Original East German DDR Border Guard Dog Training Certificate-1986 to 1989

Original German Democratic Republic (DDR / East Germany) Grenztruppen service-dog training certificate booklet, containing two completed certificates documenting the training and qualification of military working dogs during the final years of the Cold War.

The booklet bears the emblem and inscription “VEB für den Schutz der Arbeiter- und-Bauern-Macht” on the cover and contains official Grenztruppen der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik certificates inside.

The first certificate is dated June 12, 1986 and records completion of a Grenztruppen training course in Jena. The dog received an overall rating of “sehr gut” (very good) and a Note 1 for “Abwehr v. Angriffen” – defense against attacks. The certificate bears a large original blue DDR government/service stamp.

The second and more unusual certificate is dated July 3, 1989 and documents completion of a Hundeführer-Grundkurs (basic dog-handler course) for the service category “Grenzhund” – Border Dog.

The detailed evaluation records the dog’s performance in numerous areas including:

• Social behavior
• Cooperation
• Retrieving
• Encounters with strangers
• Recall
• Sit and place commands
• Leash handling
• Agility
• Training exercises
• Body control
• Wearing a muzzle
• Aggressiveness

Most categories received the highest Note 1 rating, with an overall score of approximately 1.2 / Sehr Gut.

The final assessment describes the animal as a very good guard dog and a “Perfekter Einzelkämpfer”, or approximately “perfect individual fighter,” with combat/guard-dog training noted.

The 1989 certificate is signed by the commanding officer and bears a large blue official Deutsche Demokratische Republik – Ministerium für Staatssicherheit – Wach-Rgt. F. Dzierzynski service stamp.

The Feliks Dzierzynski Guards Regiment was the armed guard formation subordinate to East Germany’s Ministry for State Security (Stasi), making the MfS connection particularly interesting to collectors of East German intelligence and security material.

The July 1989 date adds considerably to the historical appeal. This training was documented only about four months before the Berlin Wall opened on November 9, 1989, during the final months of the East German state. DDR border dogs became one of the recognizable elements of the heavily guarded inner-German frontier; historical accounts and later literature specifically document the use of service dogs along the East German border. 

Condition: Excellent overall for its age. The booklet remains clean and complete with strong printing, clearly legible typed entries, original signatures and excellent blue official DDR/MfS stamps. Light storage and handling wear is present. Please review all photographs for exact condition.

An unusually interesting piece of Cold War, East German, Stasi and military working-dog history, particularly desirable because it documents an actual Grenzhund qualification in 1989 and carries official Ministry for State Security / Wachregiment Feliks Dzierzynski markings.