Our Four-Legged Heroes

11 . November .2025Katy van suilchem0 Comments

With it being Remembrance Day today, we wanted to take a moment to chat about the amazing pups that served, and continue to serve, in the armed forces. You might have spotted a few folks wearing a Purple Poppy instead of, or alongside, the traditional red ones. Purple Poppies were created in 2006, dedicated to animals that served and died alongside British and allied forces during World War 1 and World War 2.

Dogs are the longest-serving but least documented war companions. They have reportedly been used in warfare since the 7th Century BC (that’s over 2500 years ago!). They are known for their obedience, dedication, loyalty, speed, and agility and have played vital roles throughout history.

As dog lovers, we think it’s important to give a little nod to our furry friends today.

The Role of Dogs in War

Dogs served in a wide range of vital roles during both major wars, including:

Messengers and Scouts - Many dogs were responsible for carrying essential messages across dangerous terrain and scouting enemy positions.
Mine and Explosive Detection - Dogs also played a role in sniffing out landmines, bombs, and other explosives to protect soldiers.
Sentries and Patrol Dogs - These dogs guarded camps, patrolled perimeters, and were soldiers' eyes and ears for enemy threats.
Rat Catchers - Small dogs were often used to help catch rats in the trenches, which were a huge problem, especially during WW1.

In addition to these key roles, other jobs assigned to dogs included hauling supply carts, machine guns, and other equipment, and generally providing comfort to homesick soldiers.

Breeds with a Purpose

Did you know that up to 20,000 dogs served on the Western Front in WW1, and around ⅓ were pets donated to the war effort? Some of the main breeds include:

German Shepherds are known for their intelligence, loyalty and trainability. They were probably the most widely used breed in both World Wars, serving as messengers, scouts, sentries, and search-and-rescue dogs.

Belgian Malinois’ are highly driven, agile, and have great stamina. They were often used for scouting, sending messages, and detection work. Their focus and determination made them very reliable in high-pressure situations.

Labrador Retrievers have an excellent sense of smell, which made them excellent at detecting explosives and weapons. They’re also famous for their calm, gentle temperament and made comforting companions.

Doberman Pinschers are alert, fearless, and known for their protective instincts. They were often used as sentries (watchdogs), messengers, and for finding wounded soldiers in need of urgent first aid.

Yorkshire Terriers may not be as large or intimidating as Dobermans and German Shepherds, but they still played a vital role. As we mentioned, rats were a big problem during WW1. Yorkies were deployed in the trenches to help control the rat population, reducing illness and improving living conditions.

Famous Military Dog Heroes

Some pups have made history by serving their country. Here are three of the most famous military dogs of all time:

Sergeant Stubby was a stray who wandered into the training camp of the 102nd Infantry Regiment in the US Army in July 1927 and became the unit’s unofficial mascot. He served on the Western Front in WW1 for 18 months. He helped alert soldiers to mustard gas, found and comforted wounded soldiers, and allegedly even captured a German spy. He is the only dog in history to be given the rank of Sergeant in the US Army (albeit unofficially).

Chips was a trained sentry dog in the U.S Army during WW2. He was a German Shepherd-Husky-cross and served in Sicily during WW2. He is perhaps most famous for forcing an Italian machine-gun team to surrender in 1943, for which he was posthumously awarded the PDSA Dickin Medal in 2018 (animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross).

Smoky was a famous Yorkshire Terrier who weighed just 4lbs and served in the Pacific with the U.S Army during WW2. Her famous feats include helping lay telegraph wire, flying combat and air/rescue missions, and reportedly surviving 150 air raids, a typhoon, and a 30-foot parachute jump from a tree!

This Remembrance Sunday, it’s important to remember not only the brave men and women who sacrificed, but also the loyal pups who stood by their sides. To show your support, why not consider buying a Purple Poppy? Or, there are various other incredible charities you can donate to, such as Nowzad, NMWDM, or Thin Blue Paw.