VMD 513: Pet animal Breeding, Management, Nutrition and Health Care (1+1)

MINE DETECTION

• Dogs are now used in several countries for mine clearance operations.
• Procedures vary from one country to another, but the following general principles apply in all of them.
• First, each dog requires extensive training, together with his handler.
• This is usually done at a combined dog breeding and training centre.
• The dogs are tested within a few weeks of birth to assess their potential.
• After a few months, as skills improve, a selected dog will work with his handler every day.
• There will a strong bond development between the dog and the handler and it is lifelong one.
• The dog becomes acutely sensitive both explosive vapour smells and human behaviour around him. This becomes important in testing the dog's performance later.
• Once a dog and his handler reach the required level of performance for field work after about 18 months to 2 years, they will be assigned to a demining dog field centre.
• This centre has appropriate accommodation and medical support for handlers and veterinary support for the dogs.
• General Training Program schedule is as follows
  • 1-6 Month Social training and ball play
  • 6-12 months Obedience 
  • 12-18 months Ball & explosives 
  • 18-20 months Mines 
  • 20-22 months Handler

 

• The dogs will need supplementary (maintenance) training all the time, particularly if they are to work with different mines and/or devices containing different kinds of explosives.
• The dog is introduced to the task and commanded by the handler to traverse the upwind edge of the task.
• The handler then steps about 60 cm sideways, and the dog performs another traverse, and so on.
• If one dog completes an entire task area, another dog is introduced with his handler and again checks the same task area.
• If neither dog indicates explosives, the task area is declared to be safe and clear.
• A dog is trained to indicate the presence of explosive by calmly sitting a short distance from the location where the scent was discovered.
• When any dog indicates, the location is marked by placing markers on the edges of the task area.
• If this is the first dog, another dog will be introduced and will traverse the area up to the indicated location again
• Manual deminers can safely approach the location across ground which has been 'cleared' by both dogs.
• Maybe the second dog will indicate a location which was missed by the first dog.

Problems in using dog in demining

• Failure to detect mines
• Disease problem while introducing dog in new countries.
• Quarantine restriction may be troublesome
• Lack of trained veterinarians
• Dogs need to acclimatise after arrival in a new country and environment.
• Times claimed for acclimatisation are between 2 weeks and 6 months.