K9 VETERANS DAY: CELEBRATING THE SERVICE OF MAN’S BEST FRIEND


By kbarber
K9 Veterans Day: Celebrating the Service of Man’s Best Friend

K9 Veterans Day on March 13th

The reason for the season that is K9 Veterans Day has existed for over 5,000 years. Ever since the time of the Ancient Egyptians, humans have been taking dogs to battle. In the modern day, dogs are insanely well-trained for dozens of different tasks that support government and military-related operations. Without our furry, and sometimes ferocious, friends, military operations wouldn’t go down as smoothly as they do today. Our K9 Veterans are integral to our military successes, and March 13th is when you should take some time to reflect on K9 Veterans’ service to our country. More like this:Now Hiring: Join the K9s for Warriors Staff!

K9 Veterans Day History

March 13th, 1942, marked the first time that canines officially became a part of the U.S. Armed Forces. That date would go on to become the day we use to celebrate Canine Veterans Day, albeit unofficially, when the Army began training military working dogs as part of their War Dog Program to create their K9 Corps. National K9 Veterans Day isn’t an official day of celebration everywhere in the country, as no federal legislation has been passed declaring it such. Vietnam War Vet Joseph White created the idea of K9 Veterans Day in 1987 as a passion project that came from his own experience as a trainer and handler of War Dogs. Sadly, White passed away in 2009. However, White’s wife, Sally, is still working hard to make the day an official national holiday. On the bright side, many states, including New York and Virginia, have introduced or passed their own bills to make Canine Veterans Day an official holiday. Discover more fun Veterans content:Veteran TV Competitors: Reality Shows Featuring Veterans

How Does a K9 Become a War Dog?

It will come as no surprise that the most common military dog breeds are German Shepherds and Labs. However, other popular military dog breeds include Siberian Huskies, Malamutes, and even Boxers. K9s that are set to become War Dogs are bred and brought up by the 341st Training Squadron at Joint Base San Antonio, where they’re well-socialized before they enter into their unique training plan. Socialization is completed by placing the puppies into short-term foster homes in the nearby area, usually for about five months, before returning them to the Training Squadron.Eventually, the dogs face a four-month training process. This involves obedience school, combat tactics training, and learning to find contraband and other dangerous items. Afterward, the dogs are trained to work alongside humans. This isn’t a one-way street, either! The service members who will be working with dogs also need proper training so that they can recognize the important, and potentially life-saving, signals that the dogs will convey during real-life situations. After both dog and human are properly trained, the dogs are officially given the title of “War Dog” and sent off throughout the world to assist in military operations.

Military Dog Names You Should Know

If you’re planning on celebrating K9 Veterans Day with the rest of us dog lovers, you should brush up on your knowledge of famous military dogs. Sergeant Stubby, a Boston Terrier mix, is perhaps the most well-known K9 Veteran out there – as he was the most well-decorated military service animal during World War I. He is also the only dog who was ever nominated for an official military rank! Sergeant Stubby took part in 17 battles during WWI and was able to help locate missing soldiers and alert his comrades to duck for cover when he could hear the high-pitched whistling of incoming artillery long before Soldiers could see or hear anything coming, themselves. We salute you, Sergeant Stubby!Lucca is another popular K9 Veteran. This German Shepherd/Belgian Malinois mix took part in over 400 bomb detection missions during her six-year military career. She saved countless lives by finding more than 40 explosives and other unexploded ordnance during these missions.The best part? Not a single human died under her watch. She retired in 2012 after losing her left front left leg to a rogue detonation beneath her (don’t worry, she was able to walk again in just ten days), and she received the Dickin Medal in 2016. Sergeant Stubby and Lucca are just two among hundreds of hard-working K9 Veterans who have saved lives and made our country proud. National K9 Veterans Day occurs on March 13th, so prepare your celebrations now! Learn about K9 Veterans Day’s counterpart – (human) Veterans Day:What Is Veterans Day? Honoring All Who Served


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