“Constant Vigilance. The bond between a SOF Handler & his K9 is eternal. Trusting each other in a nameless language. Here we honor our SOF K9s that have paid the ultimate price.” These words are written on the plaque of the Special Forces K9 memorial statue in Fayetteville, NC. The significance of canine forces in the U.S. military throughout history and today has proven that the bond between man and dog is far more than loyalty and strength. For National K9 Veterans Day, let’s take a moment to remember why we should celebrate today by learning the history of military working dogs (MWD) and some of the most renowned K9 soldiers in history!

  What is K9 Veterans Day?

A US soldier and a trained K9 after the landings on Guam.

K9 Veterans Day is a day to commemorate the service and sacrifice of the thousands of working dogs in the U.S. military in history and today.

For over eight decades, the U.S. military has been enlisting a multitude of dogs in which dedicated and expert K9 handlers have been training them to become skilled officers within their ranks. In December of 1941 when our country entered World War II, the American Kennel Association and the organization Dogs for Defense began searching for strong and healthy dogs by motivating pet owners to help their cause. Later in 1942, the Quartermaster Corps of the U.S. Army (QMC) began training dogs. On March 13th, 1942 the U.S. Army K9 Corps was formed, thus marking it the official date for National K9 Veterans Day. Later that same year, the QMC began training K9 forces for the U.S. Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard.  

The History of Military Working Dogs

There is no doubt that dogs have been extremely vital in military use. The earliest recorded use of dogs in combat is in 600 BC by the Egyptian, Greek, and Roman military. However, the United States has used canines more effectively than any other military. Every MWD undergoes extensive assessments before being chosen to begin training for the military. Of those, only about 50% make it past training. Today, there are about 2,500 MWDs who are serving our country in our military. Each of those MWDs has special jobs that are all equally important.

For a while, most of our military service dogs have come from breeders in Germany and the Netherlands who have bred their dogs specifically for military use for hundreds of years. Knowing this, it made it easier for the U.S. military to select dogs that exhibited the desired traits they needed. The ideals are dogs that show aggressiveness (e.g. some puppies in the training program display anxiety when having to bite other humans purposely and therefore do not pass training), intelligence, and obedience (i.e. they must have a keen sense of smell and be able to follow orders on command). However, most recently, since partnering with the American Kennel Association, they have fostered a breeding program to create our slew of military working dogs. The largest breeding program from MWD is located in San Antonio, Texas at the Lackland Air Force base. The dogs are trained for many specific jobs including search and rescue, attack, patrol, tracking, and explosive detection.

Master-at-Arms 2nd Class David Fuller and MWD Biko!

A common misconception about military working dogs is that they are all typically German Shepherds. While many are German Shepherds, the military also chooses breeds such as Doberman Pinchers, Dutch Shepherds, Labrador Retrievers, Belgian Malinois, and even breeds like Jack Russell terriers for detection. Each branch of the U.S. military utilizes K9 forces.

K9 Veterans to Remember

There have been many courageous canine soldiers who have fought in our United States military and who have countless “tails” of their bravery. However, there are a few that have especially made their mark in history and on the hearts of their fellow soldiers. Here are 3 of some of the most significant canines in U.S. military history and their stories.

Although Stubby, Chips, and Nemo are some of the most decorated dogs in American military history, many other K9 legends made their significance through acts of outstanding gallantry and loyalty to their handlers and fellow brothers in arms.

Just like our human veterans, we cannot thank these K9s enough for risking their lives to protect our country and the lives that make it up. Today is not only to honor the military working dogs of the U.S. but all K9s that have trained and dedicated their lives to serving us whether that be in law enforcement, fire departments, or even search and rescue dogs (SAR dogs). 

Happy K9 Veterans Day to all canines and their dedicated handlers!