MOD has five new dogs and plans to purchase more dogs later this October

The Military Working Dog (MWD) Section, Crisis Management, Training and MWD Branch, Military Police Department Vlkanová - Hronsek, has purchased five new dogs to cater for the needs of Defence. Later this October, the MOD plans to buy more dogs to be trained to search for narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and explosives.

Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď said: “Military working dogs are an inseparable part in performance of service duties and they also have an irreplaceable place both in domestic and international crisis management.”

Lt Col Marián Turanský, Director of the Crisis Management, Training and MWD Branch, said: “We have purchased only all-purpose dogs for the needs of the SVK Armed Forces. For example, they are instrumental to protecting munitions depots and are also deployed at airports. Of the eight dogs on offer, five have been selected by a specialist selection board. They will be placed in quarantine for observation for the next 28 days.” He added that the dogs have undergone arduous canine testing and their physical and behavioural characteristics required of them for service in the SVK Armed Forces have been put to the test thoroughly.

Based on the Table of Organisation and Equipment, the total authorised number of MWDs in Defence is 184, with 140 MWDs in service with the SVK Armed Forces and 44 MWDs with Military Police. However, the number of MWDs in Defence currently remains at 60% of the authorised strength. Service members mostly work with German Shepherds, but Belgian shepherds are also in service.