Three decades have passed since the war in Balkan.

Bosnia Herzegovina is still one of the most mine contaminated countries in the world and here, in Sarajevo, dogs are being trained to help clear the land. And not only here. Dogs from the Mine Detection Dog Training Center are being shipped to different parts of the world. To Ukraine, Sudan and Cambodia where landmines still takes lives and limbs, years after, and during conflict.

We followed in their four legged footsteps, in their training and into the active minefields of Majevica in the north.

The training center is full of dogs of all ages. The handlers take care of the same dog for years. Learning about their temper, their curiosity and body language. Not everyone pass the test. It´s crucial that the dog have the right mood and willingness to learn. At a very young age the first test is to see how curious and social the dog is. After that, how concentrated and willing to play. After that, how they react to something they have never seen before, like a new person, or a ball. Are they afraid or are they investigating the new things being placed before them? Three persons evaluate the dogs during the test. If the concentration of the dog lacks less than 20 seconds it’s not going to be a minedog. It must have a high level of hunting mind to be able to search for something, sometimes for days, without finding it. The nest test is to see if the dog can relax in the arms of the person.

The most difficult part of the training is to make the dog walk in straight lines. Important in a minefield where the mapping of the searches are is of most importance. The “long” is a small red plastic toy that will follow the dog´s train all their lives. First, they are trained with small parts of their treasured toy, later, these small parts are mixed with fragments of explosives, and even later on with only different kind of explosives only.

Different kind of things that can attract a dog´s nose are being put in the containers of the Carousel. Only in one, inside a glasjar, is a small fragment of explosive material being placed. Jessi, six month old, passes the test over and over again. When the dog can sense different kind of explosives, only 0,2 gram, inside a jar of glas, inside a container of metal, they pass and the training outside in high grass is the net step.

Molecules of explosives mixed with soil is used in the grass field training. And after some years of trining the dog is ready for the active minefields. Like here in Majevica where the deminer Josuf and his dog Demara are about to enter the minefield.

The deminers Suad and Josuf were soldiers during the war, on different sides in the conflict. Now working together, removing the mines they once put down.

The trust between Josuf and Demara is crucial. Both of their lives depend on it and in the slopes in the forest the concentration from them both is something you can touch.

Josuf and Demara have been working together for six months. “I´m afraid every day” says Josuf. “ But the fear is what keeps me alive. It makes me concentrated.”

Two landmines were found earlier this morning. One stepping mine that will take your leg or an arm. And one jumping mine that explodes in two steps. It jumps out of the soil to explode weist high. Everyone within 30 meter either gets killed or badly wounded. The tripwire winding through the bush, to yet another one.

Suad and Rus have been a tight team for many years. Now Rus is turning nine and this will be his last year as a mine detection dog. A normal family life will be now be his.

This report is connected to the report on MINES. Full story on the web. By me and Anna Westphalen.