The Puppy Program
Did you know that the Department of Defense operates a military working dog breeding program?
aka The Puppy Program
Puppy Kkrusty
MWD Lexy & her Vv pups
Vveesart & Vvini Vv3 liter
AA4 litter Round table
From birth to eight weeks our pups are reared at the Military Working Dog Center on Lackland AFB, TX in our state of the art whelping facility. While there is no guarantee that any pup of this age will develop into an adult working dog, our Puppy Development Specialists begin working with the pups from birth, imprinting and exposing the pups to a variety of stimulations and activities that will prepare them for the next phase of their life
Note: This information and photos are being published with permission from Bernie at the Department of Defense Breeding Program. This is Part I of the Puppy Program Feature.
In case you missed or want to revisit a prior week’s military dog picture of the week. Here are the most recent links.
More Marine Black Labs & Preparing for a WIA K9!
Marines and their Black Labs Post
Military Dog Picture of the Week: Troops & Their Puppies!
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28 comments on “The Puppy Program”
Leave a Reply
SallyLowen says: So this is what our retired MWD looked like! Love these dogs. Congratulations on your upcoming promotion. Happy holidays to all.
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christina juarez says:
Kevin, the pic of those 2 prescious puppies the newborns really made my heart melt, I will b sending u the bill for the heart transplant I now need cuz ur photos r just too much for my heart to handle!
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Kevin Hanrahan says:
Thanks Christina…..puppies always win!
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[...] his weekly Military Dog Photo, Kevin Hanrahan introduces us to “The Puppy Program” run by the Department of [...]
Oh, I know this is a serious business, and it’s an important program, but they’re so dang cute!! Just makes me want to go out and get another puppy. But I won’t. I have enough dog & cat hair to contend with at present. Great article, Kevin. Thanks.
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I know Barb….I love the first picture of that adorable little fella! I want puppies so bad!
Jeannine Riley says: This is indeed a wonderful program and it’s hard to not get distracted by all the cuteness. Like Barb, I long for another puppy but I have 2-120+ pound “puppies” at home. And to Kevin: congratulations on your promotion – you & your family must be very proud!
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Wow Jeanine…one of your dogs weights more than both of mine!
Thank you. Hopefully I will pin in the next few months.
Dear Kevin:
Puppies make this world an even better place than dogs. Thank you for sharing.
Sincerely,
Kristen Shaw
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There is just something about them…..sort of like a baby! We don’t have pups at the house but we do have a baby!
Julia Hugo Rachel says: My Heart has been officially “Stolen” by this article! What grand dogs, with such important futures. This is a special rare glimpse into these dogs beginnings. We are blessed to see the pups. Truly a Treasure of insight. Thank You Kevin!
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My pleasure Julia. This is a great program and these pups will be protecting our troops some day!
Karen says: Can I have a puppy? 
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What state do you live Karen? They are always looking to place dogs (temporarily) in the San Antonio area.
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Unfortunately not in San Antonio. I live in Austin. These puppies are so adorable.
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My usual response to these kind of pictures is,
“Hey, that’s my dog”
… You know I love all the great work and information you provide Kevin…. always Barbara
Kevin Hanrahan says: Hi Barbara! Thank you very much. I’ve been wanting to share details of this program for a while now! More to follow!
K Regan says: For me it is so sad that they are actually breeding when so many animals are abused and neglected in our world and there aren’t enough homes to go around as it is. So many are put down every year. I understand that some are used for service but the military won’t even pay to fly the dogs home at the end of their service. 
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Do you really believe an average run of the mill abused and neglected pound puppy would make a good military working dog? Sorry but if that was the case the local police departments would be raiding the shelters all the time for police dogs.
The military would pay if the government would allow us….but federal law prevents this. Though the Canine Members of the Armed Service Act recently passed by Congress will reverse this law. The military doesn’t make the rules….we just abide by them.
Please don’t forget…….the military working dog program is full of dog lovers. We care as much about our working dogs as you do your family dog.
Lynda Lawson says: Question, do you mean even after these dogs are trained, and serve, they don’t get to leave and fly back to the US afterwards? …I was hoping I could adopt a retiree to replace my Shepherd, I took her in @ 4 weeks old, she was abandoned at 4 weeks.. She finally died at 16. Miss her more then I can say. What if people donated to the dogs to get them home after service, to adopt? What you do is amazing, I had no idea.
Lynda
Karen says: How do these MWDs get their names?
