PAWS ON THE GROUND: WHY YOU SHOULD ADOPT A MILITARY DOG


By ikempf
Soldier who went on to adopt a military dog holding his best friend.

Dogs have been present in the military for decades, providing assistance to active-duty service members where needed. A military working dog is a dog that is attentive, follows orders, is always aware, and is willing to do whatever is asked of it. Just like people though, military working dogs’ service comes to an end, and they are in need of somewhere to go. If you’ve been looking to welcome a dog into your family, we recommend that you adopt a military dog. There are multiple reasons as to why they might be better suited for your lifestyle than just a “civilian” canine. Here are some reasons why you should welcome a new family member.

Why Should I Adopt a Military Dog?

Military working dogs are animals that have been expertly trained to take on whatever task the military throws at them. Their high intelligence and peak levels of training/conditioning has made these dogs go from simply smart canines to adaptable tools to help aid Soldiers in the field. There are many different jobs for military dogs. This includes: sniffing out contraband, finding weapons, sniffing out bombs, and patrolling. This high level of adaptability is only possible due to their inborn intelligence. This makes them the perfect fit for the military. After retirement, most handlers choose to adopt their military working dogs. However, sometimes the situation doesn’t work out that way, and adoption isn't an option. At this point, many of the dogs are either put into shelters, transferred to the police department to continue serving, or sadly, euthanized. This is the unfortunate reality for a lot of the dogs that serve in the military. If you’re looking to bring in a new pooch into the home, adopting a retired military working dog is a great act of kindness to show. Read on to learn more about why you should adopt a military dog.

The Benefits of Adopting a Retired Military Working Dog

As we mentioned earlier, military working dogs are some of the most intelligent dogs out there (next to service dogs). A big part of adopting a new dog into the family is getting the animal comfortable living inside of the home. Even for a smart dog breed this can be something that new owners have trouble teaching their pet. The good thing about retired military dogs is that they have already been trained to the peak threshold that they naturally can retain information, responding to commands with no hesitation and little repetition. This means that training a military working dog to live in your home will be a far quicker process than it would be for the same breed from the civilian world.

Some Things to Consider Before You Adopt

While military working dogs are exceptionally intelligent and well-trained animals, they may not always make the best family pets for those with young children. These dogs often excel in varying roles within the military, many of which involve violence and aggression. Due to their training, some military working dogs may have certain triggers, both physical and verbal, that will set them off. This could potentially be dangerous for little children or small pets that live in the home. The thing to note is that not all retired dogs are like that. Thus, it is important to inquire about the animal before you adopt them into your family. This is not to scare you away from the idea of adopting a retired military dog into your home, but rather to give you a sense of what to expect should you decide to pursue this route of adopting a dog.

How to Adopt a Retired Military Dog

To adopt a retired military working dog, first you must fill out an application for your dog of choice. To even be considered for one of the dogs you’re applying for, you are also required to have certain criteria met before you can go forward in the process. These include:

  • A six-foot fence
  • No children under the age of five
  • No more than three dogs already in your home
  • A listed veterinarian
  • Two references to vouch for you
  • A provided transport crate

These guidelines ensure that both parties, the dog and yourself/family, can live peacefully along one another. Often, military working dogs are trained for high-risk tasks which require a level of hyper-awareness and aggression. By adhering to and meeting these criteria, it makes sure that the dog, and its future family, are able to live comfortably together. 

Showing Respect When You Adopt a Military Dog

Like Veterans, retired military working dogs are ready for the next phase of life. Unlike Veterans however, their future is unsure. This leads to a lot of them losing their lives because nobody was willing to give them a chance. When you adopt a military dog, you show them a level of respect that is deserving for a Veteran of their standing. If you know you can provide the right type of care and love to one of these dogs, then consider adopting a retired military working dog. They served this country faithfully. Thus, they deserve a happy home and well-earned rest… oh, and a Milk-Bone. Read next:

Sources: "How to Adopt a Retired Military Working Dog." https://missionk9rescue.org/how-to-adopt-a-retired-military-working-dog/#:~:text=There%20is%20no%20doubt%20that,with%20physical%20or%20mental%20disabilities. "About Military Working Dog Adoptions." https://www.petsforpatriots.org/about-military-working-dog-adoptions/"Four-Legged Fighters." https://www.defense.gov/Multimedia/Experience/Four-Legged-Fighters/#:~:text=Most%20dogs%20that%20successfully%20complete,the%20base%20since%20the%201950s"Here’s How to Adopt a Military Working Dog." https://www.military.com/2019/08/27/heres-how-adopt-military-working-dog.html


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