Animal Instinct

Did you know that dogs in warfare have a long history dating to ancient times? This week on Animal Instinct, host Celia Kutcher is digging into this topic with guest Nancy Schiesari, a professor at The University of Texas at Austin as well as the producer/director of the documentary “Canine Soldiers.” Initially giving Celia the rundown of what a canine soldier is and what their duties include, Nancy shares a typical timeline of a chosen pup, and also states it’s possible for these dogs to develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) over a lifetime of work. Celia also gets the details behind “Canine Soldiers,” which is a first-hand and timely wartime narrative that focuses on military working dogs and their handlers’ quests to locate improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The film explores the intimate bond between the dogs and their handlers—combat soldiers who make life-and-death decisions based on the instincts and behavior of the dogs who lead their patrols, giving soldiers comfort, hope and protection.