Hello from a newbie. who needs your help

[maple_leaf_eh]

I cannot comment on military dogs (2 or 4 legged!), but I will offer some observations on the photos.

From my (limited) knowledge of dog sleds. That harness is a simple step-in sled dog harness. So, I'd suppose this is not a guard or search dog. What the heck it was doing in UK is entirely supposition.

Sled dogs are scrappy work dogs with short lifespans; bred for running and kept for as long as they perform. Retirement is a bullet. No room for sentimentality or feeding an unproductive mouth. The breeds have changed a lot over the years as competitive 'mushers' look for the best animals to pull. Some guys doing the Iditerod (Alaska) race have tried to go with greyhounds and poodles - because they may give a competitive advantage. True Arctic-bred dogs are furry, short snouted beasts with no manners. They can be quite dangerous unless the musher and the lead dog dominate them. That dog looks very much like a 1940's German Shepherd, never mind the colours. After that, I out of ideas.

[Jacquie]

Hello Terry.
Thank you for taking the time to reply.I have had to remove the link it was copyrighted, if you type Canadian sled dogs Scotland WW11,the page should come up.If you look at the eighth photo down to the lead dog,it is exactly like the photo of Harken/Harker. Our photo is dated 1942.

We have kept GSD's all our lives and have never seen one without the black nose/muzzle,we did check this with the kennel club who confirmed it.

I do have other photo's of dogs used by all the services in WW11 but dont know how to resize them to put them on here and dont dare use them as they are they take up to much space! When our son comes home on leave maybe he can show me how to do it.

I do hope the dogs handlers did not suffer a similar fate to their dogs! Blue on Blue is bad enough but at least it's an accident.I would be devasted if anyone deliberately shot my dog.

Off topic what a fabulous site this is I was up until 2am looking at the Normandy photographs someone has posted,sad but fantastic viewing.
Jacquie

[Pam Wilson]

Hi,

Contact canadianrootsuk.org. Chris Vowles may be able to help.

Pam