Laurel outlook., 1945-07-25
Army Sending
War Dogs Home
Owners Get Trained Pets
All Ready to Resume
The Prewar Life.

FORT ROBINSON.-When Rover
comes prancing home from wal
and his service star is removed
from the kennel, he will be in the
best possible condition to- lead a
dogs life again, says the Chicago
Tribune.
The army quartermaSter corps is
making certain of that at Fort Rob-
inson in western Nebraska. This is
its only war dog reception and
training center, where thousands of
veterans of the K-9 corps are under
going a notwithstanding" process to
readjust them to civilian existence.
All of these are sentry dogs, trained
for duty in this country. There have
been no releases of dogs qualified
for overseas combat duty.
Eight weeks are required to train
a sentry dog, two weeks is the aver
age length of time needed to de-
train him. The actual period may
vary, however, with the Individual
dog, the type of handler, and
the e~xigencies of the duties to which
he has been assigned. Many dogs
have become virtual pets and little
detraining is necessary.
Reverse War Program.
The detraining process reverses
the training program:
Handlers seek to convince the dog
that every human is his friend. They
talk to him gently, play with him,
and give him friendly pats every
time they pass his kennel. Every time
he is taken out he is given a lesson
in obedience.
Some dogs, like Butch, take time
to control. A black and white mon
grel of 40 pounds with the heart of
a giant, Butch was hard to break of
his aggressive attitude.
Long after huge, rough val dogs
were judged safe to send home,
Butch still defied his trainers. He
refused to be crowded by any one,
man or dog.
But the trainers stuck to their
task. Unlike other dogs, Butch was
taken to the training area twice a
day. Gentle handling gradually broke
Butch's shell. He lost his suspicion
but never his dignity.
Some war dogs, like soldiers, new
er lose their attachment for the
army. Duke, a Dalmatian, was re-
processed and returned to his own
er, Maj. Ralph C. Kerchaval, COM
handing officer of the Robinson
quartermaster depot.
Living only a half mile from the
rea where he was trained as a war
dog, Duke made frequent visits to
the dog barracks. Hardly a morning
passed without his being on hand
to trot ahead of the troops march
ing to the kennel area, where he al
ways tried to bluff his way through
the open gate.
Trained by Owners.
The detraining was started as the
need for sentry dogs lessened.
Some were retrained for overseas
duty, although the majority were
too old for combat operations.
The estimated 20, 900 war dogs
have been received by the quarter
master corps for processing and
more than 10000 were trained for
sentry, scout, and messenger duty.
In January, 202 detrained dogs left
Fort Robinson.
Fort Robinson has files filled with
letters from appreciative owners
completion of the detraining
program.
Mrs. Herbert c. Allen, Seattle,
WASH, wrote that cat the time Her
bic cher SOM gave his dog to the
armed forces, it was a genuine sac
But nov he is reaping the
harvest of his unselfsh act by re-
ceiving back a beautiful dog, more
than he dreamed possible.
Thank you for the fine job Of train
ing and caring for our dog"
Queenie, a German shepherd.
owned by Mrs. C. A. Pryor, Monte
bello, Calf, was Exceedingly hap
py to be home and doesn't want me
put of her sight," Mrs. Pryor wrote.
ut took just an instant for her to
recognize each of US and she is so
a~ffectionate. She certainly shows
care and splendid train
ing"