The K9 Group of the Army was constituted on 1st July 2002 in Grosseto, in the Veterinarian Military Centre.
It is a Unit at battalion level, with its proper command and organized in order to guarantee the breeding of dogs and their training in different specialization as well as their preparation and employment.
The K9 nucleus are employed in favour of military contingents abroad but, if necessary, they can be employed on the national territory for the surveillance of strategic objectives in the Country, the research of weapons and ammunitions and the "recovery" of areas and infrastructure.
Firstly assigned to Engineer regiments, the dog handlers platoons of the 3rd Regiment of Udine, the 10th of Cremona and the 8th of Legnano have been grouped in only one company since 2008, at the direct dependencies of the K9 Group Commander in Grosseto.