Military working dogs serve in roles like scouting, patrolling, detecting explosives and drugs, search and rescue, and guarding.
Common breeds are German Shepherd, Dutch Shepherd, Belgian Malinois known for intelligence, trainability, strength, and sense of smell.
Obedience, bite work, agility, scent detection, and simulated combat situations make up intense military working dog training programs.
Dogs have served alongside soldiers for centuries. In WWII, thousands of American dogs served as messengers, mine detectors
Handlers and military working dogs form close bonds and work as a highly specialized team to complete missions.
Heat, gunfire, unstable terrain, and dangerous substances are occupational hazards military dogs face, along with PTSD.
After years of service, military working dogs are often adopted by their handlers, law enforcement, or families - entering retirement.