Kathmandu, November 8
The Nepal Army organised a special dog show on the occasion of Kukur Tihar. The event, held at the Bhairav Bahaan Gulma in Madhyapur Thimi on Sunday, featured the ceremonial worship of dogs as well as demonstrations of their skills.
During the exhibition, trained dogs demonstrated their abilities in search and identification, tracking, security and the detection of suspicious objects.
Major General Harendra Pathak, head of the Directorate General of Management and Transport Department of the Nepal Army, said training dogs to perform their duties with limited resources and facilities was challenging.
He described dogs as an important supporting force for the Army, saying their use enhances the effectiveness of personnel in security and search operations. Referring to dogs as force multipliers, he said they play a significant role in patrolling, security, tracking, search operations and the detection of suspicious individuals and explosives.
He also said dogs help boost the morale of soldiers deployed in combat and jungle operations.
“The dog exhibition itself is an excellent demonstration of the capabilities and characteristics of dogs. Training untrained dogs to perform at this level and organising such an exhibition is indeed challenging and difficult. We can see that dogs play a significant role as force multipliers both in our country and abroad,” he said.
“Particularly in patrol and security operations, where a large number of personnel would otherwise need to be deployed, a single dog can also accomplish the task. Similarly, dogs are useful in tracking and search operations, attack and apprehension tasks, and creating a psychological impact. They also play a significant role in putting psychological pressure on enemies,” he added.
He also highlighted the role of dogs in boosting the morale of soldiers. The Nepal Army has been worshipping dogs every year on Kukur Tihar, considering them symbols of loyalty, honesty and faithfulness. According to the Army, the ritual is observed not only to preserve traditional religious and cultural beliefs but also to honour the friendship and coexistence between humans and dogs.
The event was attended by the mayor of Madhyapur Thimi Municipality, ward chairpersons, military officials, veterinarians, security personnel and media representatives.
