Dogs in Iranian Army service

Dogs in Iranian Army service

سگ در خدمت ارتش ایران

History: Dogs have long history of service in Iranian army. The first registration about these dogs, back to 2500 years ago when Xerxes 1, the king of Persia marched toward Greece (486-465 BC). In this time (as Herodotus says in his book), Persian army used heavy powerful Indian dogs (mastiffs) for guarding the soldiers camps and captured enemies prisoners. Since this even, until our times we have not another evidence of these dogs in war.


Dogs unit of Imperial Iranian Army - Tehran, 1965

Imperial Iranian Army K-9:

Just in August 1965 The police and Imperial Iranian Army decided to employ dogs for difference duties. The Imperial Iranian Army had a special school for training army dogs in "Jamshidieh" M.P. army base in Tehran. This Iranian "K-9" unit had special conditions for receiving dogs too. Almost all of these dogs were "German Shepherds" with 1-3 years old, 25 Kg Weight and at least 38 Cm height. By entering to this base, dogs were examine by military veterinary, then each dog was received a personal card for his information's like: name, number, parent's names, breed, height, weight and...

When the dog, was finished his training in this school, this personal card was moving with him to the new unite. His serial No. was write down in his leg, his tag and strap. The daily food included: 1/2 Kg. of pure meat with 250 g. rice, 1/2 Kg. potato, vegetables and bread. They were attached to their trainers; and they were aggressive and dangerous toward strangers. The most aggressive dogs were chosen for guardian jobs. The training program was including the basic obedience and then the special military practices like: Concealment, using gas mask and muzzle, taking in and out from vehicles, attacking the enemies soldiers, and performing the duty under shooting and explosions during nights and days. Dogs who could finish this tests, were chosen for operational groups like: Guardian dogs, Attacking dogs, Courier dogs, patrol dogs, and rescue wounded soldiers.

In 1975, the Secretary of State for the Shah's Office requested the assistance of a Dutchman trainer in Iran, named: "Ingo Schnabel" to help establish a specialist canine mountain rescue unit for the Imperial Iranian Air Force. German Shepherds were brought by the Shah from Switzerland in order to start different dog projects. The Air force had a camp near avalanche area in the Alborz Mountain, but that Army camp was under heavy security and photographing was not allowed. Mr. Ingo with an E-mail gave us more details about this project:

"I got information at that time from a Mr. Iraj Sharuchzadeh, who was secretary of the Rescue Organization that the Army had plans to lead these trakker dogs against Iraqi ditches at the Western border 150 miles south of the City of Rezaheye. They planed to attach remote controlled explosives to these very friendly and obedient dogs in order to blow up Iraqi positions. It is said that an Afghan Army Colonel bought these dogs in a last minute action and brought these dogs to Herat Joint Afghani-Russian Army Camp. Few years later in 1977, I traveled by public bus from Herat to Kandahar on the southern highway and saw Afghan Soldiers exercising with German Shepherds in a make shift ruin's scenario. The dogs wearing breast gear with the Red Crescent Symbol and scanned over the artificial rubble on long leashes. I sincerely hope that these were "my dogs".
Kind regards
Ingo Schnabel

Dogs in Iranian Army after the Islamic revolution:

It seems that in last years Iranian Army forces began to bring back dogs in their service. During the years (1999-2000) Iranian Army (specially the Air Force) was using dogs for guarding the bases and strategic points. Iranian Air-Force has a special rescue dog team with some German Shepherds too.

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