BERLIN, Germany -- A German man who taught his dog Adolf to give a Hitler salute by raising his right paw has been charged with violating Germany's anti-Nazi laws, a Berlin court said on Wednesday.
Police investigated after members of the public complained they had seen the man giving the stiff-arm "Hitler salute" and telling his dog: "Adolf sit, give me the salute!," a court spokeswoman said.
As he was questioned by police the man ordered his dog to give them the Hitler salute as well, she said.
Germany has strict laws banning the use of Nazi symbols, but the man identified only as Roland T. told Bild newspaper he did not understand what the fuss was about.
"My father was in the cavalry and this is the way I was raised," he said.
Pictures in Bild showed the dog, a German shepherd crossbreed, giving the salute. His owner is shown with a Hitler-style moustache.
The trial is set for Thursday.
He is also accused of shouting the Nazi battlecry "Sieg Heil" in front of Berlin police and of wearing a "Hitler" t-shirt and shouting "Heil Hitler" at a market in the city.
