Put Me In Coach, I'm Ready to Play

"Put Me In Coach, I'm Ready to Play"

Meet Czabin aka BATDOG!

Written by Julie Murray, Head-Writer, Lowcountry Dog Magazine

Photography by Southern Vintage Photography

“Put me in coach, I’m ready to play!” Czabin is our very own Charleston Riverdog’s Official Bat Dog. Fans cheer every Monday home game when Czabin takes the field to retrieve bats during the game. It seems only natural for the Riverdogs to have a dog retrieving bats. After watching her work at a recent game, it’s obvious that she is natural for this job. Czabin is a Belgian Malinois, which are often used as police dogs, in the military or as bomb and drug detecting dogs.

Czabin’s handler Simms Wilbanks has been working with dogs since her high school job as a kennel tech. She earned the Professional Certified Trainer certification from National K9, where they taught her the kinds of traits and characteristics to look for in potential canine recruits. Simms evaluated Czabin as a puppy to assess her working and training abilities and found that she met all of the requirements. When Czabin was two months old, they began training for explosives detection, obedience and service work. This dynamic duo holds a national certification for Explosives Detection. They work at the Charleston Port Authority and Czabin loves her job.

As part of her service training, Czabin learned to pick up common household items and give them to her handler. Building on this skill, Simms was able to teach Czabin to pick up and retrieve a baseball bat. This activity quickly became one of Czabin’s favorite games to play and is enjoyed by players and fans alike! Simms told us “We have enjoyed working with the Charleston Riverdogs for the past two seasons. Czabin looks forward to every Monday home game.” It’s such a simple joy to watch her run out on the field, having the time of her life. Czabin also won Best Overall Halloween Costume, a title she snagged last November at Lowcountry Dog’s Day of the Dogs Festival, held at the Tattooed Moose on Johns Island. Czabin dressed up as a scuba diver and even rocked the flippers! She will be featured in our October Issue as well. Cover modeling, bat retrieval, explosive detection - all in a day's work forCzabin the wonder dog! Make it a point to bring your own dog out to thenext Riverdogs Dog Day Monday Game and see Czabin in action.