WORKING DOGS

Posted by  Dr Juan E Pimentel, ThD      

Our troops aren’t alone when they leave their families and ship  out across the sea to serve. In every American war since the beginning,  military working dogs, or war dogs, have been trained to assist troops  in the battlefield. They did not gain official recognition for this  service until World War II, but war dogs have always played a unique and  valuable role in preserving freedom.

Using animals in war to boost morale and participate in  communications or espionage dates back to ancient times. A variety of  animals have been used historically, namely pigeons, bats, sea lions,  insects, cats, dolphins, chickens, pigs, camels, rats, horses, and even  elephants. Some of these animals are still used today in militaries  around the world, but man’s best friend, the dog, has served the longest  of them all. Dogs’ superior senses and unfailing loyalty make them  valuable assets to troops navigating treacherous and unpredictable war  zones.

As of 2015, there were 2,500 war dogs or MWDs in active duty.  Approximately 700 of these are deployed overseas. These dogs fulfill a  variety of roles on and off the battlefield, including fighting,  transportation and location, keeping morale high, detection and  tracking, scouting, and acting as sentries.

Most military dogs are German Shepherds or Belgian Malinois. But  these aren’t the only breeds fit for military service: Labradors,  Doberman Pinschers, Giant Schnauzers, Sheepdogs, and Collies are among  the most preferred breeds, while many others have served gallantly in  the past.

Like their human comrades, war dogs are equipped with top-of-the-line  get-ups, including bullet and knife-proof vests, GPS trackers,  night-vision cameras, and “doggles” (goggles built especially for dogs  to protect their eyes from dust and debris).

Since the beginning of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, the  Department of Defense has spent nearly one million dollars on training  and maintaining military working dogs. Clearly they see the great  service these dogs are doing and think it well worth their investments.

Even though war dogs do many things soldiers do, like jump out of  airplanes, participate in combat, and save lives, they’re currently  classified as equipment of the military, not canine members. Legislation  has been proposed to change this, but so far it hasn’t become law. Many  trainers and handlers are very passionate about war dogs receiving due  consideration as members of the armed forces and not as objects like  desks or computers.

Despite their being classified as equipment, it’s been a long time  since war dogs were treated like equipment. Many inhumane practices of  the past have been discontinued, and today, war dogs are raised,  respected, and cared for like the heroes they are.

Depending on their individual aptitudes, war dogs are trained to  attack, hold down, and incapacitate the enemy. They aren’t trained to  kill as some myths may suggest; rather, the most handlers train their  dogs to do is latch onto an enemy’s arm or leg and prevent them from  escaping. Top military breeds like German Shepherds or Belgian Malinois  are particularly athletic and are selected by trainers for their  aggressive natures.

U.S. Special Operations forces will often employ dogs during raids. These fighter dogs chase down and  restrain fugitives or prisoners. But while not all dogs are cut out for  raids, it’s imperative that all receive training in controlled  aggressiveness: they must be able to attack on command and defend their  handler at will without command.

In the past, dogs were used by the military to haul supplies,  transport weaponry, and carry messages. Many times, dogs have sought out  wounded troops, retrieved medical help by barking, or dragged the  wounded to safety themselves. Almost 10,000 dogs were used for these  purposes during World War I.

Dogs have a history as regiment mascots to help preserve morale among  the troops. But even dogs who aren’t mascots have a healing effect on  soldiers. The bond between handler and war dog is strong; many war dogs  give their lives for their handlers or comrades. Such an emotional  connection is good for morale and gives soldiers a sense of  companionship and belonging. Even though war dogs are highly trained,  they’re still dogs: playtime and snuggles are a part of everyday life  and help distract troops from current stressors and mentally rejuvenate  them.

One example of dogs boosting morale is found in Rex,  a German shepherd whose gentle nature got him transferred from  aggressive training to bomb sniffing. Over time, Rex’s presence in the  regiment became comforting and even therapeutic to the troops. They  noticed that he was naturally drawn to those struggling or feeling down.  He would coax them into playing with him by hitting or nudging them  with a water bottle.

Dogs have also worked in therapy settings to help human veterans with  PTSD. Their unconditionally loving natures make them excellent sources  of emotional support and companionship for the psychologically  distressed. PTSD service dogs help veterans feel safe in their homes and  have even brought many back from thoughts of suicide.

At one time, dogs were trained to detect land mines, but the stress  of combat situations and the fear of unstable ground eventually rendered  them ineffective. But they have excelled at sniffing out bombs, drugs,  weapons, and enemy troops. Today, most dogs are trained in either IED or  narcotics detection, but never both. The reasoning for this is simple:  the more specialized the dog, the better the results. Plus, if a dog  were trained to sniff for anything and everything, his barking wouldn’t  communicate much: it would be hard to determine exactly what he’d found  or which team to call in response.

Hidden explosives are the greatest threat to these sniffer dogs, killing almost twenty dogs since 2007.

Some military working dogs are trained as scout dogs. Scout dogs are  trained to smell and listen for threats located as far as 1,000 feet  away and even through dark tunnels. They have reportedly sensed the  presence of weapon cashes, ambushes, and enemy platoons hiding  underwater, saving many lives.

In perhaps their most time-honored role, dogs are used in the  military to guard camps, storage areas, bunkers, and gun towers during  the night. Their superior eyesight and hearing allows them to detect  intruders faster than a human might, and they warn sleeping troops by  barking or growling. These sentry dogs were particularly numerous in the  Vietnam War, preventing the loss of many crucial locations. Vietcong  prisoners reportedly expressed great fear and admiration for the canine  sentries and even put bounties on them and their handlers.

