Man's Best Friend...and Worst Enemy
Japanese Army War Dog in China
Dogs have been used in war for thousands of years. Ancient people such as the Romans even developed certain breeds to assist them in battle. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that dogs were used by both the Allies and Axis Powers in World War II.
When Pearl Harbor was attacked, the US was unprepared to go to war. At first the US had only fifty sled dogs working in Alaska as working military dogs. To fix that, the Quartermaster Corps of the U.S. Army established the War Dog Program, also called the "K-9 Corps" or "Dogs for Defense", on March 13, 1942. The program encouraged civilians to send their pet dogs to be trained as war dogs. Between 1942 and 1945, over 19,000 dogs were sent and about 45% of those were rejected. They were trained by volunteers at centers in Virginia, Nebraska, Mississippi, Montana, and California. Most of the dogs were sent back home if they survived the war. Click here to learn more about the Quartermaster War Dog Program.
The dogs were trained for all sorts of jobs in the military. They were trained to find the enemy, detect mines and booby traps, alert troops in foxholes at night to approaching enemy, and to carry messages, ammunition, and medical supplies. Sentry and scout dogs are still used today.
The US was not the only country that trained war dogs. Before World War II had even begun, Germany had been training and breeding military dogs. They even gave some to their allies in Japan.
At first the Quartermaster accepted over thirty breeds but that was soon limited. The most common breeds used were German Shepherds, Belgian Sheep Dogs, and Doberman Pinschers. However, Collies, Giant Schnauzers, Siberian Huskies, Alaskan Malamutes, and Eskimo dogs were all used. Mutts that had these breeds in them were also allowed. The Quartermaster required neutral colors and had height, weight, and age requirements. These tended to change as the war went on.
When Pearl Harbor was attacked, the US was unprepared to go to war. At first the US had only fifty sled dogs working in Alaska as working military dogs. To fix that, the Quartermaster Corps of the U.S. Army established the War Dog Program, also called the "K-9 Corps" or "Dogs for Defense", on March 13, 1942. The program encouraged civilians to send their pet dogs to be trained as war dogs. Between 1942 and 1945, over 19,000 dogs were sent and about 45% of those were rejected. They were trained by volunteers at centers in Virginia, Nebraska, Mississippi, Montana, and California. Most of the dogs were sent back home if they survived the war. Click here to learn more about the Quartermaster War Dog Program.
The dogs were trained for all sorts of jobs in the military. They were trained to find the enemy, detect mines and booby traps, alert troops in foxholes at night to approaching enemy, and to carry messages, ammunition, and medical supplies. Sentry and scout dogs are still used today.
The US was not the only country that trained war dogs. Before World War II had even begun, Germany had been training and breeding military dogs. They even gave some to their allies in Japan.
At first the Quartermaster accepted over thirty breeds but that was soon limited. The most common breeds used were German Shepherds, Belgian Sheep Dogs, and Doberman Pinschers. However, Collies, Giant Schnauzers, Siberian Huskies, Alaskan Malamutes, and Eskimo dogs were all used. Mutts that had these breeds in them were also allowed. The Quartermaster required neutral colors and had height, weight, and age requirements. These tended to change as the war went on.