On Tuesday, Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner (ÖVP) baptized a puppy at the Kaisersteinbruch military dog center and presented him with the badge. She also said goodbye to the commander of the military dog center, Colonel Otto Koppitsch, who is retiring in June.
When the little “Einar” is carried by a military dog handler in front of the public at the Kaisersteinbruch military dog center, an excited murmur goes through the crowd. The Rottweiler puppy, only nine weeks old, with folds of fat on its belly, is the real star of the day. He definitely redefines the word “cute.” His fur is so soft that you’ll be tempted to reach out for him.
His baptism took place on Tuesday. With the dog emblem that Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner symbolically hung around his neck, he is now officially an integral part of the Austrian Armed Forces. Meanwhile, ‘Einar’ has only been in Austria for a week. Because he comes from the Netherlands from a breeder friend in the armed forces. A stud dog from Kaisersteinbruch covered the Dutch bitch. In lieu of financial recognition, the armed forces received a male from the litter.
Lone fighter or team player?
The name of the male Rottweiler “Einar” comes from Icelandic and means “lonely fighter”. “Our dogs may be lone fighters when traveling side by side with their military dog handlers, but we shouldn’t be. We must all fight for the cause together,” Tanner said during her opening speech, during which some of the other 70 military dogs in Kaisersteinbruch also perked up their ears curiously.
Another reason for the puppy’s baptism was the extension of cooperation with the Austrian Cynological Society (ÖKV), which is led by the newly elected president Philipp Ita.
“We are interested in an intensive exchange with the armed forces. There is a huge expertise at the ÖKV and a huge expertise at the military dog center and we want to further expand this partnership that we have,” Ita told “Krone”. A military dog handler has now even been appointed to the board of ÖKV. Ita not only takes over the office of president, but also the sponsorship of “Einar”
The puppy, who is currently a bit clumsy and clumsy, will one day become a guard and protection dog like the other Rottweilers in the armed forces. With a deep nose they locate buried people, sniff out explosives or pick up the scent for traces. “The dog is formed at an early age, goes through the socialization phases and completes the young dog training,” says Otto Koppitsch, commander of the military dog center, who retires on June 23.
A total of 170 military dogs
At the earliest, “Einar” will complete the military dog handler course for protection dogs in the area and start working as a protection and guard dog. He is currently the only puppy in the Kaisersteinbruch area. Tanner on Tuesday emphasized the importance of training protection dogs, which have repeatedly made headlines in recent months: “This is training that is absolutely necessary.” After cuddling the four-legged friend, it is time for ‘Einar’ to go back to sleep.
“Of course it’s always difficult to divorce,” Tanner says, probably from the souls of many in attendance.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