The Department of Defense has set up several Military Working Dog  programs, including an MWD Veterinary Service and an MWD Breeding  Program. Today, the 341st Training Squadron at the Lackland Air Force base is dedicated to training war dogs and their handlers. It currently has  more than 1,000 dogs in training, and has trained tens of thousands more  since it opened in 1958. It is the largest military dog school in the  world. Trainers come from nearly every branch of the military and have  extensive experience with combat situations. They are able to use this  experience to assess and nurture a dog’s combat readiness and natural  ability.

While some breeds do respond better to military training than others,  war dogs are selected on an individual basis. Dogs fit for the military  are as physically healthy as possible, exceptionally brave, fiercely  loyal, and reward-motivated. They must possess calm dispositions  overall, but also have the right amount of excitability in order to be  assertive in emergency situations. Only about half of all potential war  dogs are able to complete their training. Many are unable to handle the  stress of even simulated combat: some puppies are especially distressed  at the idea of having to bite a human and are pulled from training as a  result.

For the most part, training revolves around the dog’s personal drive.  The military needs highly motivated dogs who seek out treats or toys  with determination and focus. Training programs also develop the dog’s  obedience, mental stability in changing environments, and the strength  and effectiveness of their biting grip.

While the Department of Defense handles most of the procuring and  training of war dogs, a select number of exceptionally high-drive dogs  are supplied by military contractors. Such dogs are known as  multi-purpose canines, or MPCs. These are the ones who parachute out of  airplanes, rappel from helicopters, and work with Special Ops teams like  the Navy SEALs.

Throughout training and tours, military working dogs and their  handlers form profound bonds. In the event of a handler’s death, the  dogs are known to mourn and have trouble adjusting to new partnerships.

We’ve talked about military working dogs, or MWDs, before in a sister article,  explaining what they are, how they’re trained, and what they do in the  military. Like human soldiers, war dogs give life and limb to protect  us, receiving awards for their service, and sometimes coming home from  war only to face debilitating after-effects like PTSD. Here’s how we as  civilians can continue to care for and support our war dogs after they  come home.

Many war dogs have received recognition for their heroic deeds in battle. One recent example is Cairo,  the Belgian Malinois who served with the Navy SEAL team responsible for  killing bin Laden. Four other war dogs, Matty, Fieldy, Bond, and Isky,  were each awarded the Medal of Courage this year for their service in  Afghanistan. Eli, another bomb sniffer, was granted early retirement  after using his body to shield the late Pfc. Colton Rusk from sniper  fire.

Many dogs have received the Dickin Medal for their service, including  Lucca, a German Shepherd who detected 40 explosives in her military  career and retired after losing one of her front legs. Sergeant Stubby, a  Pit Bull Terrier from World War I, also received the Dickin Medal and  remains one of the most decorated war dogs in history, having served in  seventeen battles. His heroic accomplishments include warning his  regiment of mustard gas attacks, catching a German soldier by his pants,  and locating wounded men whom he then comforted while waiting for help  to arrive.

Other decorated dogs include Rags, a mixed-breed terrier who rescued  his unit from ambush by calling reinforcements; Smoky, a Yorkshire  terrier who parachuted on occasion and warned a soldier of falling  shells; and Chips, a German Shepherd-Collie-Husky mix who leapt into a  pillbox and terrified several soldiers into surrender. All these dogs  received awards for their service during the World Wars.

Of the hundreds of war dogs deployed at a given time, about 5 percent  develop post-traumatic stress disorder. The military has only just  started investigating canine PTSD, which differs from dog to dog just as  in humans, but advancements are being made every day. Veterinary  services are available on site for physically wounded dogs, and now  canine psychologists are becoming accessible as well. Many dogs are able  to heal and return to active duty after receiving the proper care.

Symptoms of PTSD in dogs include: a heightened startle response, a  tendency to flee or hide, bodily indicators of fear or anxiety, social  withdrawal, hypervigilance, failure to perform simple tasks, and  fluctuation in rapport with handlers.

As a way to memorialize these brave dogs for their service, several  monuments, cemeteries, and memorials exist across the county that anyone  can visit. Just a few include the National War Dog Cemetery, the  Michigan War Dog Memorial, and the West Coast War Dog Memorial. Here’s a  list of others.

In addition to these memorials, many charities around the country  have been established for the sole purpose of tending to war dogs. The  Warrior Dog Foundation was built by Mike Ritland, a Navy SEAL who served  in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Ritland’s vision for the foundation is to  ensure a smooth transition from deployment to kennel life for all  retired war dogs. The Warrior Dog Foundation is equipped with an  excellent kennel facility built for nurturing and rehabilitating war  dogs for the remainder of their lives. But the foundation doesn’t want  to stop there: they have plans to open a war dog museum, set up a  scholarship fund for fallen or wounded handlers’ families, and construct  a living memorial to all war dogs.

Before the year 2000 and the passing of Robby’s Law, war dogs were  put down after their time in the military. The popular belief was that  these dogs wouldn’t be able to adjust to civilian life after what they’d  seen and done overseas. Robby, a war dog, was euthanized after his  deployment despite every effort made by his handler to adopt him. The  story spread, and now, Robby’s Law states that all retired military dogs  are eligible for adoption. First pick for adoption goes to the dog’s  handler and the handler’s family. After that, the dog is offered to law  enforcement. If not adopted into law enforcement, these dogs can be  adopted by civilian families after the family undergoes a thorough  evaluation.

There are many online charities and adoption agencies that work to  provide these canine veterans with loving, stable homes. Some of these  are Save A Vet, Pets for Patriots, the Puppy Rescue Mission, the Warrior  Dog Foundation, the Military Working Dog Foundation, Pets4Vets, Mission K9  Rescue, and Veteran Support Foundation.

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