Hello Guys,
Just found this Koolie on the pet rescue site.
http://www.petrescue.com.au/view/49916
Full Version: Koolie in Canberra pound
She's a pretty girl!
i like the black dot on top of her head lol
she reminds me of bella kym, maybe they are related?
Yes she does look a lot like Bella. Looks like she might have one blue eye though but it is hard to see.
Poor little bugger-she looks really freaked out. She does look a sweetie.
QUOTE(royalla @ Jul 31 2009, 04:11 PM) 
i like the black dot on top of her head lol
Makes her quite distinctive in looks - like a thumbprint!!
She looks almost like she might have one small eye like Paxy but it's hardly the best photo of her I'd say. Hope someone takes her on.
We put our name down to rescue her last week but there was someone coming in to test her with their own dog and the Army were also coming to test her for possible employment as a bomb disposal dog because she is very ball obsessed. I believe she is going to have a new career in the Army. She is a very nice and very friendly girl and they were apparently very impressed with her.
that is really good news. I hope she ends up with a good home.
That's awesome. I've seen videos of those bomb disposal dogs. They train them to sniff and detect any explosive device or substance-they work the same as drug sniffer dogs, except they're not allowed to stick their nose right in. When they sniff out a device, they must sit at attention. Goodonya koolies-nothing you can't do better!
Some more information from a thread on DOL about dogs working with the Army:
Explosive Detector Dogs (EDDs) have been working with the Australian Army since 1981, both in Australia & overseas. Dogs are recruited at age 12-18 months & must be good at chasing balls. No special breed of dog is chosen... Some dogs from the RSPCA have been given a new home & a job with the Army.
It is important for the dog & its handler to bond well. Feeding, playing, grooming & searching are all done together. EDDs wear a working harness & are trained using a tennis ball. Training becomes like a game for the dogs. The ball appears as a reward when explosives are discovered. A dog's keen sense of smell can pick up about 25,000 different scents.
When at work, dogs search for up to 40 minutes at a time, followed by a 20 minute rest. If they detect something suspicious, they are trained to sit quietly beside it until the handler alerts other soldiers by radio.
After overseas service, dogs are returned home & placed in quarantine for up to 60 days. An EDD works for up to 10 years & is then retired to live with the handler or a family.
The Army is perfect for a ball obsessed dog - these dogs can be difficult to place in a regular home. In the Army these dogs are stimulated mentally every day and physically exercised everyday - they get much more activity in their lives than a regular pet dog. Working dogs are ideal if they have high ball drive - they also need the dog to be fairly confident.
Their training involves obedience, agility and bomb detection training with lots & lots of proofing in different environments. The dog goes through several stages of training. If they get to a stage where they fail the first time - they are given 2 more chances (ie. additional training) to pass. If they fail - then they are rehomed. These dogs are adopted very quickly by Army personnel or their families because these dogs have all been trained and we all know how much people love dogs with some training!!! When the dogs retire from service their handlers are given first option on adopting them
As for living in a kennel environment - they would only be in their kennels when sleeping and by the sounds of all the activity they would have during the day - they would need a good night's sleep - so I am sure they wouldn't mind where!! If they are not working - they get put in a day run and if they are social - they get to play with other dogs. They also get exercised by their handler daily in addition to training.
