The History of Military Working Dogs

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The History of Military Working Dogs

• By Amber Horan

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1835 The 2nd Seminole War

• The first recorded use of dogs by the United
  States Army was during the 2nd Seminole War.
• 33 Cuban-bred bloodhounds were bought and used by
  the us army to track the Seminole Indians and the
  runaway slaves they were harboring, in the swamps
  of western Florida and Louisiana.

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1865 The Civil War

• The military began casual use of dogs as
  messengers, sentries, and guards most though
  were used as mascots to keep up the morale of the
  regiment.

Lieutenant George A. Custer And Friend
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1884 The Worlds First Military
War Dog Training School

• The Germans established the world's very first
  Military War Dog School, at Lechernich, near
  Berlin. There they began to train dogs as
  sentries and as messengers.

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1914-1918 World War I

• During World War I, vast numbers of dogs were
  employed as sentries, messengers, food carriers,
  sled dogs, guard dogs, ratters, Red Cross
  casualty dogs, and even cigarette dogs.

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WWI Military Working Dogs
Search and Rescue Ambulance Dogs
Cigarette Delivery Dog
Red Cross Dogs
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The Early Version of a Dog Gas Mask

• The dog gas mask of World War I covered the
  dogs entire head and consisted of eight layers
  of chemically treated cheesecloth. It had two
  cellulose eye lenses to allow the dog to see, ear
  pockets for the ears, space for the jaws to work,
  and a wide neckband with straps to tie around the
  neck. (Walk)

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Messenger Dogs

• Messenger Dogs wore special collars that had a
  compartment to hold their sacred message.

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WWII Dogs for Defense

• January, 1942, not long after the attack on
  Pearl Harbor, the American Kennel Association and
  a new group calling itself "Dogs for Defense"
  mobilized dog owners across the country to donate
  quality animals to the Army's Quartermaster
  Corps.
• This was the first time in the military history
  of the US, that marked the official recognition
  of war dogs by the armed forces. (Hahn)

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Military Working Dogs of Today

• Military Working Dogs have come a long way since
  their initial emergence into the military
  program.
• Dogs are now taking many different roles in the
  military outfit.

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A Parachuter and his K-9
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Attack Dogs
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Sniffer DogsThese dogs are trained to detect
drugs, explosives, and many other items.
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Search and Rescue Dogs
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Just another day in the life of a military
working dog
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Reference Page

• Hahn. The World History of the Dogs of War. WWII
  US Dogs for Defense. Retrieved October 13, 2004
  from http//community-2.webtv.net/Hahn-50thAP-K9/
  K9History/
• Walk, Major Robert D. Military Masks Animals in
  Chemical Warfare. Retrieved October 13, 2004
  from http//www.gasmasklexikon.com/Page/USA-Mil-A
  nimals.htm
• Pictures acquired from the following
• http//www.defence.gov.au/news/raafnews/editions/4
  507/flightline.htm
• http//www.defence.gov.au/news/armynews/editions/1
  071/topstories/story12.htm
• http//www2.acc.af.mil/accnews/feb01/01052.html
• http//www.gasmasklexikon.com/Page/USA-Mil-Animals
  .htm
• http//www.operations.mod.uk/telic/images/land/dog
  _trg.jpg
• http//www.dogsinthenews.com/issues/0109/articles/
  010915a.htm
• http//community-2.webtv.net/Hahn-50thAP-K9/K9Hist
  ory24/