The History of K9s in the Military: Military Working Dogs

Stubby.
Chips.
Cairo.

Also known as Military Working Dogs (MWDs), these three names belong to some of the most famous K9s in the military. Stubby served in World War I, and Chips became the most decorated MWD of World War II. Cairo took part in the 2011 raid on Osama Bin Laden.

Military Dogs Through History

Alyattes of Lydia first used K9s in battle against the Cimmerians around 600 BC, deploying them as sentries and scouts. Military dogs have worked alongside American soldiers since at least the Civil War, but the U.S. did not form its first official K9 corps until World War II.

“The first Air Force sentry dog school was activated at Showa Air Station, Japan, in 1952. In 1953, the second school was opened at Wiesbaden, West Germany. The Army continued to train and supply sentry dogs to Air Force units in the United States until the Sentry Dog Training Branch of the Department of Security Police Training was established at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, in October 1958.” (Source: https://www.37trw.af.mil/)

Building America’s Modern K9 Corps

In 1966, four sentry dog teams from Andrews Air Force Base trained as patrol dogs. By 1969, the Air Force had made patrol dogs the standard military working dog, and in 1971 it added drug and explosive detection duties to the dogs’ training.

In 2005, the Department of Defense began training Specialized Search Dogs (SSDs) to find Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). Unlike standard Explosive Detector Dogs (EDDs), SSDs work more independently and off-leash from their handler’s commands. In 2010, a new Combat Tracker Dog Teams program taught dogs to recognize and follow a human quarry.

Today, the 341st Training Squadron at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas trains every U.S. military working dog and handler. More than 1,600 K9s currently serve globally in the military.

How K9s Become Military Working Dogs

The Department of Defense breeds about 13% of the dogs in the military working dog program; elite breeders domestically and internationally supply the rest. Each K9 candidate spends six months with a foster family before returning to the 341st Training Squadron for specialized, intensive training that covers bite work, obedience, odor sensitivity, and simulated combat environments.

After a 120-day training program, K9s must graduate from the Military Working Dog Training Program. Graduates typically qualify as dual-purpose dogs, patrolling while also sniffing out explosives or drugs, and then join a branch of service for the rest of their career. Only 50% of dogs who enter the program go on to graduate as military working dogs.

Why Your Support Matters

These K9s form a vital part of our armed services, and we’re grateful for every military working dog and handler who helps keep our country safe. We believe every Law Enforcement, Fire, Search & Rescue, and Military K9 deserves the same lifesaving protection as their human partners. Please help us provide life-saving equipment to these dogs by donating today.

Sources:
https://www.defense.gov/Multimedia/Experience/Four-Legged-Fighters/
https://hiarmymuseumsoc.org/2021/10/a-history-of-military-working-dogs-mwds/
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/news/no-ordinary-dog-true-story-dog-osama-bin-laden-mission/
https://armedforcesentertainment.com/news/14-fun-facts-you-may-not-know-about-military-working-dogs/
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/news/what-are-military-working-dogs/
https://www.37trw.af.mil/About/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/670140/341st-training-squadron/