Read About Dogs For Defense Inc.
During World War II.

A Brief History of the Dogs for Defense Program

Dogs and National Defense - Google Books

Research and Analysis of the American Domestic
Government Working Dog Industry Paper

Military Working Dogs
Guardians Of America's Freedoms

Listen to: " Mother Freedom "
Music by The Jay Sekulow Band

“The capability they (Military Working Dogs) bring to the fight cannot be replicated by man or machine. By all measures of performance their yield outperforms any asset we have in our inventory. Our Army (and Military) would be remiss if we failed to invest more in this incredibly valuable resource.” – General David H. Petraeus.
 

The Defense Department's Military Working Dog Program numbers approximately 2,300 working dogs. The leader of the Pentagon's multibillion military task force to stop improvised bombs says there's nothing in the U.S. arsenal for bomb detection more powerful than a dog's nose. After spending $19 Billion dollars, the Pentagon's best bomb detector is a dog and there is a shortage of Detection Dogs! Our American Special Forces currently use three breeds of dogs: the German Shepherd, the Dutch Shepherd, and the Belgian Malinois.

 

French's German Shepherds supports veterans with disabilities by donating dogs from our litters through the SEAL Dog Foundation. Our dogs become trained and are used as Service Dogs and Emotional Support Dogs for veterans suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). There is a great need for quality well-bred service dogs trained as Therapy Dogs and Emotional Support Dogs. Visit www.sealdogfoundation.org for more information and please consider donating! – Thank You!

Military Working Dog Team Support Association
The United States War Dog Association

Important Information About Military Dogs

Military dogs are so important that they sometimes hold ranks themselves — and they're ranked one higher than their handlers. They're so important, in fact, that they occasionally hold ranks themselves, although it's merely formal and not official, and they're always ranked one higher than their handlers. Military working dogs whose units allow them to hold ranks are non-commissioned officers (NCOs). While the military working dog's rank is a formality — not an official rank like human troops have — it's meant to encourage handlers to treat their dogs with love and respect.

By and large, military working dogs are treated as regular US troops would be. Military working dogs and their partners both require extensive training to keep up with the demands of their jobs. Military working dogs fulfill several important roles in operations as:

• Sniffing out explosives.

• Detecting narcotics.

• Locating the wounded.

• Sentinels who can patrol and protect during a mission.
   

They're more than man's best friend. Military working dogs are an essential part of the mission. Read More...

"E. Schlaiker has given a wonderful description of this touching submission... I know no animal which, in its sentiments and sympathies is so tender and intimate as the dog, or one whose moral characteristics are so strongly developed that one must in this respect indeed rank him higher than humanity. There are few among us who can surpass him in fidelity and unconditional readiness to sacrifice himself. How often has he not risked his life, not only for that of his master and his master's relatives, but even for strangers."  - Max von Stephanitz - Founder of the German Shepherd Breed
 

The True Story Of The Vietnam War
WAR DOGS- AMERICA'S FORGOTTEN HEROES

Part I. Prince the First SEAL Dog During the Vietnam War
Part II. SEAL War Dog Came Home A Hero, Then Was Banished From His Country
Part III. What Happened To Prince, A Pioneering SEAL War Dog? We Finally Have An Answer...
Lucca - The Belgian Malinois/German Shepherd Mix Marine Explosion Detection Dog
 

 

2019 U.S. Postal Stamp Commemorating Military Working Dogs

 

 War Dog History

War dogs were used by the Egyptians, Greeks, Persians, Sarmatians, Baganda, Alans, Slavs, Britons, and the Romans. The Molossus Dog of the Molossia region of Epirus was the strongest known to the Romans, and was specifically trained for battle. Among the Greeks and Romans, dogs served most often as sentries or patrols, though they were sometimes taken into battle. The earliest use of war dogs in a battle recorded in classical sources was by Alyattes of Lydia against the Cimmerians around 600 BC. The Lydian dogs killed some invaders and routed others.

During the Late Antiquity, Attila the Hun used Molossus dogs in his campaigns. Gifts of war dog breeding stock between European royalty were seen as suitable tokens for exchange throughout the Middle Ages. Other civilizations used armored dogs to defend caravans or attack enemies. The Spanish conquistadors used armored dogs that had been trained to kill natives.

In the Far East, Emperor Lê Lợi raised a pack of 100 hounds, this pack was tended and trained by Nguyễn Xí whose skills were impressive enough to promote him to the Commander of a shock troop regiment. Frederick the Great used dogs as messengers during the Seven Years' War with Russia. Napoleon also used dogs during his military campaigns. Dogs were utilized until 1770 to guard naval installations in France.

The first official use of dogs for military purposes in the United States was during the Seminole Wars. Hounds were used in the American Civil War to protect, send messages, and guard prisoners. General Grant recounts how packs of southern bloodhounds were destroyed by Union troops wherever found due to their being trained to hunt men. Dogs have been used by our military since that time.

Resources for further reading...

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French's German Shepherds proudly donates dogs and provides support for the non-profit Seal Dog Foundation.