Four-legged friends in the army

Military dogs are “living weapons” in an emergency

Training manager and military dog handler Martin Kruiss with his two Rottweiler males.

(Bild: Bernadette Krassay)

The Kaisersteinbruch military dog squadron was founded almost 60 years ago. With more than 1800 four-legged friends, it is the world's largest breeding kennel for Rottweilers. How dangerous are they really?

Dog barking can be heard from afar. "Enter at your own risk!" is written in large letters on the green gate of the Kaisersteinbruch Military Dog Center, which has been operating what is probably the world's largest breeding facility for Rottweilers for almost 60 years. 20 trainers work here eight hours a day with 69 Rottweilers, German shepherds and Labradors so that they can be used as live weapons in an emergency.

Tail wagging and head held high, "Xempl" marches dutifully past us alongside his master. The dog's gaze never leaves his owner's eyes for a second. Because the Rottweiler knows exactly what's coming: daily training is just around the corner. And it has already paid off. "'Xempl' has already represented Austria three times at the World Championship for Rottweilers and has been among the top 10 in the world each time," says his owner, Martin Kruiss, Head of Training at the Military Dog Center.

Training manager and military dog handler Martin Kruiss with his two Rottweiler males.

(Bild: Bernadette Krassay)

Aggressive fighting dog?
The male Rottweiler was born here seven and a half years ago and has been working as a service dog in the army's guard and security service every day since then. In addition to "Xempl", it is mainly young dogs that are trained here. Group training has just started on a fenced-in meadow.

Future dog owners should have a certain basic knowledge beforehand.

Martin Kruiss, Ausbildungsleiter des Militärhundezentrums

Kruiss knows exactly what he's doing, even if the training with his "Rotti" can really get him out of breath. After all, "Xempl" weighs 45 kilos. Kruiss has been doing dog sports for over 30 years and was able to turn his hobby into a profession in 2009. Since then, he has worked as a military dog handler. As the son of a dog school owner, he grew up with the four-legged friends and is the proud owner of two Rottweilers himself. An aggressive fighting dog? A question that the army clearly answers in the negative.

Bitten to death by a dog
However, the tragic accident at the Wiener Neustadt airfield barracks in November 2019 showed just how dangerous dogs can be. A soldier from the hunting detachment was literally mauled by service dogs. However, it is still not clear how the drama came about.

During an exercise, Xempl has to confront and bark at the "perpetrator".

(Bild: Bernadette Krassay)

As a Rottweiler, "Xempl" is one of the so-called list dogs, i.e. dogs that are on a list of dangerous breeds. Their keeping is regulated differently from state to state in Germany. Kruiss is in favor of "future dog owners having to demonstrate a certain basic knowledge in advance. Simply so that people have to think about whether they can do justice to the dog and its nature through their living conditions."

Every dog is nothing more than a domesticated predator.

Otto Koppitsch, Kommandant des Militärhundzentrums

For the commander of the military dog center, Otto Koppitsch, it makes no difference whether it is a Golden Retriever or a Rottweiler. The decisive factor is how you treat the dog. "Every dog is nothing more than a domesticated predator," says Koppitsch. It is always important not to miss out on the imprinting phases, otherwise any dog can become dangerous. The commander is also certain: "Every dog bite is one hundred percent human error."

172 military dogs in the army
However, the exercises at the training ground are not yet about biting. With his powerful physique, which commands respect, "Xempl" is supposed to confront and bark at a mock perpetrator on command. He is a truly imposing animal. His short, dense, black coat with clear rust-red markings on his legs, chest and face is characteristic of the breed. Every time "Xempl" carries out a command, other dogs excitedly cheer him on.

At the training ground at the Kaisersteinbruch military dog center.

(Bild: Bernadette Krassay)

But the 172 military dogs throughout Austria also have to bite in an emergency, as Kruiss demonstrates with an exercise. What stops the dog from doing what it has just practiced without a command? The training environment. "The dog always learns on a green field, always with a person in a helper's outfit, always with hiding places. The dog remembers this image." The four-legged friend must and should only actually attack a person if its owner is attacked by a person.

At home, "Xempl" makes a perfect family dog, as his master tells us, looking lovingly at his pet.