Mine Detection Dogs: Operations - Case studies of operational systems

Using 4 case studies of five systems, this report demonstrates wide variation in the
operational systems used to deploy mine dogs. Each case study was of an
operational MDD programme, which was therefore accredited in some formal sense
at a national level.
All of the programmes described here were either fully nationalised (in that all
operational, management and technical personnel were local people, or “nationals”),
or were nationally-run programmes with some support from international technical
advisers. In each case study, some comments are made about the educational
standards likely to have been achieved by nationals recruited into the programmes,
and also their likely attitudes towards dogs before being recruited. It is recognised
that such comments are potentially controversial and open to argument and
interpretation. However, they also represent useful background information that helps
in the understanding of the potential for and limitations on MDD programmes in
different contexts.
To give an extreme example, in a western culture (such as Switzerland) an agency
recruiting dog handlers would require each short-listed candidate to have as a
minimum:
• 12 years full time school education (graduating at age 17-18);
• a family history of keeping dogs as pets or as working animals (such as on a
farm);
• direct training experience with dogs through working, showing or breeding;
and
• a demonstrated interest in and enthusiasm for dogs.
Even with these criteria, the list of applicants is likely to be much longer than the
number of available positions. In other words, the agency will be able to select
candidates with a good education, a long history of contact with dogs, a
demonstrated interest in dogs and at least some dog training experience. They will
have had daily hands-on contact with dogs for many years. The candidates that
actually get the jobs are likely to have a university or other professional education,
have taken courses in the principles of animal learning, and have demonstrated a
life-long involvement with dogs.