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Working Dogs: Military Dogs

Ty
The last group of working dogs I will be reporting on are military dogs. Together we are going to learn about how these dogs are defined, their certification requirements, training, etc.

Military Dogs

Dogs have been involved in war since ancient times in Egyptian, Greek, and Persian culture among others. These animals have played various roles in war efforts such as, scouts, trackers, and detection. Many duties that were assigned to dogs in past warfare is obsolete and not practiced today. However, dogs still have a place in modern warfare and are a highly valued tool. 

Supply and Demand

The U.S. military's need for canines has steadily grown over the years. America's need for military dogs was unable to be met without acquiring dogs from Europe's stock. Europe's dogs have a history of working dog pedigree's, which is why the U.S. was pulling dogs from there. Thus, a breeding program was created by the Defense Department to help ease the imbalance. Eventually, the American Kennel Club (AKC) was asked to assist with the breeding program. 

Breeding

The U.S. military is largely focused on the quality of the dogs they utilize. I believe that is largely the reason why they teamed up with the AKC. The American Kennel Club's extensive knowledge and data on countless breeds has become a valuable asset to the military. 

Training

Military trainers focus a great deal on patience, repetition, praise, socialization, and obedience. However, the military has plenty of abuse in its training history. Some tasks these dogs will be asked to do are very complicated and can take a while to learn. Trainers must remain patient so they don't further complicate training with anger or frustration. Since it takes some time for the dogs to master their skills practice is vital. Each week the dogs will train at a minimum of four hours to enforce their training. Praise is the most important piece of training because it teaches the dog when they are doing something right. At the same time, trainers have to keep a balance and only allow the dogs praise when they complete a task correctly. Socializing a dog is to normalize all environments, people, sounds, and objects. This process gives dogs a sense of confidence and fearlessness. Obedience is an essential aspect of training that usually begins when the dog is old enough to begin potty training. Military dogs work for around 10 years until they retire. Come back for my next post about life after retirement for working dogs.

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