���˿���

Dan Snow explains that at the start of WW1, Germany had around 6000 trained military dogs and the British Army had just one - an Airedale terrier. The situation changed thanks to the intervention of Lt Col E H Richardson and his wife. Richardson believed dogs could be used to carry messages when phone lines were down and runners were easy targets. The British War Dog School was established and Mrs Richardson was in charge of training which lasted five weeks. Dogs were used to run messages from the end of December 1916.

This clip could be used to prompt further research into other ways animals were used in WW1 including carrier pigeons and horses. The subject could lead to lively debate as to whether or not such practices could be used today. This clip could be used as part of a study into the methods of communications used in WW1 and in particular, the development of the use of animals.