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PFC Lisa McDonald
6
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I am glad we moved on from the policy we had on MWD's in Vietnam. Its the only war we didn't bring them home. Its also really nice to see them bringing science into ensuring the dog's nutritional and hydration needs are being met in the field. Like humans they need more calories the more active they are. I recently read an article about it and they were saying Marine Corp bomb detecting Labradors needed 10-12,000 calories a day while working. Like with humans they also need to be constantly physically exercised to keep them at their peak performance level.
As a Labrador owner I both love and hate seeing them as MWDs. They are kind of the Jack of all trades breed but loveable goofballs.
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MAJ Dale E. Wilson, Ph.D.
MAJ Dale E. Wilson, Ph.D.
3 y
Our Vietnam combat tracker teams used black labs because they proved to be superior to other breeds in the art of tracking the enemy.
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PFC Lisa McDonald
PFC Lisa McDonald
3 y
MAJ Dale E. Wilson, Ph.D. I had recently read about that also. They are pretty athletic and in my experience while generally very non-aggressive dogs they know when to be.
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MAJ Dale E. Wilson, Ph.D.
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LTC John Griscom
5
5
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I was in Okinawa, 1968-1970, and they brought some dogs from the States to train for Vietnam. No one had the forethought to test the dogs to see if they were gun-shy and fifteen had to be put down because of that. Expensive case of animal abuse.
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MAJ Dale E. Wilson, Ph.D.
MAJ Dale E. Wilson, Ph.D.
3 y
How sad.
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PO3 Phyllis Maynard
5
5
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MAJ Dale E. Wilson, Ph.D. I have never been up close to a military working dog but I have a police dog. That facet of dogs is very impressive.
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MAJ Dale E. Wilson, Ph.D.
MAJ Dale E. Wilson, Ph.D.
3 y
I agree. I currently have a border collie. She's the sweetest dog I've ever had--and hands down, the smartest.
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