Safety

The relationship between dog and handler is an important safety element because the handler is able to read and interpret the dog's behaviour. This close relationship is formed before dog and handler are working in the operational field to minimise the risk of accidents.

Perhaps one of the most important safety features for the dogs is monitoring them while working in extreme environments. For instance, the dogs work in many different climates, including completing task work in places like Iraq where the temperature can exceed 40°C. The dogs generally acclimatise to the change in temperature within two weeks, but it's important to make sure they don't overheat.

If the dogs get too hot they begin to pant, which can affect their sense of smell and they will find it more difficult to detect explosive vapours and may miss an infected area.

In hot climates the dogs have shorter working days, going into fields only very early in the morning whilst it is still cool. To reduce their body temperature before working the dogs are showered down or plunged into cold water by their handlers. MineTech is also currently undertaking night training of the dog teams to help deal with extremely high temperatures during the day.

At the other end of the spectrum the dogs have worked in places like Kosovo where the temperatures can drop below 5°C. It is very difficult for the dogs to detect mines in these conditions. It is much safer to resume work in the spring, when the temperature is above 5°C.