Famous Military Working Dogs

Military Working Dogs (MWDs) train to support our military soldiers’ work. These war dogs handle incredible tasks that humans cannot do, including carrying messages, standing guard, and sniffing out bombs. The US Military has used dogs since World War I. In fact, the history of dogs in military service stretches back as far as 400 BCE.

Throughout US history, many notable and highly decorated military working dogs have served our country and saved countless lives. The list below highlights just a few of these beloved K9 heroes.

Stubby – Boston Terrier Mix

Sergeant Stubby ranks among the most decorated dogs in US military history. He remains the only dog ever promoted to Sergeant through combat. Stubby served in 17 battles in France. He helped locate missing soldiers and warned troops of incoming artillery and gas attacks. After the war, Stubby met several Presidents and became the mascot for the Georgetown Hoyas football team.

Smoky – Yorkshire Terrier

Troops found Smoky, a 4-pound Yorkie, abandoned in a foxhole in New Guinea. She went on to serve with the armed forces in the Philippines during World War II. Smoky took part in over a dozen combat missions and survived more than 150 air raids. She helped troops by warning them of incoming artillery fire.

One of her most notable accomplishments came when engineers needed to run a telegraph wire through a partially enclosed 70-foot pipe. That task would have exposed the engineers to enemy fire for days. Smoky accomplished it in minutes instead. Many also credit Smoky as the first therapy dog on record. For over a decade, she visited with and entertained injured soldiers both overseas and stateside.

Chips – Collie/German Shepherd/Siberian Husky Mix

Chips earned the title of most highly decorated dog of World War II. His owner gave him to the military after the attack on Pearl Harbor, as part of the Dogs for Defense program. Chips fought in campaigns across North Africa and Europe. He’s best known for attacking a German gun nest, where he helped capture ten enemy soldiers. That same day, he also served as a guard dog for a meeting between Churchill and President Roosevelt.

The military honored Chips with a Silver Star and nominated him for a Distinguished Service Cross and a Purple Heart. Officials later revoked those honors, since the military classified animals as equipment at the time. In 2018, the group PDSA posthumously awarded Chips the Dickin Medal, the highest honor for wartime bravery by an animal.

Nemo – German Shepherd

Nemo A534 served in the Vietnam War with the Air Force. One fateful night, Nemo detected enemy soldiers approaching and alerted his handler, giving the unit time to prepare for the fight. Nemo and his handler suffered injuries in the ensuing firefight, but both recovered. Nemo later retired as one of the first dogs allowed to return to the US after serving overseas.

Cairo – Belgian Malinois

Cairo served on the Navy SEAL team that raided the compound where US forces located Osama Bin Laden in 2011. Equipped with a bulletproof vest and harnesses for rappelling and parachuting, Cairo secured the perimeter of the compound. His training also covered searching for false walls and hidden doors, and he wore special night-vision “doggles” for the mission. Cairo later got the chance to meet President Barack Obama at a congratulatory meeting with the Navy SEAL team.

Lucca – German Shepherd/Belgian Malinois Mix

Lucca served with the US Marine Corps as an explosive detection dog. She completed more than 400 missions across Iraq and Afghanistan, and no Marine on her patrols ever died from an IED. In 2012, a blast in Afghanistan badly injured Lucca and she lost a leg, but she survived and soon retired to a family home.

In 2016, Lucca became the first US Marine Corps working dog to receive the Dickin Medal, the PDSA’s highest honor for animal bravery in service. That honor cemented her place among the most decorated military working dogs in modern history.

Military K9s of the past and present remain a vital part of our armed services, and we’re so grateful for all the military working dogs and their handlers who help keep our great country safe. We believe all Law Enforcement, Fire, Search & Rescue, and Military K9s deserve the same lifesaving protection as their human partners. Please help us provide life-saving equipment to these dogs by donating today or through a Donor-Advised Fund.

Sources

• DogTime, “Five War Dogs for Memorial Day”
• ID.me, “9 Decorated Dogs in American Military History”
• Bil-Jac, “Patriotic Pets: 4 Famous Military Dogs You Should Know”
• We Are The Mighty, “Military Dogs That Made History”

• Inside Edition, “Chips, a US Army Hero Dog That Served in World War II, Gets Posthumous Medal”
• The Washington Post, “Heroic Dog Is Honored 75 Years After Saving the Lives of US Soldiers”
• Chewy, “Military Working Dog Profiles”
• Free Kibble, “Famous Military Dogs”