site.btaFrom Puppies to Protectors: How Turkiye Trains Its Military Dogs for Combat and Rescue

Specially trained dogs serve alongside Turkish soldiers in domestic and international operations. They are trained at the one-of-a-kind Gemlik Military Veterinary School and Training Centre in Bursa, Turkiye.

The dogs serving in the Turkish Army are trained in eight areas including bomb, mine and narcotic detection, corpse search, search and rescue, surveillance, patrolling and tracking. They take part in both domestic and cross-border operations.

The centre was established in 1964, according to the Turkish Army's website. Dogs of breeds such as Akbash, Belgian Malinois, German Shepherd, Golden Retriever and Labrador are trained. After an average training period of 20 months, these dogs are deployed to their respective units.

In the Military Veterinary School and Training Centre, dogs that exhibit the best characteristics of the breed are mated with partners that are selected according to scientifically determined criteria to ensure the breeding of puppies with superior characteristics.

When the due date approaches, pregnant dogs are placed in a delivery room and kept under 24-hour observation. After birth, the health of the mother and puppies is checked. In case of premature birth or caesarean section, puppies are placed in incubators. The puppies stay with their mothers for about two months. During this period the puppies' weight is monitored periodically and they are given special care if necessary.

When they are three months old, the puppies are evaluated according to many general criteria such as breed, gender, temperament, courage and interest, and their characteristic features have an impact on which branch they will be trained in. To determine these characteristics, the puppies are observed in different environments and subjected to many different tests. During the training period, the puppies are accustomed to people, taking orders, environment and terrain conditions. After a challenging training process, which lasts approximately 2 years, the dogs go to the military units where they are assigned with their trainers.

Dogs of the German Shepherd, Labrador and Belgian Malinois breeds, which are mainly used in close contact with terrorists, have a high accuracy in detecting mines and handmade explosives. These dogs, which are said to be better than technical detectors, are trained to find mines and explosives, and ensure that all locations are secure, experts said. Bomb detection dogs have a high sensitivity to any explosives found in buildings, motorised land and air vehicles, suitcases and crates.

Reconnaissance dogs, which work in operations carried out by the Turkish Armed Forces in caves and tunnels, are used to neutralise the enemy in operational activities. These are mainly of the Belgian Malinois and German Shepherd breeds.

In the past years the army has been actively using technical innovations, and the Remote Command Control System has been integrated. The system is designed to be used with dogs sent into challenging and risky areas like tunnels, caves and urban environments before human personnel. It aims to protect both the personnel and the dogs from dangerous situations by providing real-time visual feeds.

In hard-to-reach areas, service dogs are parachuted in with their handlers and the other soldiers, undergoing a special training course with parachute and mountaineering instructors.