Throughout the course of the long war in Afghanistan, Coalition troops have relied on thousands of military working dogs to help keep them safe, and make their jobs easier. The dogs are trained to detect explosives, to find illegal drugs, to search for missing comrades, or target enemy combatants. Not only are they active on the front lines, but behind the lines they serve as therapy dogs, service dogs, and loyal companions. They also share the same risks as the ground troops, suffering injuries and sometimes death on the battlefields. Gathered here are images of these dogs and their handlers in Afghanistan and back home, from over the past several years, part of the ongoing series here on Afghanistan.

Men soar through the air on a wooden sledge during a traditional Bavarian horn sledge race, known as “Schnablerrennen”, in Gaissach near Bad Toelz, Germany, January 22, 2017. (Photo by Michael Dalder/Reuters)

Boat party in Malta on July 17, 2023. Malta is the new party destination. Parties, sеx and bad behaviour mixed with cheap prices and wonderful weather have made malta the place to be. (Photo by Thea Jacobs/The Sun)

India's Border Security Force (BSF) soldiers ride their camels during a rehearsal for the “Beating the Retreat” ceremony in New Delhi, India, January 27, 2016. The ceremony symbolises retreat after a day on the battlefield, and marks the official end of the Indian Republic Day celebrations. It is held every year on January 29. (Photo by Anindito Mukherjee/Reuters)

Throughout the course of the long war in Afghanistan, Coalition troops have relied on thousands of military working dogs to help keep them safe, and make their jobs easier. The dogs are trained to detect explosives, to find illegal drugs, to search for missing comrades, or target enemy combatants. Not only are they active on the front lines, but behind the lines they serve as therapy dogs, service dogs, and loyal companions. They also share the same risks as the ground troops, suffering injuries and sometimes death on the battlefields. Gathered here are images of these dogs and their handlers in Afghanistan and back home, from over the past several years, part of the ongoing series here on Afghanistan.

Children try to push an injured and weak dolphin back into the water after it washed ashore during bad weather and high tide on a beach in Cilacap, Central Java, Indonesia August 12, 2016 in this photo taken by Antara Foto. (Photo by Idhad Zakaria/Reuters/Antara Foto)

A general view shows the Christmas decoration at a country house estate in the village of Bad Tatzmannsdorf, Austria, November 30, 2015. The estate owned by the Gollnhuber family is lit with half a million Christmas lights and more than 60 inflatable Christmas figures, turning the place into a winter wonderland every December and attracting thousands of visitors. (Photo by Leonhard Foeger/Reuters)

Boat party in Malta on July 17, 2023. Malta is the new party destination. Parties, sеx and bad behaviour mixed with cheap prices and wonderful weather have made malta the place to be. (Photo by Thea Jacobs/The Sun)