Front line canines

There are 20-25 dogs based throughout Helmand province in the south of Afghanistan where British troops are based.

Most are German Shepherds, Labradors or Spaniels. They may look cute and friendly, but these animals have a deadly job - sniffing out roadside bombs, and chasing and catching Taleban fighters, alive.

One sniffer or protection dog along with their handler can do the job of "four-six men" on the ground, meaning that those men can be deployed on other tasks.

Source: BBC