How did obedience training for dogs develop after World War II? What role did military dogs play in shaping obedience training? When did formal obedience trials begin and who were initially allowed to compete? Join us as we explore the history of obedience training, from its military origins to its expansion into various dog sports, and discover the remarkable journey of dogs and their owners towards a stronger bond through training and companionship.
By Susan Bulanda, author of Military Dogs of World War II | 5 min read
From old wives’ tales to formal trials
When dogs came home after serving in WWII people were impressed with how obedient the dogs were. Being obedient and reliable was critical for a military dog, such as coming when called and staying. They were also trained to do tasks that pet dogs were not taught, such as jump hurdles, carry messages, protect soldiers and equipment. Military dogs that remained in the service would often be used to give demonstrations which impressed all those who saw them perform.
Military dog training programs were based partly on the training methods and exercises used for formal obedience competition. However, competition was limited to purebred dogs and at that time most people owned mixed breed dogs and trained their pet dogs at home as best as they could by themselves, often based on “old wives’ tales.”
The progression from formal obedience training before World War II to military dog training and then to the present is an interesting bit of history.
Obedience trials in the UK
In the UK, no one is certain exactly when obedience trials first started. However, we do know that in 1927 Camberley & District Canine Society held their first dog show which featured three Obedience Classes that were judged by Lady Kittie Ritson. The Crufts Dog Show in 1936 and 1948 held obedience classes but they were restricted to German Shepherd Dogs. It wasn’t until 1955 that Crufts had regular obedience trials that were opened to all breeds.
Obedience trials in the US
In the United States, according to Blanche Saunders in The Story of Dog Obedience, the concept of obedience trials was adopted from the Associated Sheep, Police, Army Dog Society of England. It was not until 1933 that the first “test,” as it was called was held as a result of the efforts of Mrs. Helen Whitehouse Walker. She convinced dog clubs and private kennels that it would show off a dog’s mental ability to have obedience “tests” in conjunction with conformation shows. She felt that most spectators who attended conformation shows did not understand what was being done and why, but that they would enjoy seeing dogs perform. Mrs. Walker believed that training dogs for obedience tests would help an owner develop a deeper relationship with their dog. It would also allow amateur dog owners to participate in tests that stressed accuracy, precision performance, show that the dogs enjoyed the exercises and were willing to work.
The first test was held on Mrs. Walker’s fathers’ estate in Mt. Kisco, NY. Only eight dogs were entered, two Labrador Retrievers, three Poodles, two English Springer Spaniels and one German Shepherd Dog. The winner was a Labrador Retriever. The second event was held in 1934 at the North Westchester Kennel Club dog show. The exercises included heeling on-leash and off-leash, sitting for two minutes, lying down for five minutes with the owner out of sight, a drop on recall, come and sit in front of the handler, retrieving a dumbbell and then retrieving a lighter dumbbell over a jump. In 1936, the American Kennel Club (AKC) approved obedience as a sport and expanded the obedience competition into the three classes that we have today, Novice, Open, and Utility.
Military dogs, mixed breeds, and dog sports
To promote obedience training for the general public, Blanch Saunders wrote the book, Training You to Train Your Dog in 1952. However, at that time, most people owned mixed breed dogs. Formal obedience trials through dog clubs and organizations worldwide only allowed purebred dogs to compete. The problem was that in the 1940’s and 1950’s most people did not own purebred dogs because spaying and neutering was not a common practice.
Based on my experience, it wasn’t until the late 1960’s and throughout the 1970’s that more pet owners started to purchase purebred dogs. At that time the push to spay and neuter also took hold and there were less mixed breed puppies available.
In the 1990’s various dog sports became popular and new sports such as nose work, developed in 2006, continue to emerge. With the popularity of dog sports, the need for trainers increased as well. For most dogs to compete in any sport, they must be under the control of their owner, which starts with basic obedience training. Along with the interest in dog sports, some working dog programs also flourished such as canine search and rescue inspired by the ambulance dogs used in World War I and in World War II. Both Schutzhund and Ring Sport showcased the work of police and military dogs.
We can thank the military dog programs for demonstrating that all dogs, both pure and mixed breeds, enjoy working with their owners demonstrating their loyalty, trainability, willingness to work, and overall value as therapy dogs (mascots).
Want to learn more?
Be sure to read Military Dogs Of World War II
or check out the author’s website at
and blog at www.sbulandablog.com.
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