MY VISIT OF THE ARMY VETERINARY BASE
IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC

by : Amnon Ben Izhak









On the 11th of July 2000 I visited Grabstejn Veterinary
Army Base in the Czech Republic. Colonel Josef Ruzicka
- the commander of the base showed me around the base and
we talked for a long time about dog training. Colonel Ruzicka
showed a great interest in my methods of dog training.
After a discussion which lasted a few hours I was invited
for another visit in the future in some particular summer
time when I could come to see some army dog demonstration
and aLso I could lecture for army dog handlers at the base.
I was deeply impressed by the colonel's personality,
his knowledge, his loyalty for his job which he has been
doging with true love and experience within a time almost
30 years.
I would like to use this opportunity to express
my thanks him and his staff for a good and valuable time
I spent there and also for a permission to use pictures
and other information from the base in my web site.




GRABSTEJN VETERINARY BASE

Veterinary Base is central training facility for dog handlers
and service dogs of the Army of the Czech Republic. Its mission
is to provide for cynological service of all military units
that use the service dogs to guard facilities and special
works, to protect troops against terrorism, todefect drugs,
to rescue persons etc.




The main organisational componentsof the Base consist
of Headquarters, two Training Companies, Special Training Group,

Support Platoon and Veterinary Clinic. The Base has
accommodation capacity for 180 soldiers and 270 dog kennels.
Training and operation of the Base is runby 23 professional
soldiers and 26 civilian employees. NCO School and Courses
lasting from 7 to12 weeks are able to train 600 persons
and 450 dogs a year.
Training of dogs is performed by optimum methods making use
of I.P. Pavlov's teaching on higher nervous activity of dogs
and the up-to-date ethological knowledge. Last eight years,
exchange of experience with cynologists and military men
from 23 countries has been going on at the Base. Members
of the Base co-operate with cynologists
of the Czech Republic Police, Custom Officers and civilian
Security Agencies. They participate in top-level competitions
both at home and abroad. All this contributes to their technical
skills, professional maturity and self-confidence.



IMPORTANCE OF USING dogS IN THE ARMY

The dog is the oldest weapon used in the armies
besides an assualt knife.It is possessed of such
qualities that could not be replaced by any
technical equipment till now and it will not be
so in a close future. Capability of the dog organs
of sensual perception considerably outdog the sensual
perception of a soldier on the guard duty.
Power, fearlessness, speed and tenacity are
the qualities by the help of which the dog
is able to prevent the dog handler against an attack.
Not even the most perfect electronic security
in large military depots and barracks are able
to search out for a intruder, it is just a dog that
can dog it best. The dog is the first in contact
ith an armed offender and, in this way, it protects
the life of the dog handler.
Using dogs the soldiers are searching for booby
traps, concealed weapons and drugs. The Army makes
use of the dogs even in rescue operations to help
people who are endangered.
the Army of the Czech Republic has 1350 dogs
at 82 units. In majority of cases they are German
Shepherds, French Briard Shepherds, Rotveilers,
dogbermans, Belgian Shepherds and several dogs
of other breeds. Bitches are used in the Army
occasionally only.