After chatting to the trainer - it really does sound like a terrific opportunity for a ball mad dog. The dogs are looked after and when they pass all the training they are formally enlisted in the Army. I would be quite proud to have an Australian Kelpie (rescued from a pound) serve his country. It definitely has changed. The dogs are not left behind anymore. They come back to Oz with their handler. If they do meet with an unfortunate accident their remains are cremated and returned to Oz in an urn. If the dogs are assigned overseas to Afghanistan - they don't stay there long - I believe the maximum period is 18 mths. It can be hard on the dog hence why they have a maximum period. The Army has the welfare of the dog in mind - the dogs are not considered disposable. You have to take into consideration the bond that is also made between the handler and dog. Imagine been in Afghanistan - it would be terrible - however, imagine if your workmate was a dog - it would make a difference to the handler and probably the other soldiers to have a canine friend around. The 4 dogs who have died in Afghanistan have all been brought back to Oz and they have received medals of honour. The usual quarantine time for a dog coming into Oz is 90 days - however, the Army have worked with AQIS and another quarantine party and re-negotiated the quarantine period to 30 days. The dogs receive rabies shots etc prior to being sent overseas. Also - an assignment overseas is not 100% guaranteed - the dogs can also stay in the country and do other bomb detection work. A high drive dog would be in their element doing a job rather than sitting in someone's backyard being bored out of their mind and then becoming a nuisance and being dumped again!!!
If they get deployed overseas - they get brought back - they have made arrangements with AQIS etc - the dogs are never left behind. If the handler gets killed overseas (god forbid) arrangements are in place that the dog comes back with the handler's body and the family of the handler is given first option to adopt the dog.
The Officer I have been talking to has said they have a fantastic life they get the best vet care and their health is looked after for life and like others who have had animals accepted into the program have said they are taken care of for life even after they retire.
Explosive Detector Dogs (EDDs) have been working with the Australian Army since 1981, both in Australia & overseas. Dogs are recruited at age 12-18 months & must be good at chasing balls. No special breed of dog is chosen... Some dogs from the RSPCA have been given a new home & a job with the Army.
It is important for the dog & its handler to bond well. Feeding, playing, grooming & searching are all done together. EDDs wear a working harness & are trained using a tennis ball. Training becomes like a game for the dogs. The ball appears as a reward when explosives are discovered. A dog's keen sense of smell can pick up about 25,000 different scents.
When at work, dogs search for up to 40 minutes at a time, followed by a 20 minute rest. If they detect something suspicious, they are trained to sit quietly beside it until the handler alerts other soldiers by radio.
After overseas service, dogs are returned home & placed in quarantine for up to 60 days. An EDD works for up to 10 years & is then retired to live with the handler or a family.
The Army is perfect for a ball obsessed dog - these dogs can be difficult to place in a regular home. In the Army these dogs are stimulated mentally every day and physically exercised everyday - they get much more activity in their lives than a regular pet dog. Working dogs are ideal if they have high ball drive - they also need the dog to be fairly confident.
Their training involves obedience, agility and bomb detection training with lots & lots of proofing in different environments. The dog goes through several stages of training. If they get to a stage where they fail the first time - they are given 2 more chances (ie. additional training) to pass. If they fail - then they are rehomed. These dogs are adopted very quickly by Army personnel or their families because these dogs have all been trained and we all know how much people love dogs with some training!!! When the dogs retire from service their handlers are given first option on adopting them
As for living in a kennel environment - they would only be in their kennels when sleeping and by the sounds of all the activity they would have during the day - they would need a good night's sleep - so I am sure they wouldn't mind where!! If they are not working - they get put in a day run and if they are social - they get to play with other dogs. They also get exercised by their handler daily in addition to training.
After chatting to the trainer - it really does sound like a terrific opportunity for a ball mad dog. The dogs are looked after and when they pass all the training they are formally enlisted in the Army. I would be quite proud to have an Australian Kelpie (rescued from a pound) serve his country. It definitely has changed. The dogs are not left behind anymore. They come back to Oz with their handler. If they do meet with an unfortunate accident their remains are cremated and returned to Oz in an urn. If the dogs are assigned overseas to Afghanistan - they don't stay there long - I believe the maximum period is 18 mths. It can be hard on the dog hence why they have a maximum period. The Army has the welfare of the dog in mind - the dogs are not considered disposable. You have to take into consideration the bond that is also made between the handler and dog. Imagine been in Afghanistan - it would be terrible - however, imagine if your workmate was a dog - it would make a difference to the handler and probably the other soldiers to have a canine friend around. The 4 dogs who have died in Afghanistan have all been brought back to Oz and they have received medals of honour. The usual quarantine time for a dog coming into Oz is 90 days - however, the Army have worked with AQIS and another quarantine party and re-negotiated the quarantine period to 30 days. The dogs receive rabies shots etc prior to being sent overseas. Also - an assignment overseas is not 100% guaranteed - the dogs can also stay in the country and do other bomb detection work. A high drive dog would be in their element doing a job rather than sitting in someone's backyard being bored out of their mind and then becoming a nuisance and being dumped again!!!
