Don't forget one thing; thanks to the Russians, the German Army could not concentrate its full might towards the Western Front.
If Russia hadn't been on the Allied side, things would have been completely different know; hundreds of German units were blown to bits on the Eastern Front that otherwise might have been sent to the Western Front.
The use of dogs as anti-tank 'devices' is more legend than truth.
Same as a similar story of Germans using cats or rats as 'moving bombs'.
Be careful with stories like this.
True, the Russian Army operated very harsh.
NKVD troops and political officers were always near to 'punish' retreating troops.
On the other hand, the Germans - especially near war's end - had 'flying courts' as well.
Special Police troops whose tasks was to execute officers and men from units who were not doing their duty or were in retreat.
Furthermore, do not forget the brutalities of certain German troops in Russia.
Many villages were burned to the ground, thousands of civilian lives were lost due to these 'torch battalions' (remember Peiper's outfit?).
Massacres like in Oradour-sur-Glane (France) happened there in thousand fold.
Hearing that people cheered for the Germans, makes my stomach turn. 
Ok, I'm off my soapbox now. 
Erwin