Abseiling Dogs Take The Plunge In Darwin

[k9angel]

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/natio...unge-in-darwin/

Explosive detection dogs have been put through a rigorous abseiling training session in Darwin ahead of their imminent tour of Afghanistan.

The dogs, attached by harness to their Australian Defence Force trainers, took the plunge down the side of the 36 metre high Holiday Inn on the Esplanade in the CBD.

Sapper Nathan Cooper said his kelpie, Raven, was nervous when it first went over the edge.

"[but] once they are dangling there below they realise they are pretty safe," he said.

"They usually just find a position they are comfortable with and dangle there and wait for the bottom."

Corporal Troy Croton's 35-kilogram dog, Scuba, which is soon heading on its second tour of Afghanistan, had to abort its abseiling mission.

"We got him over the edge and we found with one of the harnesses ... didn't quite fit him too well.

"And safety is paramount for the dogs.

"When we get to Afghanistan, they are in enough danger as it is."

He said today's mission was about giving the dogs real-life training for the dangers they will soon face.

"They've got to do the same thing and repel out of helicopters and all that stuff."

Just like humans, he said dogs are not always that fond of heights.

"Dogs do not like heights at all.

"But it's part of the training and we've got to be ready for any scenario."

[mita]

I saw that program. It was great how much the dogs had come to trust their handlers. Love the way Sapper Cooper said they just 'wait for the bottom'.