

Military Dogs
Celebrate the dedicated dogs helping keep our troops safe at home and overseas.
2024 finalist K9 Niki, a Belgian Malinois Shepherd mix, served with the United States Coast Guard, participating in over 250 high-stakes operations and logging more than 4,000 working hours.
Nomination Deadline: June 30, 2025
What Makes These Dogs Heroes?
Military working dogs first entered the service in 1942 to serve in the Army’s K-9 Corps. Today, these dogs are still playing an active role in searching for explosives and seizing enemies. In World War II, 436 scout dogs walked combat patrols overseas, often detecting the enemy at 1,000 yards, long before the enemy became aware of them. Dogs continued to serve with distinction in other conflicts, such as Korea, where the Army used about 1,500 dogs, primarily for guard duty. During the Vietnam War, nearly 4,000 dogs were employed and, officially, 281 were killed in action. Today’s conflicts include dogs at every level, still serving our country, helping to protect our troops.
Is Your Dog a Hero? Share Your Story
Share what makes your dog extraordinary by nominating them for the Hero Dog Awards. Simply pick the category that fits your dog, share their story and upload up to five of your favorite photos. We’ll select category finalists, and the public will help vote for the winner.