Small Steps to Saving Lives: Training Mine Detection Dogs at the Norwegian People's Aid, Sarajevo, Bosnia

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  Julie McGuire British born Julie McGuire's passion for photography began in her teenage years and developed into a full time love affair in 2005 when she and her American husband 'outsourced' thems, India

Belgian Shepherd puppies learn the basics at the Norwegian People's Aid Global Training Center for Mine Detection Dogs in Sarajevo, Bosnia. The dogs undergo intense mine detection training from 18 around 24 months of age before being deployed in the field. The dogs at the Global Training Center for Mine Detection Dogs are trained to cope with all kinds of sights and sounds during their two year program, and to sniff out the Kong that is used constantly in this program. The trainers at the Norwegian People's Aid Global Training Center are themselves highly specialized in developing exactly the right skills in each dog to provide errorless mine detection in the field. After two years training, the dogs are deployed in countries around the world where unexploded land mines exist, such as Bosnia, Afghanistan and Iraq.