With dogs being domesticated and all, it’s easy to forget that there’s a moment in human history where they served as tools of terror, danger, and death. We all know how capable and intelligent dogs are. They can be trained to a T and act according to their owner’s wants. This has been known throughout the ages and significant people in history wasted no chance to utilize it.
Rightly so, here are the five dog breeds that were used as potent weapons of war by humans. A look back in these dark areas of history will show us how incredibly powerful and mighty dogs are. You may even be in for a shock as your current fur baby may have descended from the bloodline of warriors.
1. In the plight to conquer the Moors in Grenada, huge mastiffs weighing up to 250 pounds were used to rip through clothing, leather, and human flesh. This was made possible through their powerful jowls.
2. Christopher Columbus also used mastiffs in conquering lands. As he conquered the New World, he had mastiffs join him in every move and battle. Records show that mastiffs were classified as weapons in ship logs.
3. Conquistadors throughout history also utilized Irish greyhounds as weapons of war. They were used to look over territory and go after indigenous as a form of brutal sport by the conquistadors.
4. One famous dog in war history is Becerrillo, a Castillian attack dog known for being extremely brutal and deadly. He worked with Juan Ponce de Leon and was recorded to have killed a total of 33 people in just an hour. Spanish mastiffs descended from his bloodline.
5. And lastly, we have Leoncico, Becerrillo’s offspring. He belonged to Balboa and was used to terrorize people. He was so good at spreading terror and brute he was even given a human status. The work he did was paid as much as that of a soldier’s wage.