Let Slip the Dogs of War

The CO and the Canine

A.H. and S.S.

Most people are aware of the fact that dogs can be a deterrent to criminals, but sometimes we can have our sights too low and miss the real value a good dog can provide. This is something that the military has done well for over 3 decades, but 9/11 was a turning point that revitalized the use of dogs in combat. Mike Ritland, author of Trident K9 Warriors, offers a glimpse into the usage of these amazing dogs in combat. Mike recounts the skepticism some troops would have at the introduction of a handler/K9 SEAL to the team, but almost universally they would become a loved and trusted companion to the platoon. These dogs discovered IED’s, weapons caches, hidden enemies in rough terrain, and were able to take down suspects allowing a capture to occur when a kill may have been the only other alternative.

So how does this relate to the CO? What value can a true “working breed” dog bring to the CO? I say ‘working breed’, because I’m talking about a dog with health, drive, and intelligence that can WORK. A dog that can do the job, and can be relied upon in a time of need. There is a myriad of information on this subject, but let’s look at some basic places in the CO’s life a trained dog has protection and security value.

In the Home

A biological alarm system that isn’t easily by-passed
A fellow protector with heightened senses far beyond a humans capability of detection
A first response to danger which gives you those precious seconds to engage the threat
A trustworthy and low maintenance “house watcher” when you are away

Outside the Home

Enables your loved ones to travel early morning or in the dark and have a significant force multiplier
In vehicles and while traveling you can have another set of eyes watching your back and guarding you and your family
When taken along on Road trips or vacations you have the added benefit of being able to secure a strange area

Another added benefit of having a dog around 24/7 is the possibility of the animal actually taking a mortal injury for his masters, such as a bullet or a stabbing, during an attack. This is not a scenario that is ideal or pleasant to think about, but one that has to be factored in because of the violent world in which we live. Consider this short story by my contributing writer on this article, A.H.:

“Several years ago I had a 115 pound mastiff mix who was just a terror. I remember one night my alarm system tripped at 2 a.m. I was up and moving with gun and light, but so was my dog. Moving through my house room-to-room with that dog smelling what I can’t smell, seeing what I can’t see, and hearing what I can’t hear was confidence boosting to say the least. Worst case that dog would have taken the first shots from an intruder. (which is better than me taking them!)”

Another facet that is often overlooked is the fact that dog’s can fill many other roles besides protection; HUNTING being one of the biggest. In many rural areas across the U.S., a good working/hunting dog is worth their weight in gold in helping the CO put meat on the table. Using dogs to track wounded deer, corral cattle and sheep, track and catch feral hogs and other game such as coyotes, fox, rabbit and squirrel is invaluable to the CO.

Imagine the “utilitarian gold mine” a few dogs like this would be in the CO’s toolbox! With meat prices soaring, and having to navigate the coming crisis where going down to the grocery store for your protein is no longer an option, having some dog like this is a no-brainer. And again, although not the ideal situation, if things got REAL BAD, “Bar-B-Q Canine” could be added to the menu if need be. (Please no hate mail from all the “animal lovers” out there; I am not advocating this to be cruel, it is just a fact of survival).

Choosing your Breed

Choosing a dog to some is as personal and unique a choice as choosing a spouse. For the CO, when choosing a “protection” or “security” dog they might automatically think about the typical breeds like the German Shepard, Belgian Malinois (Shepard), Doberman Pinscher or Rottweiller. An although most, if not all of these dogs would be a good choice for Protection, some of them might not exactly fit the “utilitarian” role we discussed.

Of course this does not mean the CO can not have an assortment of breeds, one to fit each job description, but for most, necessity would dictate having one breed to do it all. The problem with this is that when you start broadening your search with these types of dog breeds, it can get tricky and a bit overwhelming. Of course, the ideal breed would be one that blends the protection and security elements with the hunting and tracking traits ALL in once neat package, but unfortunately that is very hard to do. In the end, the CO will have to determine what compromises he is willing to make to get the dog he wants.

Also, I wanted to add this one important caveat that I have learned from experience. Never discount the “mutt” because of his mixed/hybrid heritage or lack of pedigree! Some of the best dogs I have owned have been hybrids. In fact, when you are looking for that ideal type of dog to pull “double duty” as a protector and hunter, a cross-breed may be your answer.

Here are the top 5 “utilitarian” breeds we feel could provide security and protection and also help you hunt and track animals for meat. Of course, this list is only intended as a helpful guide, not the Dog Whisperers “final word”. As we said before, choosing a dog is akin to choosing a spouse, so shop around, scout the field and choose wisely!

German Shepard
Belgian Malinois
American Bulldog
Bullmastiff
Cane Corso

Stay Armed, Stay Informed and Stay Dangerous!

Let Slip the Dogs of War

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