Belgian ShepherdsThe Belgian Malinois started its military career during World War I when they served as messengers and assistants to the Red Cross. According to some accounts, they also pulled ambulance carts and carts carrying firearms.In the January 1908 issue of the AKC Gazette, there was a small notice that five Belgian Sheepdogs had been added to the New York City police force. The breed was relatively new to the United States at the time, and this was the first time the AKC had ever mentioned them. Today, the Belgian Malinois is one of the top breeds chosen by police departments around the country.
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Alsatians or German Shepherds
In 1914, at the beginning of World War I, German Shepherd Dogs began serving with the German Military. They performed a number of tasks on the battlefield and within the ranks of the German Army. These new dogs served as sentries, messengers, and ammunition carriers. They proved themselves especially capable in aiding wounded soldiers on the battlefield. They even led injured and blinded soldiers off the battlefield to safety and medical attention. This latter act by the new breed eventually led to the development of the first seeing eye dog, an important function the GSD still serves today.
More breeds
Airedale Terriers During World War I, the British military employed Airedale Terriers as sentries and couriers. Airedales carried messages between commanding officers and troops in the trenches. They also stood watch on the front lines and warned the troops when the enemy was approaching.
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Schnauzers Giant schnauzers were used by the Air Force as military working dogs in World War II, but weren't used again until the early 1980s. While they were found unsuitable for military duty in the past, the Air Force decided to try one more time
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Doberman Pinschers During the First World War they were used as generalized war dogs. They could be trained to serve in any role that a dog could fill, and they were.
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