Top 10 Best Military Dog Breeds

Dogs have been our most favorite creatures on this planet. Not only because they are adorable and like to play around but also because of their loyalty and support to serve us unconditionally.

However, when talking about military dog breeds, you must know that there are many breeds of dogs found around the world. Each and every breed of dog have distinctive characteristics and features. 

While some dogs fit to serve as our pets, some are meant to accomplish tougher jobs. For a very long time, dogs have been acquired by the military forces. This is mainly due to their aggressive and bold nature. 

These dogs are trained specifically to perform hardcore tasks on the battlefield. They are true heroes in disguise. From chasing and attacking terrorists to sniffing out drugs, these military dog breeds are stationed at combat arenas, riots, and emergency situations. 

Features That Qualify As Military Dog Breeds

Not every dog can pass the criteria of getting selected in the military. Only those breeds of dogs that are brave and receptive to difficult situations are chosen to be a part of the forces. Here are some of the features that dogs must have to qualify for the armed forces:

• Extremely alert
• Easily trainable
• Reflexive
• Good sense of smell
• Good eyesight
• Territorial

Functions Performed By Military Dog Breeds

Military dog breeds have proved to be an asset for the armed forces of any country. With features that normal human beings cannot possess, they are highly trained to carry out specific missions.

The most important functions that these dogs perform are:

• Detecting explosives
• Attacking enemies
• Tracking terrorists
• Patrolling
• Messenger
• Searching and rescuing injured soldiers

Best Military Dog Breeds

No matter what mission or task assigned, the military dog breeds are committed to putting their best and helping their side to win the battle. They are brave and fierce on the battlefield and do no mercy to the enemy.

The dogs’ loyalty is also what matters. There is certain chemistry developed between these dogs and their trainers, which finally results in efficient teamwork. Some of the best military dog breeds that you must know about in 2021 are:

1. Bloodhound

The Bloodhound has been considered the best military dog breeds for a very long time. The dogs of this breed are large and notorious. They are most popularly known for their excellent sense of smell that allows them to be trained for tracking down almost anything and everything. These instincts allow them to be preferred by the military forces for sniffing out hard drugs, explosives, and enemies in the warzone. 

2. German Shepherd

Most commonly used by the US military forces, the German Shepherd is a breed that is an all-rounder. They are quite convenient to train, intelligent, large, strong, and agile. This is what makes them one of the best choices among the military dog breeds. These dogs have the ability and are trained in a way to analyze the situation and remain calm or be aggressive accordingly. They have every quality required to qualify for the forces. 

3. Doberman Pinscher

Referred by the name Devil Dog of the Marines, the Doberman Pinscher is one of the best military dog breeds that has served military forces since World War I. Having a glorious history as war dogs, they still continue to be on the frontline. Loyalty, intelligence, easy trainability, alertness, and protective instinct are some of the features that this breed possesses. They are appointed as combat dogs, patrol dogs, and even scouts.  

4. Boxer

Being agile, strong, alert, these dogs have been bred for hunting, herding, and bull-baiting since ancient times. Their sudden alertness around strangers is one of the most important features that this breed exhibits besides having classy good looks. These military dog breeds have been used as messenger dogs, scouts, and patrol dogs since World War I. 

5. Rottweiler

Being confident and always ready to work, this beautiful breed of dogs is known for its loyalty. These canines have a dangerously strong bite that makes them perfect as combat dogs. They have been used since World War I for the exchange of information between soldiers and even to hunt down enemies.   

6. Belgian Malinois

Highly preferred by the marines, these military dog breeds are a look-alike of our very favorite, German Shepherd. They possess almost similar features as of the latter, including intelligence, dependability, and convenient trainability. Their compact body structure is something that makes them best suitable for difficult missions where they could be stationed along with their bosses. 

7. Labrador Retriever

Due to their naturally gifted nose, their keen sense to smell is exceptional. Their obedience, even temper, friendliness, and easy trainability are what makes them an ideal choice as military dog breeds. They have always been on the frontline sniffing out explosives and enemies. They are, however, best suited for search and rescue missions where they act as combat stress controllers. 

8. Giant Schnauzer

Their reserved personality and sudden suspense of strangers is what made them one of the best military dog breeds since World War I. This breed has long served as army war dogs for their qualities of being loyal, intelligent, alert, and protective. Till today they are appointed by the forces as patrol dogs and for detecting bombs.  

9. English Mastiff

The English Mastiff has been popularly known as historic war dogs. These dogs have a large, heavy structure and are known to have even been used by Romanians, Persians, Greeks, and Babylonians. These military dog breeds have been fitted with armor and spikes and used in combats.  

10. Alaskan Mamulates And Huskies

Alaskan Mamulates and Huskies are special types of military dog breeds that are exceptionally convenient to be used on rough, patchy lands covered with ice. This military dog breed is most renowned for its ability to work on search and rescue missions. These dogs are known for their beauty and are very alert, intelligent, and friendly. 

11. Airedale Terrier

Airedale Terriers are no longer used as military dogs, but during World War I, this breed was used the most by the British military. These dogs are loyal and tough, and they were to communicate. They had the task of carrying messages on their back across the battlefield. 

They were trained this way and worked with two people in charge, one of them worked in the front liners, and the other stayed behind the command line. When they had to send a message, it was attached to their collar, and they carried it to the second handler.

Airedale Terriers were well-known for their ability to stay out of sight and lay low. Their super speed and devotion to their duty made them a valuable addition to the army back in the day. There was no radio or reliable source who would do the work during those tough times, Airedale Terriers became an important component of the communication system for the British Military.

12. Belgian sheepdogs

Just like the Belgian Malinois, the Belgian Sheepdog all-black, which is also known as Groenendael, is a type of Belgian shepherd. Although anatomically, they are identical, the Belgian Sheepdog is no longer used as a military dog because of their thick, long coats, which makes them unsuitable to this role than the Belgian Malinois. 

They have short brown coats, which are low-maintenance than the Belgian sheepdogs. But during World War I, they served as ambulance dogs, and in World War II, they served as war dogs.

13. Bulldogs

This medium-sized breed was originally used to drive the cattle and was used in betting. Though they have a history of violence, they are still a calm breed and are quite affectionate. Because of their nature, they have been in the support role more than on the actual battlefield. For a long time, they have been the mascot of the US Marine Corps, and now they are being used as companion dogs helping the US service members to recover from their injuries.

Final Thoughts

If you think about comparing with normal pups, I’d say; definitely, military dog breeds are much more elegant. It is because their lifestyle is quite different from normal pets. When in the armed forces, these dogs are treated equally as the soldiers.

They have to follow the same routine and discipline. They have been long known for their services since prehistoric wars and are continued to be trusted for assisting the armed forces.