Canines have been useful to military organizations since their domestication. Few, if any, instruments of war have the successful track record and longevity of MWDs. They remain effective in a variety of environments, including dense vegetation, subterranean complexes, and trench networks.
Even in the current operational environment, there are many situations in which MWDs outperform drones and conventional equipment. Unlike machines, MWDs make decisions, use intuition, and think outside of the realm of algorithmic predictions. This is a unique aspect to their employment in detection, search, attack, and reconnaissance roles.
Read more…
Source: U.S. Army
Sign up for Counter-IED Report Newsletter
Related:
- New York: Fort Hamilton Hosts TSA‑Led Multi‑Agency K‑9 Training to Strengthen Regional Readiness
March 23, 2026
FORT HAMILTON, N.Y. — More than a dozen federal, state and local agencies trained together at Fort Hamilton on March 11, 2026, as Transportation Security Administration canine training instructors from John F. Kennedy International Airport led a large‑scale multi‑agency K‑9 readiness event designed to strengthen regional detection capabilities and interagency coordination. Supported by canine instructors from ...
- India: Dipsy the brave sniffer dog honored by Prime Minister Modi
November 4, 2025
Dipsy, an Indian-breed sniffer dog with the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), has been applauded for her courageous service following recognition by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ episode. Dipsy’s handler, Constable Pyarelal, commended her for successfully detecting improvised explosive devices (IEDs), saving lives on two key occasions. Prime Minister Modi’s advocacy for ...
- Colombia: Bomb-sniffing dog loses leg in explosion, hailed as hero for saving dozens of lives
July 14, 2025
A military dog is being hailed as a hero in Colombia after detecting a bomb planted by guerrilla fighters that exploded during a military operation, authorities said, adding that the wounded canine’s actions saved the lives of dozens of soldiers and civilians. The incident was announced just two days after a bomb strapped to a donkey ...
- US Army EOD technicians hone skills during law enforcement exercise on Fort Belvoir
March 13, 2025
FORT BELVOIR, Va. – U.S. Army Explosives Ordnance Disposal technicians honed their lifesaving and mission-enabling skills during a law enforcement exercise on Fort Belvoir, Virginia. EOD Soldiers from the 55th Ordnance Company (EOD) participated in the exercise with other Fort Belvoir, Virginia-based organizations, including the Law Enforcement Agency Detachment, Fire Department and Army Criminal Investigation Division. ...
- Sniffing Out Danger: EOD Operations at Steadfast Dart
February 15, 2025
Smardan, Romania- At NATO’s Steadfast Dart exercise, the precision and skill of Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams are critical to ensuring safety and operational success. Lieutenant Zach from the 17th Field Squadron of the 35 Engineer Regiment of the British Army leads his team, which includes a crucial canine member. Along with their Greek counterparts, they ...
- Employing Military Working Dogs in Large-Scale Combat Operations
August 30, 2024
Canines have been useful to military organizations since their domestication. Few, if any, instruments of war have the successful track record and longevity of MWDs. They remain effective in a variety of environments, including dense vegetation, subterranean complexes, and trench networks. Even in the current operational environment, there are many situations in which MWDs outperform drones ...
- US Army Airborne EOD techs train with Military Working Dog teams on Fort Liberty
February 28, 2024
FORT LIBERTY, N.C. – U.S. Army Airborne Explosive Ordnance Disposal technicians supported Military Working Dog training on Fort Liberty, North Carolina. EOD technicians from the 722nd Ordnance Company (EOD) trained with Military Working Dog teams from the 555th MWD Detachment. Capt. Eugene E. Osborne, the commander of the 722nd EOD Company, said the training improved the ...
- Israel’s ‘Weasel’ commandos prepare for highly dangerous assault on Hamas underground defences
October 31, 2023
Israel’s military has developed a range of specialist tunnel fighters including killer drones and attack dogs to take on Hamas’s huge underground network. Officials on Tuesday revealed its forces attacked Hamas gunmen inside the vast tunnel network beneath the Palestinian enclave, estimated by some to rival in length London’s Tube network. Specialist teams made up of ...
- Hungarian Major General takes over the Command of EUFOR in BiH
October 3, 2023
Hungarian Defense Minister Kristof Szalay-Bobrovniczky confirmed today that the command of the EUFOR Althea mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina will be taken over by Major General Laszlo Sticz from January 1, 2024, and announced the reinforcement of the mission with additional forces during the next year. Hungarian Armed Forces will contribute to the Althea mission through ...
