Safety Concerns Rise Over Military-Associated Dog Trainers After Attacks in Sweden

Two separate incidents involving dogs trained by military or law enforcement-associated trainers in Sweden have raised serious public safety concerns and scrutiny over training methods. In June 2023, near a trainer's residence, two unleashed German shepherds attacked a 15-year-old poodle named Doglaz during a walk. The poodle suffered severe injuries that led to euthanasia from extensive blood loss. Bernt Bergman, Doglaz's owner and retired police officer, described the attack as sudden and brutal, with his other dog sustaining minor injuries. The trainer denied full responsibility, claiming only one dog bit and that Bergman's dogs initiated the confrontation. Following investigations, the county board ordered the trainer to keep one dog leashed in all public areas. This trainer had previously faced complaints over poor handling and illegal use of electric and prong collars.

Separately, in spring 2025, a Belgian Malinois owned by a patrol dog instructor attacked a child, causing serious injuries requiring multiple surgeries. The aggressive dog, with documented elevated aggression scores from a 2018 mental assessment, had a history of biting both humans and other dogs but continued to be used competitively by the instructor. After another biting incident at a competition, the dog was suspended and later euthanized, officially due to illness. Critics argue such a dog should never have been trained for protection work and call for accountability among judges and trainers regarding aggressive dogs and training methods.

Both cases have spotlighted a deeper cultural problem within Sweden's military and law enforcement dog training community. Investigations reveal a pervasive silence around the use of inhumane and illegal training tactics, including electric shocks and prong collars, raising questions about oversight and animal welfare. Experts emphasize the need for reform and stricter regulations to prevent future attacks and ensure public safety.

These incidents underline the risks posed by aggressive, poorly controlled dogs linked to military or law enforcement trainers and the urgent necessity for regulatory action to govern training practices and enforce humane standards.