Fact Sheets

U.S. Army working dogs and Soldier dog handlers first served the Army during World War II. Today, there are approximately 500 Army working dogs and many of those dogs are working with Soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Deployed dogs and their handlers can spend up to one year in a war zone, specializing in narcotics or explosives detection.

The efforts of Army dogs and their Soldier handlers not only save lives on the battlefield, they also help to protect the American people stateside. While stationed on the home front, dog handlers and their working dog partners perform a variety of security missions across the country. Teams of Army handlers and dogs protected the American public during the Democratic and Republican National Conventions this year and later protected presidential candidates on the campaign trail.

In January, Army dog handlers and their partners will play an integral part in the security efforts at the 2009 presidential inauguration. Army dogs and their handlers will work closely with U.S. Secret Service agents sweeping buildings, checking bags, and responding to any problems. Members of the Secret Service will determine how the skills of the handler and dog teams will be utilized to ensure the safety of the attendees during the inaugural ceremonies.  

Army Military Police dog handlers and their canines must complete several rounds of extensive training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas before they take on missions.

During their training, dog handlers are taught basic dog training and behavioral conditioning principles. Each handler is then assigned to one dog and is charged with building a strong rapport with that dog from the time they are puppies. Handlers are then responsible for all training, feeding, grooming, and exercising of their assigned canine.

In order to maintain their skills, Army working dogs and their handlers must undergo at least 16 hours of training monthly, in both detection and patrolling.