On paw patrol Working in hostile and high-pressure environments across the globe, military working dogs build enviably strong relationships with their handlers, finds Madeleine Silver

ellowing ‘Fire’ when on patrol On Fire’s first tour of Afghanistan, her in Afghanistan had its problems, resilience was tested when an Improvised but when the dubiously christened Explosive Device detonated as she worked black labrador arrived at the in front of a patrol, in December 2011. She B1st Military Working Dog Regiment (Royal was severely injured down the right-hand side Army Veterinary Corps) from America, it was of her body, with a cracked jaw, a cracked too late to change her name. Alarming as bone beneath her eye and fractured meta- it was, it at least escaped the embarrassment carpals. She was medically evacuated to laden on one German-shepherd protection Camp Bastion and then was sent to the dog named Schillag (pronounced ‘slag’). Defence Animal Training Regiment in Melton Either way, the names of canines working Mowbray, Leicestershire, where she recov- across the British military—whether patrol- ered after months of care. ling bases or detecting explosive devices and illicit materials—are central to their identity as they form unwavering bonds The dogs are treated with the people who work them. ‘These dogs are absolutely dedicated in the same way as the to their handlers. It’s very important that soldiers–their health we consider them as a team,’ says Col Neil Smith, chief veterinary and remount officer. and welfare are key ‘Dogs can pick up on people’s moods and feelings, so there ‘Just as soldiers have a medical support is very much system if they’re injured, so we are also here that handler-dog to provide veterinary support,’ says Col bond. They’re Smith, who took Fire on as a pet once she extremely loyal retired. ‘The dogs are treated in the same

John Moore/Getty Images; Alamy to each other.’ way as the soldiers—their health and wel- fare are absolutely key.’ In the heat of Afghanistan, where dogs are still deployed with British regiments in their non-combat role to train, advise and assist Afghan forces, accommodations are made to make the dogs’ lives easier and safer. Pools are installed in the compound for cooling off and ‘doggles’ are distributed for eye protection. Ambitions for Fire to help in training the next generation of handlers floundered. ‘She kept going lame, so we retired

Far left: Explosives sniffer dog Toby amid the heat and dust of Afghanistan in 2006. Left: Ayron sports his PDSA Dickin Medal

Country Life, April 17, 2019 53 Dogs at war • Dogs have graced the battlefield through- out history, but it was during the First World War, when more than 50,000 served (right), that they first received formal training and were mobilised on an organised scale • The PDSA Dickin Medal for gallantry, the highest award an animal can receive when serving in mili- tary conflict, was introduced in 1943 by the PDSA’s founder, Maria Dickin. It has been awarded to 34 dogs since its inception; the first being Bob of the 6th Royal West Kent Regiment in 1944 • The RAF’s Military Working Dog Trials, held each September, with teams selected by the Provost Marshal’s Dog Inspectors, seeks out the country’s best handlers • The German shepherd, Belgian shepherds and Belgian malinois are the most popular choices of breed for protection dogs, whereas gun-dog breeds—labradors and spaniels —are preferred for search roles. Airedales served in the Second World War (below) • The Royal Navy has only ever admitted one dog, Able Seaman Just Nuisance, a great dane that served with HMS Afrikander in the Second World War. He became popular with sailors moored at the naval docks in Simonstown, South Africa, where he would sleep on the gangplank. When ticket officials complained he was boarding trains with soldiers free of charge, the commander- in-chief enlisted him in the Royal Navy, grant- ing him free rail travel • It was reported in the press that, at the height of conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, German shepherds with cameras attached to them were being taught to jump from aircraft strapped to Special Forces sol- diers, so they could be sent in to hunt for insur- gent hideouts ahead of their human partners Maurice-Louis Branger/Roger Viollet/Getty Images; Keystone/Getty Images; Ministry of Defence/Press AssociationImages Defence/Press of Ministry Images; Keystone/Getty Images; Maurice-Louis Viollet/Getty Branger/Roger

her, but, after that, she stopped doing it—she work if they don’t want to, so it’s imperative that had previously been undertaken in The highest price: L-Cpl Liam Tasker’s dog, Theo, died hours after his master was fatally injured when on patrol in Afhanistan was a very clever dog,’ laughs Col Smith. that a good, strong bond is formed. We need prisons, but which had never been used As a wounded warrior herself, Fire was a mix of intelligence, curiosity, agility, by the British military,’ he says. sharp teeth coming at them,’ says Col Smith. the non-judgmental companions capable asked to be the mascot for the British team stamina and a willingness to please.’ ‘After some trial and error and six weeks In the dogs’ search and detection roles, it’s of bravery beyond the call of duty, can dis- at the 2014 Invictus Games and, in the same of hard work, we managed to get him to their acute sense of smell that is utilised: Sam was credited play a quality of character that distinguishes year, she collected the PDSA Dickin Medal an acceptable standard and we deployed ‘There’s no vapour- or scent-detector equip- not only with saving the extraordinary from the ordinary.’ —considered the animals’ Victoria Cross— We need a mix of to Afghanistan. Hertz left the country after ment that is as sensitive as a dog.’ When cocker spaniel Sam was crowned on behalf of Sasha, a labrador that, together two tours with a total of more than 50 indi- ‘A dog can tell if an explosive is buried lives on the battlefield, the Public Service Animal of the Year in 2017, with her handler LCpl Kenneth Rowe, was intelligence, curiosity, vidual finds and more than 100 items of somewhere—they are really smelly—and at the Animal Hero Awards, he was credited ambushed by the Taliban and died in 2008. agility, stamina and contraband to his name. There’s no doubt they can tell that someone is hiding in but by boosting injured not only with saving lives on the battlefield ‘Fire and I became very close and, when he contributed significantly to reducing the a building from their scent, but the thing soldiers’ morale in Afghanistan, thanks to his ability to sniff she died last year of cancer, I felt her loss a willingness to please number of potential attacks on British and we’re actually training is how they tell us out explosives, but by boosting injured sol- very strongly,’ reflects Col Smith. Coalition personnel—I was very proud of him.’ what’s there,’ confirms the commanding diers’ morale in the medical centres. For Warrant Officer Jonathan Tanner After 30 years in the Forces, it’s a young For patrol dogs that guard military bases officer of the 1st Military Working Dog At military bases across the globe, dogs ‘You have to be careful, because the dogs of the RAF Police, such intimate relation- German shorthaired pointer called Hertz from the Falkland Islands to Cyprus and Regiment, Lt-Col Neil Lakin. ‘With some have another, unofficial role: boosting morale. still need to do their job and not turn into ships between dogs and handlers are inevit- that sticks with WO Tanner. ‘Hertz was up and down the UK, it’s their size and of the dogs, it’s how they sit, how they stand ‘In wartime, a dog can be an iconic reminder a plaything,’ says Lt-Col Lakin, ‘but this is the able—and necessary. ‘If you’re working used to detect the presence of electronic aggression that’s relied upon. ‘The real effect or how they point with their nose. It’s not of the comforts of home, the fireside warmth British Army and it’s well known that the with a dog for up to four or five years, you communications devices, such as phones, of these dogs is that they’re a massive always as obvious as their simply barking of family so far away,’ states author Isabel British all love dogs. There’s nothing like can’t help but form a strong relationship radios and their component parts, to help deterrent—people don’t want 35kg [77lb] at something and that’s where the bond George, who has written extensively about a ginger cocker spaniel bouncing around to with them,’ he says. ‘We can’t make them against the insider threat—a type of search of animal on the other side of some fairly with the dog’s dedicated handler comes in.’ animals in war. ‘Dogs, the eternal levelers, boost morale and brighten things up.’

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