Are military dogs considered soldiers?

Those dogs should be considered a soldier and not just a computer, a desk, a number, and this is all they are,” military wife and Brit's owner, Jasmine Russell, tells WRAL.com. Brit once served as a narcotics dog for the U.S. military, but a leg injury forced the brave dog into retirement.
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Are military dogs soldiers?

Dogs used by militaries around the world are seen as vital assets to military operations, with close bonds created between dogs and their handlers. Many descriptions of military working dogs describe them as fellow soldiers, no different in treatment, status and respect, than their human counterparts.
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Does military dogs have rank?

According to a 2011 blog post by the US Military, military service dogs are all NCO – non commissioned officers – and are given a rank higher than their handler. This tradition is in place to maintain order while training and on missions.
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What are military dogs considered?

Federal law currently categorizes military working dogs as 'equipment,' which grossly underestimates their role within the U.S. military and deprives these dogs of the opportunity to transition to a peaceful civilian life once they are deemed 'excess equipment' and retired from service.
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Can a dog be a soldier?

There are about 2500 dogs in active service today and about 700 deployed overseas. Military dogs play an integral role in the current overseas conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
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Here's Military Dogs that are specially Trained for Combat



What military branch uses dogs?

5. Military Dog Work. Military dogs are found in each branch of the armed forces, including the Marines, Army, Airforce, Coast Guard and Navy. They perform a variety of tasks from drug and explosive detection to scouting and patrolling with their excellent sense of smell.
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What happens to military dogs when they retire?

Since 2000, a military working dog retired from duty can now be adopted by a civilian or law enforcement personnel though most find a permanent home with their handlers. The handler-dog bond is strong as soldiers put their lives in their canine's paws every day. No dog is left behind.
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Do military dogs get PTSD?

At least 10% of military working dogs suffer from canine PTSD, a disease that is also common amongst human soldiers that have come home from deployment. 2. The concept of canine PTSD is very new. While behavioral issues in animals are not uncommon, this is different.
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How are military dogs honored?

The U.S. War Dogs Association also presents the Military Working Dog Service Award to dogs who have actively participated in ground or surface combat with the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force or Coast Guard. Think of this award as a Combat Action Ribbon for military working dogs.
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Why are military dogs fed at night?

"They only feed a military dog at night, because a hungry dog is an obedient dog," Taffer said on Fox News.
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Do military k9s outrank their handlers?

The United States military has a long and furry history with military working dogs (MWDs), and remarkably, the dogs usually outrank their human handlers. "It's a matter of tradition as well as military custom.
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Do military dogs always outrank their handlers?

Every military working dog is an NCO - in tradition at least. Some say the custom was to prevent handlers from mistreating their dogs; hence, a dog is always one rank higher than its handler. "That's out of respect," said Sgt. 1st Class Regina Johnson, operations superintendent at the Military Working Dog School.
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Why do k9s outrank their handlers?

According to a 2011 blog post by the US Military, military service dogs are all NCO – non commissioned officers – and are given a rank higher than their handler. This tradition is in place to maintain order while training and on missions.
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Do dogs go to war?

Dogs in warfare have a very long history starting in ancient times. From being trained in combat, to their use as scouts, sentries, messengers, mercy dogs, and trackers, their uses have been varied and some continue to exist in modern military usage.
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Do military dog handlers see combat?

This may depend on the dog's area of specialty, but combat is always a possibility as an active-duty service member. Police functions: A handler needs to have basic firearms knowledge to arrest and restrain a suspect in both military and civil jurisdictions.
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Do military dogs receive medals?

During a raid, the Belgian Malinois named Kuno tackled a gunman and was hit by bullets in both back legs. After losing one of his paws as a result, he became the first UK military dog to get custom-made prosthetics. The four-year-old will receive the Dickin Medal from vet charity the PDSA.
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What age do military dogs retire?

When Do Army Dogs Retire? After about 10 to 12 years in military service, military working dogs (MWD) are ready for retirement. When the time comes, they usually retire due to injury or sickness. However, a young military dog may become available for adoption since sometimes they fail to meet training standards.
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Can military dogs get a Purple Heart?

Sgt. Yeager, a Marine Corps improvised explosive detection dog, carried out nearly 100 combat patrols and was awarded the Purple Heart after an IED explosion in Helmand province, Afghanistan, in April 2012, took out part of his ear, according to a press release.
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Do dogs remember their past?

While dog lovers and scientists alike have been pondering this question for many years, a recent study has uncovered that dogs do in fact possess a declarative memory. This means that they are able to recall facts and information from their past, both pleasant and negative.
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Do dogs remember their siblings?

Dogs may remember their siblings (or rather their smell), but it's not that different from how they would remember any other animal (or person) from their past. If they associate them with safety and comfort they'll be happy to see them.
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Do dogs remember their parents?

Dogs can develop a mother-child bond early on because pups are usually heavily reliant on their mothers for food and safety. Thanks to this bond, dogs do remember their mothers through scent. Research suggests that a canine can remember its parents up to two years after separation.
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Why do military dogs get put down?

They are only euthanized if they have cancer or another terminal illness and there is no other way to treat them. It is a last resort, though that wasn't always the case. Retired MWDs once were viewed as excess equipment and euthanized -- even if healthy -- at the end of their military careers.
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Are military dogs microchipped?

Finding military dogs isn't hard: They all have microchips, and the TEDD dogs have serial numbers tattooed on their ears.
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Do military dogs get benefits?

Each dog owned by the Defense Department is considered a service member and is assigned a rank one higher than their handlers. Their retirement benefits, however, are not the same. Technically, the dogs are classified as equipment by the military and are treated upon retirement like tanks or ships.
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Why are Marines called dogs?

According to United States Marine Corps legend, the moniker was used by German soldiers to describe U.S. Marines who fought in the Battle of Belleau Wood in 1918. The Marines fought with such ferocity that they were likened to "Dogs from Hell." The reports were made by American media and not verified by actual Germans.
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