Page 242 - The History of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps 1962–2021

THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL ARMY VETERINARY CORPS 1962 – 2021
which they showed all of us. I hope that one day I can repay that in some way.
These visits are not, as many would imagine, ‘a swan’ over to America, but an extremely interesting and worthwhile visit to our closest allies – both in the dog training and veterinary world. I feel that many lessons and ideas were learnt on both sides of the exchange, and I would like to thank 102 MWDSU for providing me with this fantastic opportunity and I would recommend, no matter what rank or CEG, that if you are given the opportunity to visit Lackland AFB, you do because you won’t regret it.27
An exchange visit to Sweden in 2005 gave RAVC personnel an opportunity to see dog handling and husbandry from a different perspective and to experience the phenomenon of silent kennels as LCpl Keita Miller explores the following article:
Sweden at a Glance
102 MWD Sp Unit organised an exchange visit to the Swedish Armed Forces Dog Instruction Centre (SAF DIC).
We – that’s LCpl Yvonne Watson and I – were chosen to spend five days with the Swedish Army at their canine training centre, which is situated just outside Stockholm.
The first thing that struck us upon entering the kennels was the uncharacteristic silence. Our initial reaction was to ask: “have all the dogs gone out for the day?” Lt Jorgen Nilsson, our host for the week, informed us that in fact the dogs were very much at home but discouraged from barking as the silence reduces kennel stress and makes for an overall calmer environment. This was such a contrast to the usual ‘must wear ear defence’ environment that we work in daily. It also has many advantages. For example, the dogs weren’t spinning and jumping around in their kennels causing kennel stress. This would also be beneficial for when we are on exercise etc.
The kennels comprised of an indoor sleeping area, which was always kept at a constant temperature of 12 degrees during the winter months and a large outside run, partly roofed. The floor area was a third covered with concrete slabs and two-thirds pebbles. The water bowl has a heating element to prevent the water from freezing and a bed board for comfort. There was an unlimited supply of bones to prevent boredom and to assist in dental hygiene.
The classification of the dogs currently being trained by the Swedish Army is Patrol Dog. Unlike our Protection Dogs they do not bite as the
27 102 MWD Sp Unit ‘Does Texas’ by LCpl Charlie G M Bates RAVC. 28 Chiron Calling dated Summer 2005.
Swedish Government will not allow the dogs to undergo bite training. These dogs are used to pick up and indicate on intruders and have a tracking element. The Arms Explosive Search Dog – the AES Dog – is worked in the same way as ours. However, it is worked leashed and, on occasion, unleashed but indoors.
The Explosive Detection Dog is divided into two categories – the classic EDD and the Area Reduction Dog. We have one dog that carries out both of these disciplines compared to the Swedish Army using a different dog for each.
The Swedish Army has a great advantage in the procurement of their dogs – namely, they have no limit on the amount of money they can spend on any particular dog. They generally procure German Shepherds and Belgian Malinois but have recently started to use Labradors and Springer Spaniels. This is largely because Lt Jorgen Nilsson, who attended the Vehicle Search Dog Handlers Course at the DAC, was very impressed with the drive and enthusiasm of these breeds and not least their advantage of being more compact; therefore, finding it easier to manoeuvre inside vehicles and small rooms.
All dogs, irrelevant of classification, are in training for 10 – 12 months. They all undergo fitness and obedience training to the highest level. Their fitness training includes swimming in the nearby lake (the handler is in a boat!); cycling (the dog is attached to the bike via a harness) and weight training (this is basically a purpose-built buggy that can carry weights or a person).
The Swedish Army is extremely fortunate to have a budget that allows them to buy not only all the dogs they want but also all types of equipment to carry out the necessary environmental training. For example, they have a harness and winch system; lifejackets for the dogs and a vast supply of explosives, allowing them to work on both small and bulk hides on a regular basis.
To summarise our visit, Yvonne and I were both in agreement that the Swedish Army, without a shadow of a doubt, puts the welfare of their dogs at a very high priority. This is proven by the fact that their last walk of the day is at eight in the evening and as a result the kennels were clean in the morning. However, they are definitely behind us when it comes to the quality of their fully trained dogs. We personally felt that an ongoing exchange between our two units would be very beneficial for both parties. We can learn from them about the care of dogs in extreme cold weather conditions.
All in all, it was a very enjoyable and worthwhile trip. We both learnt a lot from this experience and felt that we passed on our knowledge at the same time.28
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