The Lybian war (1912)

Thanks to their ferocity, smell and fine hearing Fonni's dogs were used in the campaign of Africa, in Libya in 1912, to counter the rebel attacks against Italian soldiers. These dogs were able to find hidden weapons digging in the sand. The dogs were purchased by the italian governament and were paid 50 old lira each. All the dogs were subjected to a precise training that consisted in being abused by a soldier dressed as an Arab, while another soldier in Italian uniform rewarded and fed the animal that was so led to hate and attack anyone who wore garments fashioned in Arab or Turkish style.