Commando may be tiny, but the National Guard in Mexico has a big role in store for him.
With tiny sunglasses, a custom-made camouflage combat vest, and even a helmet equipped with a camera, Commando, a Chihuahua weighing about 7 kilograms, is the most unusual and undoubtedly the smallest recruit in the force.
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According to officers, the 13-month-old puppy won’t just be there to boost morale: he’s being trained for search-and-rescue operations.
The dog, standing 21 centimeters tall, bears no resemblance whatsoever to the much larger and stronger dogs that are typically trained to work alongside army or police units in Mexico and elsewhere.
“Comando,” the Chihuahua who has joined the National Guard. He is a Chihuahua puppy who was adopted; he arrived at the facility while looking for a family
. At 13 months old, this Chihuahua trains alongside other dogs. The institution has 350 dogs, most of whom… pic.twitter.com/LobCzZXuKa
Advertisement— EL PAÍS México (@elpaismexico) September 30, 2026
During training in the capital last week, the miniature dog struggled to climb stairs or jump over obstacles under the watchful eye of Roco, a fully trained, much larger dog.
Second Lieutenant Deborah Hernández will point out that Commando breaks two stereotypes: the first is that only large dogs can serve in the National Guard; and the second is that a military-style organization cannot build a warmer relationship with civilians. Simply the presence of this small dog, he explains, reminds people that “underneath the uniform, we remain human beings.”
As reported by the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA-MPA), the National Guard enlisted Komando about six months ago, —where else?—in Chihuahua, from which this dog breed takes its name, because the elderly couple who had been caring for him could no longer look after him as they wished.
The new recruit now makes appearances at public ceremonies, school events, and community outreach programs.
If nothing else, he stands out in the National Guard’s dog unit—which is by no means small, with some 350 members: most of which are German Shepherds and Labradors.
Chihuahuas, known mainly for their large, expressive eyes, their personalities, and their erect ears, are extremely active but are rarely considered candidates for actual operational duty.
Commando, however, has already participated in the military parade for Mexico’s Independence Day and has become a rising star on social media.
Source: In.gr
