Top 10 Amazing Fun Facts About Military Dogs You Never Knew!

1. Fido and Fifi's WWI Adventures

When Fido and Fifi traded their doggy treats for dog tags: During World War I, the U.S. military utilized over 4,000 canines, primarily German Shepherds and Doberman Pinschers, for roles such as messengers, sentries, scouts, and ambulance dogs, with their contributions being integral to the success of many missions.
Source => petplay.com

2. Stubby: Hero Dog Extraordinaire

When a dog's bite is worse than his bark, you know he's the real deal: Stubby, a WWI American military dog, served in 17 battles and managed to both save his entire regiment from a gas attack and capture a German spy just by holding onto his pants. With numerous honors including the gold Hero Dog Medal from General Blackjack Pershing, Stubby rose to fame after the war as he shook hands and tails, recruiting Red Cross members and even getting his own portrait by Charles Ayer Whipple.
Source => portal.ct.gov

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=> Fun Facts about Dogs-Sense-Of-Smell

3. Belgian Malinois: Canine Crusaders

Belgian Malinois may not be able to leap tall buildings in a single bound like Superman, but they do come pretty close when it comes to their heroic duties on the battlefield: Combat Assault Dogs, predominantly of the Belgian Malinois breed, serve alongside Special Operations forces and have a knack for sniffing out IEDs, saving countless lives in places like Iraq and Afghanistan. One such canine crusader, Rocky, even led a team of 45 through mine-infested terrain, capturing four high-value targets and contributing to 172 enemy forces killed in action. Now that's what we call a "bark" of valor!
Source => navysealmuseum.org

4. Hitler's Fur-ocious Furry Friends

Who let the dogs in? Hitler did! With quite a penchant for German Shepherds, they often found themselves the toast of the Nazi party, even making cameos in propaganda; but alas, here's the tail-wagging fact: Hitler's beloved dog, Blondi, was used to test the potency of cyanide capsules, leading to her tragic demise; and in a cruel twist of fate, her puppies and other dogs in the Führerbunker were killed to prevent Soviet capture, leaving Hitler heartbroken and barking mad.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

5. Parachuting Pooches of WWII

Who let the dogs out… of airplane doors?: During World War II, the US Army and Canadian military trained canine companions to parachute from transport planes, delivering crucial supplies to stranded airmen, showcasing their unwavering dedication to safely bring their pilots home.
Source => warfarehistorynetwork.com

6. Retirement Plans for Military Doggos

Who let the dogs out – on retirement? Adorable post-service plans, that's who: Retired American military dogs, costing around $50,000 for procurement, training, and field shipping, now benefit from advocacy groups that help with their healing, and find them loving homes, boosted by the recent spark in adoption interest after a military dog's role in taking down ISIS leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
Source => yahoo.com

7. Honoring Our Paw-some Heroes

In the paw-some world of military doggos, there's nothing ruff about their recognition: since 1992, legislation has ensured that these four-legged heroes receive proper care and honors, with around 5,000 dogs serving in Vietnam as guard dogs or scouts, such as the skilled German Shepherd, Satan, who saved numerous GIs before falling to a tick disease. The Highground Veterans Memorial in Wisconsin even boasts a bronze statue of a soldier and his furry comrade to celebrate the unbreakable bond between handler and hound.
Source => king5.com

8. Chemist-level Sniffing Skills

These military pups have better noses than your high school chemistry teacher and an even keener knack for sniffing out "trouble": Military working dogs are annually certified in detection and patrol skills, capable of detecting a wide range of explosives and narcotics, and have played a crucial role in confiscating and destroying countless pounds of weapons, ordnance, and ammunition.
Source => army.mil

9. High-flying Hound Heroes

We all know the beagle brigade is more than just a Sherlock Holmes-type canine collective, but did you know they're also trained high-flying action heroes? Of course, no capes necessary: Military dogs, vital in tasks like patrolling, sniffing out arms and explosives, and drug detection, undergo helicopter familiarization training to get used to the sensory dynamics of a running chopper, ensuring they're ready to tackle any medical evacuation or quick transport scenario.
Source => army.mil

10. Sgt. Yeager: The Purple Heart Pup

You could say Sgt. Yeager is the "Hound of Honor" in the Marines, sniffing out explosives like a champ and earning a Purple Heart: This real-life military dog hero completed nearly 100 combat patrols before being injured by an IED, proving that bravery and loyalty come in all shapes, sizes, and fur types!
Source => marinecorpstimes.com