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They are named at birth Karen. Puppy program dog shave a double letter at the beginning on their name…. Llars, Llisa, Llilly, etc
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Some of the names are kind of… ummm… how shall I put this… very unique. LOL
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Kevin Hanrahan says: Hi Lynda. All dogs that are stationed stateside return. Dogs that are stationed say in Germany are not returned. They are adopted out in Germany and it is then the responsibility of the adoptee to bring them back to the states.
(Sorry for the late response…just saw your comment)
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Hi Natalie. The Puppy program currently breeds Belgian Malinois and no other breed.
Big Awwwww…
Working in animal rescue, it’s wonderful for me to see beautiful puppies being trained purposefully. Dogs love to work, and it’s hard for ordinary owners to provide that structure. Thanks for a giving me a smile with my coffee,
Carole
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Thanks Carole…….really tough to resist aren’t they!
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So this is what our retired MWD looked like! Love these dogs. Congratulations on your upcoming promotion. Happy holidays to all.
Kevin, the pic of those 2 prescious puppies the newborns really made my heart melt, I will b sending u the bill for the heart transplant I now need cuz ur photos r just too much for my heart to handle!
Thanks Christina…..puppies always win!
Pingback: Military Dog Photo of the Week: PUPPIES! « Off The Base
Oh, I know this is a serious business, and it’s an important program, but they’re so dang cute!! Just makes me want to go out and get another puppy. But I won’t. I have enough dog & cat hair to contend with at present. Great article, Kevin. Thanks.
I know Barb….I love the first picture of that adorable little fella! I want puppies so bad!
This is indeed a wonderful program and it’s hard to not get distracted by all the cuteness. Like Barb, I long for another puppy but I have 2-120+ pound “puppies” at home. And to Kevin: congratulations on your promotion – you & your family must be very proud!
Wow Jeanine…one of your dogs weights more than both of mine!
Thank you. Hopefully I will pin in the next few months.
Dear Kevin:
Puppies make this world an even better place than dogs. Thank you for sharing.
Sincerely,
Kristen Shaw
There is just something about them…..sort of like a baby! We don’t have pups at the house but we do have a baby!
My Heart has been officially “Stolen” by this article! What grand dogs, with such important futures. This is a special rare glimpse into these dogs beginnings. We are blessed to see the pups. Truly a Treasure of insight. Thank You Kevin!
My pleasure Julia. This is a great program and these pups will be protecting our troops some day!
Can I have a puppy?
What state do you live Karen? They are always looking to place dogs (temporarily) in the San Antonio area.
Unfortunately not in San Antonio. I live in Austin. These puppies are so adorable.
My usual response to these kind of pictures is,
“Hey, that’s my dog”
… You know I love all the great work and information you provide Kevin…. always Barbara
Hi Barbara! Thank you very much. I’ve been wanting to share details of this program for a while now! More to follow!
For me it is so sad that they are actually breeding when so many animals are abused and neglected in our world and there aren’t enough homes to go around as it is. So many are put down every year. I understand that some are used for service but the military won’t even pay to fly the dogs home at the end of their service.
Do you really believe an average run of the mill abused and neglected pound puppy would make a good military working dog? Sorry but if that was the case the local police departments would be raiding the shelters all the time for police dogs.
The military would pay if the government would allow us….but federal law prevents this. Though the Canine Members of the Armed Service Act recently passed by Congress will reverse this law. The military doesn’t make the rules….we just abide by them.
Please don’t forget…….the military working dog program is full of dog lovers. We care as much about our working dogs as you do your family dog.
Question, do you mean even after these dogs are trained, and serve, they don’t get to leave and fly back to the US afterwards?
…I was hoping I could adopt a retiree to replace my Shepherd, I took her in @ 4 weeks old, she was abandoned at 4 weeks.. She finally died at 16. Miss her more then I can say. What if people donated to the dogs to get them home after service, to adopt? What you do is amazing, I had no idea.
Lynda
How do these MWDs get their names?
They are named at birth Karen. Puppy program dog shave a double letter at the beginning on their name…. Llars, Llisa, Llilly, etc
Some of the names are kind of… ummm… how shall I put this… very unique. LOL
Hi Lynda. All dogs that are stationed stateside return. Dogs that are stationed say in Germany are not returned. They are adopted out in Germany and it is then the responsibility of the adoptee to bring them back to the states.
(Sorry for the late response…just saw your comment)
so which branch gets which breed? Does it vary or is it specific?
Hi Natalie. The Puppy program currently breeds Belgian Malinois and no other breed.
Big Awwwww…
Working in animal rescue, it’s wonderful for me to see beautiful puppies being trained purposefully. Dogs love to work, and it’s hard for ordinary owners to provide that structure. Thanks for a giving me a smile with my coffee,
Carole
Thanks Carole…….really tough to resist aren’t they!