Dog lovers have dogs in our lives because their job is to be part of the family. They provide unconditional love and support to the human best friends. Some dogs however have leveled UP and hold important jobs. According to the American Kennel Club, there are jobs that ONLY dogs can do. Let’s explore a few different jobs that dogs have and the best breeds for those jobs.
Herding Dogs
Some dogs are born for the job of herding. They are natural experts at herding livestock, such as sheep, goats and cattle. Farmers and ranchers “employ” these dogs because they are an integral part of the homestead. Here are the breeds best suited for herding:
- Border Collie
- Australian Shepherd
- Belgian Malinois
- German Shepherd
Service Dogs
A service dog has been specially trained to assist people with disabilities. A service dog is the ultimate in cool, calm and collected. They must be able to behave well in all types of situations. Examples of the types of services these dogs perform: guide dogs for the blind, seizure dogs, hearing dogs and mobility assistance dogs. The top breed commonly used as service dogs:
- Golden Retriever
- Labrador Retriever
- Standard Poodle
- German Shepherd
Therapy Dogs
Not to be confused with a service dog, a therapy dog has a very important job to offer emotional support to sick or injured people. You can also find therapy dogs doing their job at nursing homes, hospitals, and visiting schools to educate children about dogs. Any mutt can be a therapy dog, but they must have the right temperament. In addition, while performing their job they need to be well socialized, trained and not fearful of anyone.
Military and Police Dogs
K-9’s hold very important jobs protecting their handlers, chasing down criminals and holding a suspect who run from the police. Military dogs can also be used as trackers and scouts. Some police and military dogs are also trained to detect and sniff out substances. Their highly exceptional senses of smell make them perfectly suited to sniffing out drugs, explosives, human remains and some can even detect cancer.
Common breeds for police and military jobs:
- German Shepherd
- Dutch Shepherd
- Belgian Malinois
Common breeds for detection jobs:
- Beagles
- Labradors
- Golden Retrievers
Search & Rescue Dogs
Search and rescue dogs provide lifesaving job skills when timing is of the essence. For this reason, these heroic canines spring into action and can help find humans that are lost, avalanche rescue, and even cadaver location. The most common breeds of search and rescue dogs:
- Bloodhound
- German Shepherd
- Saint Bernard
- Basset Hound
- Labrador Retriever
More Dogs With Jobs
The list is endless on what a dog is capable of doing. Whether the dog is pulling a sled, riding on a fire truck, truffle hunting, dogs are amazing in their capabilities. Of course, their resumes are filled with special skills and unique talents that allow them to excel at their jobs.
