OUR MINE DOG

Our commitment to social responsibility extends beyond our innovative products, as we actively seek opportunities to contribute to meaningful causes.

Foto: Norsk Folkehjelp

At Squarehead we develop products that help secure assets and livelihoods. We are continuously adding more colleagues who contribute to this important work, and we have topped the team by hiring a mine dog!

Norwegian People’s Aid (Norsk Folkehjelp) is among the world’s largest demining organizations. They have removed more than two million landmines, in over 40 countries. Now they are facing one of their biggest tasks - cleaning up Ukraine.

For every mine the dog finds, a life is saved. A mine dog can find a mine up to 20 times faster than a human using a metal detector can.

Norwegian People’s Aid has been training mine dogs for over 20 years - delivering over 500 dogs world wide.

Take a look at their 20 year anniversary film HERE.

Over these years there has never been an accident with any of their mine dogs in the field, so these dogs have a long lifespan. They often work until they are 8-9 years old, before they retire and are adopted by those who want to take care of a dog that needs to rest after long and loyal service. Our new furry colleague will surely help save lives.

We invite you to join us on this journey as we provide updates and share the progress of our extraordinary four-legged colleague. Together, we can make a real impact and demonstrate the power of social responsibility in safeguarding lives and securing a brighter future.

Meet Mykola

Squarehead’s furriest employee is an Belgian Shepard born on December 6, 2022. Named Mykola, this puppy has been undergoing extensive training from birth to become a top-performing mine detection dog. Squarehead will fully fund Mykola's training and care until he retires.

Why the name Mykola?

We chose a name that resonates in Ukrainian, as he was supposed to be deployed there once he completed his training. Mykola, the Ukrainian form of Nicholas, means 'victory of the people.' Enough said.

Latest update on Mykola

Mykola has been deployed in Iraq.

Mykola was sent from Sarajevo and arrived in Iraq on December 28. Shortly after his arrival, he underwent an operation in which part of his tail was removed. This is a routine operation - the tail is long and is occasionally damaged by them being active in the kennel and banging their tails against things. If there is an infection in the wound, they cut it off. Mykola is in good shape again. 

After about 1.5 months of training to get to know the soil, climate and surroundings and his new dog handler, he was put into service. In the period March 11 to March 20, Mykola has searched for mines over an area of 12,814 square meters!

He copes well in his new surroundings and do well with both the heat and his new handler. The dog is in harmony with its surroundings and exhibits excellent playful and motivated behavior while working with its handler.

Date: Mai 2025