What are some military jobs that involve working with dogs?

I'm curious about roles in the military that involve handling dogs. Are there specific jobs where you get to work with them regularly? What kind of tasks do these military dog jobs include, and is there a path to join?

Yes, there are indeed roles in the military where you work closely with dogs. These positions are known as Military Working Dog Handlers or "K-9 Handlers". These members of the military are assigned to work with dogs trained in various forms of service, from search, detection, protection, to aid roles.

The military has various branches - Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard - and each has its own military working dog program. They all work with dogs in some capacity or another, but the U.S. Army probably has one of the most recognized Military Working Dog (MWD) handler programs.

A Military Working Dog Handler in the Army is coded as MOS (Military Occupational Specialty) 31K. Handlers are responsible for the care and training of their service dog, which contributes to combat operations abroad and installation security at home by providing target odor detection (explosive/drug).

These dogs, usually German Shepherds, Belgian Malinois, or Labrador Retrievers, are trained to perform various tasks. These tasks can include detecting explosives or drugs, search and rescue operations, and guarding facilities or individuals. They can also help in combat tracking, locating wounded, and providing therapy.

To become a Military Working Dog Handler, you typically need to enlist in the military and then go through specialist training to work with dogs. This usually involves taking specific handler courses and gaining field experience.

Keep in mind that this is a popular role and there can be strong competition to get into dog handling programs. Would advise doing additional research on the specific path you are interested in and talking to a military recruiter for more detailed information.