PICTURED: The Parachuting Pooch

parachuting dog

Soldiers jumping out of planes on a military exercise – so what?

A four-legged member of the Austrian Special Forces on a parachute jump into one of Europe’s biggest military training exercises – WTF???

The parachuting pooch, pictured above, is an explosives sniffer dog taking part in Operation Cold Response in Norway.

Strapped to his handler and with a muzzle to stop him damaging his mouth on landing he plunged 10,000ft from a transporter plane.

Far from panicking at the experience of hurling out of a plane at 10,000ft, the Belgian Shepherd dogs appear to be perfectly calm before and during the jump.

One handler explained: “They don’t perceive height difference the same way humans do, so that doesn’t worry them. They’re more likely to be bothered by the roar of the engines, but once we’re on the way down, that doesn’t matter and they just enjoy the view.”

If I hadn’t seen the photo myself, I would have said you were having me on!!

Posted on March 16, 2010 | Filed Under Really