Military dogs and troops from 104 Military Working Dog Unit, based in Rutland, are preparing to deploy to Helmand province, where they will ensure the safety of troops from 16 Air Assault Brigade and the Afghan National Army.

The highly trained dogs and their handlers will carry out tasks that will include patrolling the bases where fellow British soldiers are based, searching vehicles at check points and going out on patrols on the front line to search for weapons, ammunitions and explosives.

Sergeant Matthew Jones (32) is one of 42 soldiers from the unit that will deploy. Leaving behind his wife and young daughter, this will be his second tour of Afghanistan. The Unit last deployed to Afghanistan in 2008.

With months of training under their belts, the Unit is well prepared for the tough challenges that lay ahead. “We have been completely focused on pre-deployment training since January,” said Sgt Jones. “It has been a steady and methodical build up and we are all now just wanting to get there and get on with the job.”

Cheeky but lovable dog

Private Sarah Smith (23) will deploy with Eddie, a black Labrador as part of the Armed Explosives Search Team. All AES dogs are trained to indicate the presence of arms and explosives in everything from buildings and compounds to all types of vehicles.

This will be Sarah’s second tour of Afghanistan. Although they won’t know their exact location until arrival in Afghanistan, she expects to deploy on the front line working with the infantry units.

She saids: “Eddie is a cheeky but loveable dog and he chews everything at the moment, but he is still young he is only two years old.”

A good independent dog

Fellow dog handler Private Joseph Cant (23) will deploy with Fizz, a yellow Labrador. The duo will be responsible for searching vehicles that come into one of the main Army bases, which include Camp Bastion, Lashkar Gah and Kandahar.

He said: “The dog has to trust you as much as you trust him. It’s all about building a relationship. Fizz is soppy and affectionate and a very good worker. She has a real drive to work and is a good independent dog. She knows when its time to work.”

Air conditioned kennels

When the dogs first arrive in Afghanistan the first task will be to get them acclimatised to the environment, just like the soldiers themselves. At Camp Bastion the dogs are housed in air conditioned kennels which also have heating for the colder winter nights and each dog has a run area and covered sleeping area in their individual kennel.

When based out of Forward Operating Bases the dogs will sleep with their handlers.

With a dog’s sense of smell approximately 42 times stronger than a human’s, it's dogs like Eddie and Fizz that are ideal for searching for IEDS. Earlier this year a Belgian Shepherd dog called Chocolat discovered a Taliban production line for Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).

The Officer Commanding 104 Military Working Dog Unit, Major Steve Leavis said: “ I am proud of every single soldier. For some of them this will be their first operational tour and of course it will be very hard indeed. They are away from home, they have left their families behind and they are working and living in tough environments.

"But they are all in good spirits and all are looking forward to the challenges that lay ahead. They will do a good job there is no doubt about it, they are first rate professional soldiers as well as dedicated handlers.”

Unwanted pets

The dogs are recruited at between one and three years old, and most are unwanted pets. They are trained at the Defence Animal Centre in Melton Mowbray.

Training for a patrol dog takes 12weeks, but an Armed Explosives Search Dog, commonly referred to by civilians as a ‘sniffer’ dog, complete a six-month intensive training course. To find out more about donating a dog to the Armed Forces ring 01664 418668 or visit: www.yourcountryneedsyourdog.co.uk