I feel that yes, the dogs likely have little (to no) idea what they're actually doing, or how dangerous it is, but it`s because of that particular reason that I personally feel the dogs very much deserve any honor they receive. We risked and sacrificed *their* lives, for our own needs, and out of love and feelings of companionship with us, they do as they`re told, blindly. We lead them straight into death and danger. For what we made them give, I think they deserve a little something. And as I said, they do it out of trust and love.
(And just for the record, my husband is a solider. Little can be said for the "honor" he supposedly deserves for what the Army has him do. At least, at this point in time, anyway.)