A 2-year-old talented dog named Logan became the new mission in the life of a Hungarian military. Logan was rescued from abusive owners and recruited to serve in the counterterrorism operations for an elite bomb squad.
The Belgian Shepherd currently undergoes intensive training to detect explosives in the warship regiment of the Hungarian Defense Forces.
Logan receives daily socialization and obedience exercises. He was also trained to recognize the smell of 25 different explosive substances.
“He has already started to learn how to smell explosives in a completely homogeneous environment, and he has also started to learn how to search motor vehicles and ships,” said Logan’s trainer, Sgt. 1st Class Balazs Nemeth.
The Belgian Shepherd’s role as a bomb sniffer was a blessing after being abused at a rural residence in Northeastern Hungary. Logan was founded by the officers chained and malnourished.
Nemeth, the regiment’s training officer visited the shelter where Logan was housed and assessed his suitability to become a professional bomb sniffer.
“The moment we met him the first impressions were very positive. We saw a well-motivated dog in relatively good condition and we immediately had confidence in him,” Nemeth said.
During the unit’s demonstration, mock explosive vials like C-4, TNT, and ammonium nitrate were detected by Logan.
Small packages of explosives were hidden in one of the riverboats and Logan went immediately to work sniffing for the package, which he found within seconds. The dog pointed out with his nose the source of the smell and alerted his handler.
Due to the increased improvisation of explosive devices, it is necessary to employ new methods for detecting potential bombs.
“This was a challenge to which the military had to respond, and one of the best ways to detect these devices is to use explosive detection dogs,” Szilagyi said. “These four-legged comrades have been supporting the activities of our bomb disposal soldiers.”
Logan is expected to serve as an inspector of important sites in Hungary and could be sent along with the country’s military to NATO missions abroad.
Rescued dogs often have trauma and encounter challenges during work but Szilagyi is confident that Logan will be good at his job.
“Logan is very valuable because about one out of 10,000 rescued dogs is fit for military service, both medically and psychologically,” he said.
“Recruiting rescued dogs often reveals their undiscovered capabilities, and allows them to find a new home where they can thrive,” Szilagyi said.
“There are dogs that have great potential but for some reason, they have been pushed to the margins,” he said. “We can give these dogs a new opportunity to be placed in a family, so to speak, where they can live a proper life in loving, competent hands and be useful.”
