginners or experienced dog handlers, Marshal from Erler-Zimmer enables precise training in a wide variety of scenarios. From explosive detection to protection services, the simulator helps to develop specific skills and identify mistakes early on.
Jeffrey Heuninckx & Workingdogs & Dogsport
Jeffrey Heuninckx regularly uses our K9-Marshal in his K9 TECC training courses. Marshal was recently put through its paces – with great success.
Participants were:
• The trainers at the K9 Training Centre
• The staff at the Best Friends dog kennel and boarding facility
• The professional dog handlers at K9 Detection Belgium
The feedback was consistently positive: particularly striking were the realistic simulation, the high training intensity and the versatility of the system. Marshal from Erler-Zimmer proved to be a valuable tool in modern service dog training.
Jeffrey Heuninckx also explains that demand for such courses continues to grow. The main target groups include police forces, fire brigades and search and rescue dog organisations. With our K9 Marshal, all emergency services are prepared for emergencies.
Jeffrey Heuninckx explains what the dog service simulator from Erler-Zimmer can do:
"Pretty much anything that can happen in a real emergency. We can open an airway, simulate an amputation or gunshot wound, treat cuts and even perform needle decompression to reduce pressure in the chest. K9-Marshal can also make noises – barking, whimpering or growling – to increase stress levels during training. It can even be used for CPR. This simulator is absolutely indispensable in my classes. It allows participants to train under conditions that are very close to reality – without any risk. (...) There is simply no better preparation than this."
Are you interested in K9-Marshal from Erler-Zimmer? Then please contact us here.
