It’ s a soldier’ s life for Lucy

Two of the Army’s military working dogs proved as popular as they were successful at a key training exercise in Jordan.

While they collect admirers wherever they go, springer spaniel Ace and Belgian malinois Lucy perform critically important tasks, with the former able to sniff out weapons and explosives and the latter a key part of detect, deter and detain functions.

They are part of the 1 Military Working Dog Regiment based at St George’s Barracks in the East Midlands.

This month, they are taking part in Exercise Olive Grove with 2 Rifles in the north of Jordan, around an hour away from capital city Amman.

Lucy’s handler is 24-yearold Private Jamie Agnew, from Arbroath.

He volunteered with an animal shelter for three years, working with dogs who had issues, before joining the Army two years ago. He described Lucy as a real morale booster for the soldiers in camp.

“Everyone loves to come over and make a fuss of her which she laps up,” he said. However he said she has two sides, with a much less friendly face for her day job.

“When I got Lucy she was already up to a good standard, she has been in Kenya but this is her first time in Jordan,” he said.

“We don’t normally do this sort of training so it’s good to see where her flaws are and what we need to work on but she’s doing very well.

“We primarily focus on detect, deter and detain so we can detain people by releasing the dog, allowing the dog to bite and hold the person until we come and relieve the dog.

“There are definitely two sides to her, as some have seen when that side comes out, she is a different dog.”

Ace’s handler is Private Molly Shaw, 23, from Manchester.

The springer spaniel searches out ammunition, weapons, explosives and bomb-making equipment.

“Ace is cheeky but he’s lovely. Every dog has a different character,” Private Shaw said.

“Everyone loves him. He’s got a lot of admirers.”

TEAMWORK: Jamie Agnew with Lucy in Jordan.

Molly Shaw and Ace who hunts for weapons.