If you think dogs are just cute pets that play with you and cuddle you till you sleep, think again! These four-legged creatures are not merely adorable companions; rather, they are a formidable force in military missions. These military working dogs, also known as MWDs, are some of the smartest and boldest dogs out there.
These dogs are trained to showcase their qualities in the most stressful situations possible. They are a perfect fit for critical situations and are intelligent enough to help their human fellows perform various missions with absolute success. They not only showcase absolute bravery by patrolling the sensitive spots but also use their sense when it comes to detecting explosives at the airports.
They are so bright that they have also been used to provide soldiers the much-needed psychological support during wartime. In this article, we shall talk about these military working dog breeds and what physical and psychological qualities set them apart from other dogs.
Military Working Dog Breeds
1. German Shepherd
German Shepherd is one of the most intelligent dogs out there!
This military dog breed is bright enough to understand the trickiest situations possible. Be it scent detection or tactical response towards opponents, these dogs are phenomenal in everything.
Training this dog is really easy. They are receptive to well-structured training, and their eagerness to please owners makes them amazing trainees.
Another quality that makes them good military working dogs is their superior smelling sense. This feature makes them remarkable at bomb detection missions and narcotics probes. Further, they are an important part of the search missions where they are assigned the task of finding missing persons.
Historical Tidbit: They were used by the German army during World War I as messenger dogs.
2. Belgian Malinois
Apart from being supremely intelligent, the Belgian Malinois is also incredibly fast and speedy.
This dog has an unmatched, exemplary pace. With its speed, it showcases a great capability to be an outstanding military dog.
With their great drive and energy, these working dogs are great at search and rescue missions. With their agility comes their unmatched strength and resiliency. Hence, this dog works with the armed forces with great passion.
Also, they have a great sense of smell. This makes them immaculate at detecting explosives and narcotics.
Historical Tidbit: In World War I, these dogs were used by the Belgian army. They were assigned the crucial duty of being messengers. Their performance in ambulance work was also exceptional.
3. Labrador Retriever
The Labrador Retriever is a dog with some of the sharpest dogs in the dog world.
They are so brilliant that understanding and working on the intricate commands is quite easy for them. These dogs are quick learners, and hence, they become an exceptional part of the military and police forces in various missions.
Britannica says these search and rescue dogs show an amazing work ethic. They possess a natural drive to complete tasks, and that too in the most extraordinary manner possible.
Also, this is a medium-sized dog that is perfect for air transport. In the cases of rapid deployment, they end up being perfect choices.
The U.S. Marine Corps and Army utilise the skills of Labradors in their IED detection programs.
4. Dutch Shepherd
A Dutch Shepherd has an exemplary work drive. It gets motivated by accomplishing its tasks and performing them in the most phenomenal manner.
This dog breed is super intelligent. They are trained well, and then their capabilities are used for the military service efficiently. As they are eager to please their owners, they learn new commands and skills pretty fast!
PetMD mentions they are quite intelligent and smart.
Being super alert and watchful, they are perfect for all kinds of patrol activities where a vigilant observer is required.
What makes this dog a great MWD is its versatility. It can perform a variety of tasks, from search and rescue to narcotics investigation. As guide dogs and patrol agents, there is no one better than them!
5. Doberman Pinscher
Doberman Pinscher is a World War II hero!
During the war, these dogs served in the United States Marine Corps, showcasing their utmost dedication and skills.
As a matter of fact, these dogs were declared to be the official war dogs by the United States Marine Corps during World WW2 as they had showcased their capabilities, which were much more than merely being canine companions.
These dogs, with their innate protective instincts, make them phenomenal guard dogs who can protect the wounded soldiers during wartime.
Also, thanks to their stamina, it is possible for them to perform an extended task without losing focus.
Historical Tidbit: The U.S. Marine Corps used Dobermans in World War II, where they served as scout dogs and mine sensors in the Pacific Theatre.
6. Boxer
A Boxer is not only extremely intelligent, but it is also quite trainable.
With this dog’s innate eagerness to please its owner, it ends up showcasing great learning skills and is rightfully the top military dog breed.
During World War I, these dogs served as exceptional messengers as well as guard dogs. They would not only carry messages with utmost dedication and secrecy but would also ensure the safety of wounded soldiers.
Being excellent working dogs, even today, they are prominent members of rescue missions and showcase exemplary performance as search and rescue dogs.
Historical Tidbit: Boxers were included by the United States of America in the “Dogs for Defence” scheme during World War 2.
7. Rottweiler
Rottweiler is known for its exceptional strength, strong guarding skills, and phenomenal intelligence.
They also have exemplary protective instincts. Purina calls them courageous and muscular.
With their appearance, these dogs are enough to deter anyone! Their large, muscular bodies make them phenomenal when it comes to getting through challenging situations without flinching.
They are also quite versatile! With their ability to be exceptional working dogs, they can perform a variety of tasks with utmost dedication that may include guarding, pulling carts, and managing intricate physical tasks.
Their firm bodies and powerful bite force make them useful obstacles in security zones.
8. Giant Schnauzer
Giant Schnauzer, as the name specifies, is MASSIVE!
It is not only big in size, but it is extremely intelligent as well. This is why this dog has been a good military working dog for ages.
A keen sense of smell, a super-alert nature, and protective instincts make it well-suited to be used during wars.
As a matter of fact, these dogs are exceptionally productive and can perform any task with utmost dedication that requires physical power, stamina, and cognitive sharpness.
Historical Tidbit: During both WW1 and WW2, the German army employed Giant Schnauzers as patrol dogs and dispatch carriers.
9. Alaskan Malamute
With a strong history of being sled dogs and working in the arctic region, the Alaskan Malamute is a phenomenal breed.
Their endurance is second to none! They are strong and sturdy, which makes it possible for them to pull heavy carts and rescue lost people on high mountains.
As military working dogs, they can easily follow complex commands, thanks to their intelligence, and perform the required actions with great dedication.
Conclusion
Dogs are not just friendly companions! They are excellent working dogs who help the military forces perform even the most intricate tasks with great efficiency. Whether it’s a search and rescue mission or an enemy combatant activity, these dogs have consistently demonstrated exceptional performance in all they do.
