On this Veterans Day weekend, we thank current and retired Military Working Dogs for your bravery and loyalty in protecting our country and the men and women who serve beside you. Since 1942 it is estimated that over 30,000 dogs have served our country, with approximately 2,500 Military Working Dogs on active duty today. In their roles as sentries and scouts, to detecting explosives and drugs, and even parachuting from airplanes and repelling down cliffs, Military K9s perform a wide variety of specialized tasks. But how does a dog become one of these elite members of our military? In honor of Veterans Day, we’d like to share the journey these specialized K9s make from the whelping box to service to retirement.
Through breeding and purchase, the United States Air Force is the executive agent for almost all Department of Defense working dogs, and is responsible for preparing and training Military Working Dogs for duty. The majority of the dogs are purchased from abroad, where they are purposely bred for ideal traits for military service. However, for the approximately 20 percent that are bred in the United States, their journey begins at the state of the art whelping facility at the Military Working Dog Center located at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. From birth to 8 weeks, Puppy Development Specialists begin their training by imprinting and exposing the puppies to a variety of stimulations and activities that will prepare them for the next phase of their life.
However, they are too young at this age to determine if they have what it takes to serve our country. Thanks to volunteer foster families, the puppies leave the base at two months old to live in homes, while continuing their training. Similar to other service dog programs, these volunteers are responsible for teaching them the fundamentals of basic obedience, socialization, and play, while exposing the puppies to a variety of different environments. Caring for these puppies is a five month commitment, and they are returned to the base when they are 7 months old.
It is at this time that the puppies are evaluated by trained canine behaviorists. The puppies are given behavioral tests to determine if they have the proper character, temperament and behavior to be effective Military Working Dogs. They are also given a thorough examination by veterinarians. Dogs fit for military service are physically healthy, exceptionally brave, fiercely loyal, and reward-motivated. They must possess a calm disposition overall, but also have the right amount of excitability in order to be assertive in emergency situations, which is referred to as intelligent disobedience. Only about half of all potential Military Working Dogs are able to complete their training.
For those that pass, the 341st Training Squadron provides training to these future Military Working Dogs and their handlers in patrol, drug and explosive detection, and specialized mission functions for the Department of Defense and other government agencies. These dedicated dog handlers come from nearly every branch of the military and have extensive experience with combat situations to better help them train and assess each dog’s individual aptitude and personal drive. Their training consists of developing the dog’s obedience, mental stability in changing environments, and the strength and effectiveness of their biting grip. The program is based on positive rewards, usually a ball or rubber toy, rather than food. It is the role of the trainer to determine each individual dog’s natural ability to further direct its training and ultimate role.
Due to their superior eyesight and hearing, not to mention their ability to inflict fear in an aggressor in a way a human, even if armed, often can’t, most Military K9s serve as Sentries. They aren’t trained to kill as some myths may suggest. Rather, handlers train their dogs to latch onto an enemy’s arm or leg and prevent them from escaping. Those with a calmer demeanor are often trained to be Scouts. Scout dogs are trained to smell and listen for threats located as far as 1,000 feet away and even through dark tunnels. They can sense the presence of weapon cashes, and ambushes, even if an enemy platoon is hiding underwater. Military Working Dogs who demonstrate an aptitude for advance nose work skills are used for detection and tracking. With an acute sense of smell 5 to 10 times stronger than a human’s, dogs are able to detect minute traces of explosives or drugs and alert their handlers of their presence. In fact, by the time Explosion Detection Dogs graduate from their 13 weeks of intense training, they are able to detect 19,000 explosive scents with their sensitive noses. Dogs who have a super-high drive receive additional training so that they can accompany their handlers in parachute and rappel operations. Some even wear waterproof tactical vests, night-vision or infrared cameras, and other highly specialized canine equipment.
While some breeds do respond better to military training than others, Military K9s are selected on an individual basis. So yes, there are Golden Retrievers serving alongside the more commonly used Malinois and German Shepherds. Since the creation of the Military Working Dog Program at Lackland Air Force Base, it is estimated that tens of thousands of dogs have been trained. Most Military K9s serve for 8 to 9 years before retiring at approximately 10 to 12 years old. These dogs have saved thousands of lives in their service to our country. Some go on to serve local communities as police K9s, while others are adopted by their handlers or specially selected families. For those unable to adapt to civilian life, there are organizations that provide a safe sanctuary so that they may live out their retirement in comfort.
On this Veterans Day weekend, we thank all the retired and active Military Working Dogs for your bravery and loyalty in protecting our country and the men and women who serve beside you. If you would like to learn more about the process of becoming a Military Working Dog, please visit 341st Training Squadron. To learn more about the invaluable service of Military Working Dogs for our country and the programs available for retired K9 Veterans, including ways you can donate to to help with their veterinary care, mental and physical rehabilitation, and rehoming please visit the Warrior Dog Foundation and United States War Dog Association.
