Interested in the Belgian malinois army dogs? Find out how the Belgian malinois got inducted into the army and the services it provided.
Known to be a highly intelligent and courageous dog the Belgian Malinois has been aiding mankind in various ways for many years. From herding to therapy, search and rescue operations to obedience sports this graceful dog makes an excellent work companion in different fields of operation.
Although the dog was traditionally used for the purpose of herding sheep it later made its way in to the military. The military recognized the unique characteristics of this dog and found it to be a breed that could be used for various military purposes.
The dog had not yet made its way into the military when the First World War broke out in 1914. In fact this war greatly hampered the breeding operations of the dog that had only recently been initiated. The next twenty years saw the breed gaining popularity and it was in World War 2 when the Belgian Malinois made it into the army of various European countries including Belgium, Germany and Netherlands.
Services of the Belgian Malinois in the Army
During its days in the army the Belgian Malinois served as a messenger who could be trusted to deliver important messages during turbulent times. It was also inducted as a scout and a border patrol dog. The Belgian malinois was also trained to function as a Red Cross dog providing emergency care for soldiers on the battle field.
Why was the Belgian Malinois Inducted in the Army?
The Belgian malinois possessed many valuable innate qualities which paved its way into the army of many European nations. First and foremost was the dog’s high level of intellect. The Belgian malinois is very sharp and is known to be a problem solver. Second up was the dog’s high sense of alertness. The Belgian malinois is gifted with hyper sensitive instincts for detecting potential threats. This is one of the reasons it made an excellent choice for a border patroller and search and rescue dog.
The fact that these dogs are full of energy served as another plus point for the military. The Belgian could accomplish tasks that others would easily get tired doing. This particular breed was easy to train once it earned your respect but might give the trainer a run for his money because it never gets tired of performing some activity. The dog’s courage also played a vital role in securing its role in the army.
On the physical side the Belgian malinois is regarded as a medium sized dog with a sturdy built. With a double fur coat the Belgian malinois could easily adapt to all sorts of extreme weather conditions. One of the most unique features of the Belgian was its super sense of smell. This came in handy when locating injured soldiers on the battle field while the dog served as a Red Cross messenger. The super sense of smell of the Belgian Malinois has also helped it to bust many drug dealers around the world.
Today the Belgian malinois is considered to be the top choice working dog. It is a popular dog amongst the police force, security agencies, detectives, rangers and even as personal security dogs.
