Though numerous sources point out that the Jamthund, or Swedish Elkhound, is the official service canine of Swedish Marines and Swedish Air Force, the breed used by the Swedish Armed Forces’ response units is the German Shepherd Dog. These canines help Swedish Armed Forces staff do everything from patrol and search for explosives, drugs, and mines to look for missing persons. The Swedish Armed Forces Dog Training Unit based outside of Märsta and in Kungsängen north of Stockholm is a part of the Life Guards.

Since 2005, a station in Sollefteå has it own breeding program which produces about 35 to 40 litters of German shepherd puppies every year. Some sixteen people work at the department, and they are responsible for planning the breedings, handling the bitches and puppies, recruiting foster parents, and placing puppies. When the pups are 8 to 10 weeks old, they’re placed with foster parents with whom they’ll stay here until they’re eighteen months old. At that point, approximately 200 to 250 of the dogs are given an “aptitude test” to evaluate temperament and suitability for armed forces. From them, about 60 dogs are placed with the Swedish Armed Forces or the police. Some may also be placed with other government agencies or countries.

Dogs found to be unsuitable for K-9 work usually stay with their foster parents, are purchased by another agency, or are placed with another private individual. Dogs that are chosen for K9 work will head to the Department of Training and Education in Sundby which conducts working team training for military units, both patrol and detection working teams.

The image at the top taken by Nicklas Gustafsson comes from the Swedish Armed Forces website where the motto is: We defend Sweden and Swedish interests, our freedom and our right to live the way we choose.