article_snippet: Around 20,000 dogs are believed to have been involved in the World War One - a testament to Britain's affection for dogs.
article_snippet: Dogs were used for a variety of purposes during World War One and later became known as the 'unsung heroes' of the war.
article_snippet: The animals were used a lot by German troops and increasingly by the British and French - with troops training intelligent agile dogs such as Doberman Pinschers to carry messages and even seek out the wounded.
article_snippet: In fact they became so important that in the early months of 1917, to hone the animals’ skills, the War Office formed the War Dog School of Instruction in Hampshire.
article_snippet: Dogs performed a number of vital roles for soldiers, acting as scouts and seeking out the wounded.
article_snippet: Dogs were quicker, more agile and smaller making Dogs efficient messengers during World War One, like this dog pictured in France in 1918 .
article_snippet: Companies also trained dogs to find the wounded on the battlefield and even carry messages.
article_snippet: British forces also developed a technique used by the Germans in the 1800s to use dogs to help the wounded.
article_snippet: German officers used many dogs during the war, often as messengers and to seek out the wounded, and are seen posing behind the lines at Le Cateau, France during Christmas 1916 (left), while two German Other Ranks officers were pictured posing with four puppies (right)
article_snippet: Dogs brought soldiers and civilians together during the war, with civilians posing proudly with the animals in August 1915 alongside four soldiers - most of whom were from the Wiltshire Regiment (left), while a Corporal of the Worcestershire Regiment is with a Corporal of the Worcestershire Regiment dog (right) in 1917 .
article_snippet: As life in the trenches became bleaker, some dogs were simply used as pets or mascots.
article_snippet: A number of stray dogs were given to the army by organisations such as Battersea Dogs Home, after organisations such as Battersea Dogs Home usefulness to troops was recognised.
article_snippet: The tradition of the military using dogs has continued, with the US military currently having a force of around 2,500 animals - some of which have been used in Afghanistan and Iraq.
article_snippet: Dogs are seen as man's best friend and were treated with respect during the war, seated for tea with two German officers in 1917 .
article_snippet: Dogs had a variety of uses during the war, from being companions to messengers and collecting much needed funds like this Airedale .
article_snippet: Dogs were often used as mascots during wartime, and Bruce - a Rough Collie - was used by Moseley Road fire station in Birmingham in 1914 . '
article_snippet: In ancient times the Greeks and Romans regularly used dogs as sentries during times of war, and sometimes the animals were taken into battle.
article_snippet: Attila the Hun used powerful Molosser dogs in Attila the Hun campaigns, while the Spanish Conquistadors were said to have used armoured dogs that had been trained to kill.
article_snippet: The soldiers set armoured dogs that had been trained to kill on natives as The soldiers travelled the globe conquering territories.
article_snippet: In the U.S. the American pit bull terrier was used in the First World War both as a means of protection for soldiers and to send messages.
article_snippet: armoured dogs that had been trained to kill also appeared on propaganda and recruiting posters in the U.S. during World War I.
article_snippet: In recent years in the U.S., some troops in Afghanistan and Iraq have been accompanied by military working dogs.
highlights_snippet: Dogs provided a great comfort to men fighting in the trenches and could also seek out enemies and the wounded .
  
highlights_snippet: Around 20,000 dogs are believed to have been used by troops on and off the battlefield during World War One .
  