Since autumn 2024, Major Benjamin Jäger has been in charge of the Kaisersteinbruch Military Dog Center of the Austrian Armed Forces. Militär Aktuell asked the officer on the occasion of this year’s military dog for an interview.
Major Jäger, what are the actual tasks of military dogs?
The military dogs of the Austrian Armed Forces are used in a variety of ways. They are used in the weapons protection service as well as in the explosives and narcotics detection service. They also play an important role in explosive ordnance defense – where dogs are used to detect booby traps or similar devices at a distance. In the military police and the hunting command they are also used as access dogs.
Can every dog do everything or are there specializations?
There are clear specializations. We differentiate between mono dogs and dual dogs. Mono dogs are trained in one specialty – usually protection. Dual dogs are also trained in detection.
Which breeds are used?
The majority of our military dogs are Rottweilers – they are also bred directly by us in Kaisersteinbruch. In addition, we mainly use Belgian shepherds. Labradors are also used for explosive ordnance defense and tracking work. However, we do not breed these ourselves, but buy them in.
How long does the training take before a dog is ready for action?
For example, if we take the puppies baptized today – they are currently in their eleventh week of life – they undergo module training with a total of four module examinations up to their first year of life. Once module 4 has been successfully completed, the actual operational training begins, which lasts around 13 to 16 weeks.
What are the basic requirements for a military dog handler, and which branches of the armed forces do these comrades come from?
Military dog handlers generally come from all branches of the armed forces. A love of animals, especially dogs, is essential – as is a good sense of solution-oriented teamwork with the dog. There is also a two-week selection process, which includes psychological tests.
Where are military dogs used?
They are deployed at the ammunition depots, the military police, the hunting command, the air surveillance command in Zeltweg and at large military training areas such as Allentsteig.
Let’s look to the future: will the importance of military dogs increase or decrease?
In my opinion, their importance is clearly increasing. This is mainly due to the fact that the range of tasks has become much broader – and many of these tasks can be effectively covered by the targeted use of military dogs.
Here for further army news.