- Camp Lemonnier dog handler teams train together
July 25, 2023
Military working dog handlers from U.S. Navy Camp Lemonnier security and Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa partnered with the U.S. Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal technicians for an MWD training event at Chabelley Airfield, Djibouti, July 25, 2023. The training encompassed explosives detection, detection to aggression transition drills, and patrol and obedience training. Read more… Source: DVIDS
- UK: Army dogs should be better protected, says former handler
July 25, 2023
Dogs who have served in the military should have equal status to human veterans and receive better aftercare, a former Army handler has said. Canines can be the first to be sent into the most dangerous situations. And dog charity Hero Paws said they should be treated equally to people once their time on the frontline ...
- Enhanced military working dog course unleashes maximum potential
June 21, 2023
The Patrol Explosive Detection Dog – Enhanced Course, or PEDD-E as it is commonly called, is designed to expand the capabilities of the military police patrol and explosive detection dogs by giving them the ability to operate without being physically tethered to their handler. “You don’t always know what to expect when you are going into ...
- Ukraine: Mine clearance and tracking down criminals, four-legged “guardsmen” decorated for their dedicated service
May 20, 2023
Animals, as well as people, do defend the country in times of war. The four service dogs, Dzhuki, Irbis, Antei and Odin, have been decorated with medals for their loyal service. They belong to the Eastern Operational and Territorial Unit, as the National Guard of Ukraine reported “In the challenging times of war, when the nation’s ...
- US: Army working dog teams assist with emerging technology assessment
April 13, 2023
FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. — More than 20 military working dog teams from across the Army converged on Fort Leonard Wood last week to participate in an assessment of a new explosives detection training aid developed at the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command’s Chemical Biological Center at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. According to Jarrett Ellis, ...
- Military Working Dog makes mark on Enterprise Access Management Service-Army page
March 17, 2023
A picture of an attentive Military Working Dog looking at his camouflage-clad handler through a tunnel greets people when they open a wide variety of Army programs from the Enterprise Access Management Service-Army login page. That dog is Torro, a U.S. Army working dog and his current handler is Cpl. Henry M. Blanco. The seven-year-old German Shepherd ...
- K9 handlers from across Mississippi attend Law Dog Seminar
March 16, 2023
Whether they’re helping track fugitives, finding a missing person, or searching for narcotics or weapons, Police K9s are a vital part of law enforcement and training is intense and continuous. K9 teams spent part of this week in Tupelo as part of the “Law Dog Seminar”. For three days, K9 handlers and their partners have been put ...
- MWD units conduct explosives training
March 16, 2023
The 67th Military Police Detachment (Military Working Dog), Special Troops Battalion, teamed up with 523rd MP Detachment (MWD) out of Fort Riley, Kan., as well as local police K9 agencies for training March 8 at the old Patton Junior High School. MWD handler Cpl. Nicholas Marsh, 67th MP Detachment, said the primary focus of the training ...
- Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal officer bonds with Navy working dog on battlefield
February 28, 2023
FORT BLISS, Texas – An Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal officer developed an enduring bond with a Navy working dog during missions in Afghanistan. Capt. Jacob S. Rafalson, the EOD officer for the 1st Armored Division on Fort Bliss, Texas, served with a Navy working dog named Bongo during a deployment to Afghanistan in 2019. As a part ...
- Hero army dog who saved countless lives by sniffing out five IEDs during raid against the Taliban is awarded animal version of the Victoria Cross
January 29, 2023
A heroic army dog who saved countless lives by sniffing out five IED bombs during a raid against the Taliban has been awarded the animal version of the Victoria Cross. Bass, a Belgian Shepherd, spent six years in the US Marine Special Operation Command and conducted more than 350 explosive sweeps in 46 missions in Afghanistan, ...
- Passing the Sniff Test – Military Working Dogs keep ADAB secure
October 24, 2022
The 380th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron continues to “Hold the Line” at Al Dhafra Air Force Base, UAE. In order to achieve that, consistent training, vigilance and teamwork are required to ensure nothing slips by undetected. Although the Defenders of ADAB are trained, equipped and ready to handle whatever threats may come their way, it ...
- Military Working Dogs and Marines and Helicopters, Oh My!
October 21, 2022
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. – The 87th Security Forces Squadron K-9 section held a Joint Force training with members of the Marine Aircraft Group 49 where military working dogs were familiarized with helicopter transportation. By leveraging resources and training capabilities, two Joint Partners were able to immerse pilots, air crew, and military working dogs in a ...
- Protecting our United Kingdom
October 7, 2022
Ask yourself, what is the purpose of any army? – of course, it is to protect the United Kingdom by being ready to fight and win wars on land. So, protect is the common weft weaving its way through the fabric of the Army underpinning its very existence. Army Expo 22’s Protect stand touched on ...
