Stanford Maguwu is a certified security detail and professional dog trainer and handler who has trained many dogs deployed to South Africa, Iraq, Afghanistan, Sudan, Kosovo, Kuwait and other countries. He has extensive security and dog handling experience, working with the USA Department of Defence and United Nations Peace Operation Missions. He has worked with the South African Police on various rhino anti-poaching missions in both South Africa and Botswana. In 2005, he underwent basic De-Mining Training, then in 2007, was selected by a rigorous process for a one year residential course at Mine Dog School in South Africa. The training comprised a mix in roughly equal amounts of time spent on practical dog training, theoretical training, and dog walking and socialising. The students studied animal behaviour, dog management and care, basic veterinary training, kennel management, detection, identification and handling of explosives and landmines and narcotics detection, with many tests along the way and theoretical and practical exams at the end, culminating in internationally recognised certification.
Thereafter, Stanford was immediately despatched to Afghanistan for his first six month stint. After a month on home leave, the next six month posting would begin. Wearing bullet proof vest, helmet and heavy long-sleeved protective clothing in temperatures usually of 50° to 60°C, based at the UN Mine Action Centre, Stanford and his fellow dog handlers moved around with the Explosives Ordnance Despatch Team and Mine Dogs, locating landmines and explosives, which were then destroyed. Stanford continuously stacked up excellent experience working as a dog handler extensively in Afghanistan, Iran and South Sudan. As well as his original Mine Dog Training and De-Mining Certification, Stanford has been additionally Certified through a one year residential Dog Handler Trainers’ Course in South Africa with Ex-Log Canine Services, a UK-based company. He has also attended a six month full time residential Dog Handling and Advanced Dog Training Course in Texas, USA, approved and certified by the US army. On graduating from this course, he worked for the American Canine Detection Service, contracted by the US Army, for 18 months.