Friday, November 16, 2007

Dog Heroes. Not Your Usual Kind Of Dog Breed

Article Title: Dog Heroes. Not Your Usual Kind Of Dog Breed
Author: John E Adams

Dog Heroes - A dog breed apart!

Dogs were among the first animals domesticated, and as long
have dogs have lived with humans, there have been dog heroes.

There are plenty of records indicating the heroism of dogs;
with their long association with humans, many dog breeds have
been put into service in rescue occupations around the world.

With their sharp intelligence and natural courage, dog heroes
play an important part in our history.

Dogs are often seen on television and in the movies and
sometimes the stories behind the faces on the screen are just as
fascinating.

Spike, the mutt who starred in Old Yeller, was a rescue adopted
for three dollars.

Pal, who went on to fame as the original Lassie, was originally
dumped by an owner who couldn't afford his training bill. As you
can see, dog heroes who appear in the movies have a great deal
to offer in pluck and intelligence.

During World War I, many dogs saw action on the field of
battle, just as men did.

They were used as messengers, sentries and guards and they
proved to be amazingly efficient in their duties.

During the most hectic of battles, dogs were better at survival
than the most dedicated human runners, and it was a severe
offense to interfere with a dog running through the area, as it
usually had some sort of message in the tin cylinder around its
neck.

While you may picture larger breeds, like German Shepherds and
Rottweilers in this capacity, dog breeds of all sorts were used
during this conflict; private citizens volunteered their pets
and many of the dogs in World War I were strays.

During World War II, one small Yorkie named Smoky remained in
combat for 18 months straight and flew with the Third Emergency
Rescue Squad, covering flights to Borneo and the Philippines.

Besides her job as an entertainer and mascot, Smoky also once
ran more than seventy feet of vital phone wire under a taxi
strip, saving three days worth of digging and loss of human life
due to the hostile conditions.

Giant dog heroes - The St. Bernard dog breed is one of the most
famous rescue breeds around.

These dog heroes were bred in the Alps for the rescue of
travellers who were trapped in the icy mountain passes. Barry
was one such dog; he is believed to have rescued anywhere from
30 to 100 people!

"When thinking about dog heroes, remember that they come in all
shapes and size".

More than that, while there are many dog breeds that are known
for rescue work (Germans Shepherds and Golden retrievers are
high on this list), remember that many mutts and small dog
breeds have a great deal to offer in terms of intelligence and
courage as well.

Dog heroes are an important part of our history, and even
today, with rescue operations training canines in bomb detection
and disaster search procedure, this history is still being made.

We all owe a great deal of thanks to many dogs, some we will
always remember, some we never even knew. It is only in recent
times that people have understood the bravery of trained dogs.
9/11 is a perfect example.

And then the dogs who capture our hearts, and the hearts of our
children. The dog actors who excite, scare, entertain and always
get the bad guy for us.

Dog heroes are rare, as are human heroes. It takes a particular
type of breed to risk life for others. Whether dog or man, we
salute you.

About The Author: By John Adams All Dog Breeds produce dogs of
courage. Find More Dog Heroes Here:
http://www.dog-breeds-explained.com/dog-heroes.html

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