If they get deployed overseas - they get brought back - they have made arrangements with AQIS etc - the dogs are never left behind. If the handler gets killed overseas (god forbid) arrangements are in place that the dog comes back with the handler's body and the family of the handler is given first option to adopt the dog.
The Officer I have been talking to has said they have a fantastic life they get the best vet care and their health is looked after for life and like others who have had animals accepted into the program have said they are taken care of for life even after they retire.
See, the thing is-if the Army was in any way neglectful or treated the dogs as disposable, they'd have a mutiny on their hands from the handlers I s'pose.
It is fascinating stuff. I read a book called "From Baghdad, with love", it is not about a dog in the army, it is about one soldier adopting a street puppy and the platoon's determination to bringing this dog home due to the impact this dog had on them. Very sweet book, about bonding to a canine. I am a sook and had a few tears.
I think it is fantastic how the defense forces uses dogs in their life. The bond that they experience with them and the rewards that the dogs give back to their handler would be beneficial. Dogs have been used as far back as man has been to war, photos of dogs in World War 1 for example. Thanks for all the information scouserdog it was an interesting read.
I think it is fantastic how the defense forces uses dogs in their life. The bond that they experience with them and the rewards that the dogs give back to their handler would be beneficial. Dogs have been used as far back as man has been to war, photos of dogs in World War 1 for example. Thanks for all the information scouserdog it was an interesting read.
That's wonderful if she's found a home with the Army! They know how to use that ball obsession! I've met some police dog trainers and they really love and care for their dogs. Be interesting for the Club if they could keep track of her journey in the army.
You know-if I had my time over, and knew about it when I was younger, I would have seriously considered an Army career working and handling dogs.....mind you, the Army cut off date is 55yo, and I'm not that quite yet ;)...maybe.....then I could post from the forum from Afghanistan about how jacksy and alby got court martialed for insubordination and desertion-yep, that'd be typical! Too smart to go sniffing around bombs, my dogs...except in the case of Alby perhaps.....and I wont even think about that......horrible thought! Kaboooom!
yeah, i dont really think if you joined now you could take you're dogs :/ i wouldnt wanna take raz to a dangerous country anyway, apparently if you take you're dog to vietnam you can never bring them home (just what i've been told, correct me if im wrong)
If bombs smelled like ham, Izzy would be excellent at it. She can smell ham through closed glass doors.
I don't think I would have been able to do it, I don't have the right mindset in me. To join the Defense Forces would be a hard task. I think I would have got into biodiversity, agricultural area if I had my time over and knew what I know now.
Will have to see whether they do adopt her and whether we will be able to get updates on the girl.
I don't think I would have been able to do it, I don't have the right mindset in me. To join the Defense Forces would be a hard task. I think I would have got into biodiversity, agricultural area if I had my time over and knew what I know now.
Will have to see whether they do adopt her and whether we will be able to get updates on the girl.
yes her life stories will be very interesting if we can hear about her :)
No i dont have the right mindset for army/navy, im too much of a girl, lol
No i dont have the right mindset for army/navy, im too much of a girl, lol
The club has been talking to the Army about getting progress reports and the Army is also looking at a few other Koolies in rescue.
That's great news about getting reports and that some rescue koolies might be saved by the army too!
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