Our dogs are there for us whatever happens; in good times or bad, happy or sad. They are waiting for us when we get home after a long day at work and they wake us up with a smile and a wagging tail every morning. Dogs are our best friends, our constant companions, our children.
But dogs are more than members of our family. They are extremely intelligent animals that provide many important services that benefit our communities and our country. Also known as “police dogs” or “K-9,” military working dogs have a long history in the United States dating back to World War II.
Background:
After the attack on Pearl Harbor during World War II, a movement began encouraging dog owners to donate their dogs to help the Army. Thus began the “K-9 Corps” training. Basic training was 8-12 weeks and the dogs were trained to carry out commands (sit, stay, come, etc.), travel in military vehicles, get used to the noises of war, etc. Once initial training was completed, each dog went through specialized training tailored to the strengths of each individual dog:
– Messengers: These dogs were trained to be very loyal to two people, as they needed to be able to silently and quickly travel between the two and deliver messages.
– Scouts: Using dogs’ keen sense of smell and hearing, scouts were trained to silently locate booby traps, snipers, concealed weapons, etc.
– Sentinels: Sentinel dogs defended camps and other important areas. They gave a signal to warn their human guard counterpart that someone (or something) was approaching.
– Mine detection: mining dogs were trained to find tripwires, booby traps, metallic and non-metallic mines.
Today:
Today’s military working dogs have varied roles, but are rarely used at the front, unlike their ancestors. Currently, there is only one facility in the United States that trains dogs for military use. Although still used as sentinels, scouts, and pets, modern military working dogs also perform the following services:
Law Enforcement – Many dogs are esteemed associates and even officers of local law enforcement. They can hunt down, track and monitor suspects, as well as react when their police officer is under attack.
Drugs and explosives: Detector dogs can sniff out a wide variety of illegal substances, even in airtight and sealed containers. These dogs can also detect explosives and are very useful in airports, entry and exit checkpoints, and secure areas.
Search and Rescue: Dogs are also an integral part of search and rescue efforts. These dogs are adept at tracking and detecting human odors and are trained to help find people who may have been lost in the woods, caught under an avalanche, etc.
Common breeds used:
The most common breed for police operations has been the German Shepherd, but in recent years smaller dogs with a sharper sense of smell have been used for detection work. The Belgian Malinois and Dutch Shepherd have also proven to be very useful for patrolling.
Other breeds of military working dogs include Boxers, Argentine Bulldogs, Labrador Retrievers, Doberman Pinschers, Springer Spaniels, Bloodhounds, Beagles, Rottweilers, and Giant Schnauzers.
Manipulators:
Each and every military working dog is cared for by a person, known as a guide. The handler pairs with a dog after the dog has completed the training. Although each handler may not have the same dog for his entire career, the handler works with one dog for at least a year, if not many more.
Adoption:
Military working dogs work very hard and put many years of loyal service using their skills and training. Once these dogs retire from your work life, there are many programs to place these dogs in loving homes so they can spend their retirement in comfort and relaxation while giving another person or family the joy of having a dog.
Many people think of dogs as pets. If you are a dog owner, you already know that your dog is more than just a “pet.” Still, we don’t always think about military working dogs and how they spend most of their lives performing valuable services to keep us safe. These dogs are canine heroes.