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Military working dogs have played a vital role in the Armed Forces for decades, but their contributions may go unnoticed by the civilian population. However, a recent documentary on Animal Planet gave the four-legged soldiers their due recognition. The two-hour film, "Glory Hounds," highlighted the lives of several canines from Camp Lejeune as they served in Afghanistan, reports The News and Observer. 

Dogs certainly put their lives on the line in combat. Many of them are used to help detect improvised explosive devices (IEDs) as well as the insurgents who plant them. Along with helping keep soldiers safe, many of the working dogs form strong bonds with their handlers. In fact, this sometimes brings troops closer to their dogs than with their fellow human soldiers.

"The only thing that's between you and an IED is your dog," Cpl. Drew Nyman, who is featured in the film, told the newspaper. "So it's kind of nerve-wracking knowing that your dog doesn't smell explosives. You have to trust that your dog is on point, not leading you to a bad area."

While military working dogs have played a vital role in Afghanistan, many of them return home with the same wounds as other servicemembers. In fact, at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas, experts have noticed dogs presenting signs of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), reports CBS affiliate KTVT.