Service dogs in military affairs: historical development and significance under martial law

Modern challenges related to Ukraine’s defense and national security necessitate the continuous improvement of mechanisms for stabilizing and protecting the state – both during peacetime and under martial law. In the current security environment, particular importance is attached to areas capable of effectively strengthening the activities of the defense and law enforcement sectors. One of the key elements of this system is the involvement of service dogs, whose role in defense, law enforcement, and humanitarian fields continues to grow steadily. The history of using animals in warfare spans many centuries. In different historical periods, animals have performed both strategic and auxiliary functions. It is known that thousands of years ago, dogs served as guards, scouts, and combat companions, becoming reliable allies of humans in various military activities. During World War I and World War II, dogs were actively employed for locating the wounded, reconnaissance, message delivery, and escorting military units. Horses were the primary means of transporting equipment and artillery, while pigeons provided reliable communication between units. At the same time, animals also played an important emotional and psychological role—they became symbols of home, hope, and moral support amid the chaos of war. The systematic use of dogs in military conflicts across eras laid the foundation for the formation of modern military cynology. At the present stage, particularly in the context of the full-scale Russian-Ukrainian war, the canine service plays a significant role within the structure of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other security formations. The modernization of canine units is being carried out in accordance with NATO (STANAG) standards, the legal and regulatory framework and logistical support systems are being improved, and the specialization of service dogs is expanding. Special attention is given to the training of mine-detection dogs, which effectively perform tasks in combat zones. Today, service dogs are involved not only in military and law enforcement agencies but also in civilian sectors. They work as guards, search and rescue assistants, guide dogs, rescuers, and even as therapeutic companions in medical and rehabilitation practices. Such multifunctionality determines their high demand across various fields of service activity. The research methodology is based on historical analysis and the generalization of practical experience in the use of service dogs. The scientific novelty lies in the comprehensive examination of the historical and modern experience of employing service dogs in military, law enforcement, and humanitarian contexts, emphasizing their effectiveness and training for specialized tasks. The purpose of this article is to summarize the historical experience of using dogs in military affairs and to analyze the current state and prospects of their involvement under martial law in Ukraine. To achieve this goal, a set of general scientific (analysis, synthesis, systematization, comparison) and historical (problem-chronological, comparative-historical) methods were applied. The obtained generalizations indicate that dogs have been and remain an important component of the national security system. The combination of historical experience and modern training techniques ensures the effective utilization of dogs’ potential in military, law enforcement, and humanitarian domains.