Army

A Day In The Life: Sennelager's Military Working Dogs

Forces News has been looking at some of the roles military personnel play across the world.

For the 1st Military Working Dog Regiment in Sennelager - the only operational unit in the Royal Army Veterinary Corps - their job is one of a kind.

They gave us a glimpse into a day in the life of a military working dog, starting from some doggy phys.

Dogs are either allowed to run free in a group or walked individually around the local area.

Sennelager military dogs — While the dogs are training to be focused and dedicated, they are still allowed to be normal dogs and play together

After their morning run around, it is on to their essential maintenance, with vet and dental visits at their on-site veterinary hospital.

The veterinary surgery is open to civilian and military animals, treating a lot of the BFG pet population.

It's fully equipped to deal with everything from simple check-ups to more complicated operations.

After a busy morning chasing tails, it is time for lunch, which is weighed and measured to the gram, and individual to each dog.

Sennelager dogs paddling — The best way to cool down after a hard day's graft - to the pool!

Agility training increases the dog's balance and helps to work on their physical control and stability, while bumper training gets the dogs listening to the handler.

As well as physicality, they also focus on the dogs most powerful sense – that of smell, including training to find a piece of IED just a few millimetres wide.

The regiment plays a vital role in not just IED detection and building or vehicle searches, but also in protection.

After a hard day showing intruders who’s boss, there is only one way to cool down - the regimental padding pool and lake.

This will be the last German summer for these hard-working military pooches though, as they will soon rebase to North Luffenham in the UK.

Watch live coverage of Armed Forces Day in Liverpool, from 11:00 BST on Forces TV, Sky 264, Virgin 277 or Freesat 165. Forces TV is also broadcast to British Forces overseas via BFBS TV on channel 9.