Sky Diving Dog

I saw this picture in the paper the other day.

It intrigued me so much, I did a little Internet research to find out more.

Check it out.

"This has to be the ultimate in walkies ... a four-legged recruit to the special forces joining troops on a parachute jump in one of Europe's biggest training exercises in Norway.

The explosives sniffing dog, which is a member of Austria's version of the SAS, took part in operation Cold Response along with British Special Forces and Royal Marines Assault Teams. Securely strapped to his handler and with a muzzle to stop him damaging his mouth on landing, he plunged 10,000ft from a transporter plane over Norway.

'It's something he does a lot and he's very comfortable with. He has a much cooler head than most recruits,' said one special operations trooper.

Far from panicking at the experience of hurling themselves out of a plane from such a great height, the Austrians' Belgian Shepherd dogs appear to be perfectly calm both before and during the jump.

One handler explained: 'They don't perceive height difference the same way humans do, so that doesn't worry them.

'They're more likely to be bothered by the roar of the engines, but once we're on the way down, that doesn't matter and they just enjoy the view.

'It’s something he does a lot. He has a much cooler head than most recruits.'
He was also eager to point out that the dogs, like their human colleagues, are regarded as valued team members and aren't put into situations that could prove unnecessarily dangerous.

Special forces troops from 14 countries, including Britain, took part in the Nato exercise."

I'm not sure if I believe the fact that dogs perceive height differently. I can guarantee you my dogs know when they are standing on the edge of something high and I would be hard pressed to jump out of a plane without them freaking out.

That dog may have some serious BALLS, but he was also really well trained to be able to do something like that!

That muzzle is not there to protect the dog on landing, it's there to protect his handler from getting chewed out when they land.

"I can't believe you made me jump out of a perfectly good plane AGAIN. What is the matter with humans. Now I'm going to have to bite you!"

courtesy of The Daily Mail.