I just read the Wikipedia article and this dog has led a more useful and fulfilling life than many people. Apparently he would alert the soldiers of incoming artillery shells because he could hear them coming before anyone else. Who knows how many soldiers this dog has saved.

Also he never went through an official training programme and was just a random mutt who was smuggled into the France by his owner who was a soldier. The dog was initially allowed to stay because his owner had taught him how to salute

Link for the lazy