For a long time people have learned to tame a dog and use it for various purposes. Over the centuries, man has successfully developed in the right direction the dog’s natural features - attachment to the owner, hearing and smell, running speed, spite, endurance.
First of all, people learned to use a dog to protect their homes, hunt animals and protect livestock. Later, the dog became not only a guard, but also a defender of a person during military campaigns, and then an active assistant in attacking the enemy and during his pursuit. We have reached, for example, information about ancient times, when special military units from dogs were created. The animals wore shells with long sharp spikes, thanks to which they became a real force to fight the enemy cavalry.
With the advent of firearms, the use of dogs as a fighting force has lost its significance, but their use for official purposes has sharply expanded. During the war of 1914–1918, service dogs were widely used in all European armies.
For what purposes were service dogs used and are being used?
In wartime, dogs worked as a communications service. Fast running, low vulnerability, excellent orientation, endurance and affection for their owners make dogs a reliable means of duplication of technical communication.
A cohesive dog can hold two-way communication at a distance of two to three kilometers. It can also be used when restoring a telephone line.
A similar job is performed by dogs designed to carry light loads. For this purpose, choose the most powerful dogs. Under enemy fire, they can deliver cartridges, water and other loads to the leading edge.
The use of service dogs in the national economy gives a great effect.
Shepherd dogs not only guard grazing cattle, but also protect them from predators, drive the laggards behind and look for the missing animals.
In connection with the further development of animal husbandry and an increase in the number of livestock, a large number of shepherd dogs will be required.
Of great benefit are guard dogs in the protection of various objects and structures. These are vicious strong dogs with good instinct and hearing. With a loud bark, they let the guard know about the approach of the offender, enter into a fight with him and help to detain him. The use of guard dogs increases the reliability of guarding facilities and reduces the number of guard posts.
On the northern outskirts sled dog breeding is of great economic importance. In these parts sled dogs are a reliable, and sometimes the only means of transportation. Despite the use of modern technology (aircraft, snowmobiles, etc.), in the vast expanses of snow you can not do without sled dogs. Dogs can walk more than one hundred kilometers per day.
When guarding state borders, as well as in the fight against criminal elements, dogs of search and guard service are of great benefit.
In intelligence, a guard dog with remarkable hearing and sensitivity will be the first to hear and learn the steps of the enemy in the dark of night. With her behavior, she will let a person know about the appearance of the enemy and the direction of his movement without barking. Having searched the area (forest, hills, shrubs), the guard dog will find the hidden intruder or documents and weapons thrown by him.
A search dog has a perfectly developed flair; she quickly finds the trail of the intruder, accurately follows the trail. Among the many different tracks, the search dog selects the desired track by its subtle smell, finds the place where the intruder is hiding, and helps to detain him.
Despite the gigantic growth and high improvement of technology, the use of dogs for military purposes and the national economy has not lost its significance today.
