Pictures have been released showing military dogs wearing a variety of new equipment after the Ministry of Defence (MoD) awarded a multimillion-pound contract to a British company.
The images included dogs Una, Meg, Bonnie and Grainger testing safety goggles, ear defenders, vests and protective boots during continuation training St George’s Barracks.
This included routine walking, settling, rewarding and squad activities.
The MoD contract is to help deliver enhanced training for its pack of more than 500 military working dogs.
Defence, Equipment and Support (DE&S), the procurement arm of the MoD, has awarded the Surrey-based Von Wolf K9 Sport & Service Dog Equipment Limited a five-year contract, with the option to extend it by two more years.
The contract has an estimated value of £3.1 million for the full term, according the MoD.
The funding will see the development of a “canine catalogue” that will provide essential training and welfare items, including protective equipment for the dogs such as eye goggles, hearing protection, safety boots for their paws, and cool vests and flotation devices.
Hundreds of dogs are currently serving at home and overseas, working across the Army, RAF, Ministry of Defence Police, Germany Guard Service, MoD Guard Service and Regimental Mascots.
They range from German shepherds, Belgian shepherds and Dutch shepherds to springer spaniels, Labradors and other carefully selected breeds.
The MoD said the Specialist Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Search (EOD&S), Exploitation and Countermeasures (SEEC) team within DE&S tendered for the Canine Support Solution contract.
The contract will also supply everyday products such as waste bags, bowls, balls, leads and harnesses – as well as specialist exercise aids and agility equipment.
An additional role will be created at Von Wolf, a small medium enterprise (SME) that currently employs four members of staff.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here