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Types of Working Dogs: Jobs, Common Breeds & FAQs | Pupford

December 6th, 2023

Filed under Lifestyle + Stories

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Some dogs have one main purpose in life: to be your companion and valued family member. And let’s be clear: there’s nothing wrong with that!

Other dogs have specific jobs; we call those working dogs. Working dogs take their instincts and innate skills and use them to accomplish tasks or help people.

But there is a lot that people don’t know about working dogs – so we created this guide to answer questions and share more information about these invaluable dogs.

We’ll cover the following:

  • What types of jobs do working dogs hold?
  • What are common or best working breeds?
  • 5 FAQs about working dogs

Before we get started, we want to get a sense from our community:

Regardless of your answer, there’s a lot you can learn about these important members of our society – so let’s get to all things working dogs.

WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF WORKING DOGS? WHAT JOBS DO THEY DO?

dalmation fire dog

Working dogs can hold a variety of jobs, from assisting on farms to helping law enforcement. Here are some common types of working dogs:

  • Service dogs
  • Law enforcement K-9s
  • Fire
  • Search and Rescue (SAR)
  • Sheepdogs/herding dogs
  • Security
  • Cancer Detection

Let's look at each one below. 👇

🐶 Don't miss out, get access to the Intro to Service Dogs Course today. Learn more here!

Service

Service dogs are probably one of the most common types of working dogs.

From guiding people with visual impairments to alerting people when they are about to have a seizure, service dogs can be trained to provide health and quality-of-life assistance for a variety of conditions.

Service dogs undergo rigorous training and are highly skilled at the specific service they provide.

Learn all about service dogs in our Intro to Service Dogs Course here!

Law Enforcement K-9s

As members of law enforcement, K-9s assist in searching for illegal drugs/substances, finding missing persons, collecting evidence, and chasing fleeing criminals.

The most common breed you typically see for law enforcement K-9s are German Shepherd Dogs or GSDs.

Fire

Four-legged members of the fire department help investigate the scenes of fires to locate accelerants or gather other evidence.

Fun fact: When you thought of fire dogs, you thought of a Dalmatian, right? That’s all thanks to fire departments of the 1700s. They relied on horse-drawn carriages to transport firefighters, and the combination of a dalmatian’s calming effect on horses, high endurance, strong loyalty, and loud bark made them the ideal choice.

Search and Rescue (SAR)

Search and Rescue dogs are called on after natural disasters and other emergencies, mass casualty events, and individual incidents like avalanches.

SAR dogs help rescue teams track and locate missing people.

Sheepdogs & Herding Dogs

Farmhands (should we say farmpaws?) of the canine variety help guard and protect livestock as well as guide and move them when necessary.

There's a reason your herding breed loves to chase and nip things! 😜

Security Dogs

Security dogs work with TSA agents, public transportation teams, and other officials to ensure nobody is traveling or entering a premises with a dangerous or illegal substance.

Cancer Detection

A dog’s incredible sense of smell and nose allows them to detect trace amounts of alkanes and aromatic compounds that cancerous tumors produce in people’s urine or breath.

Quite an impressive resume, huh? That’s why not just any dog can do these jobs.

More on that now. 👇

BEST WORKING DOGS & COMMON BREEDS

labrador retriever common working dog breed

While every dog has a purpose, some breeds are better suited for jobs than others. It’s not to say that some breeds are better than others; it’s just that their innate skills and physical builds make them better suited for work than others.

Don’t worry, lap dogs, we love you too!

Here are some common working breeds:

  • Labrador Retrievers are smart, loving, sturdy, and relatively easy to care for, making them ideal service dogs.
  • German Shepherd Dogs have great endurance and protective nature that work well for both service work and law enforcement.
  • Border Collies have high energy and enthusiasm when it comes to herding anyone and anything, making them great sheep/herding dogs.
  • Golden Retrievers are super gentle and affectionate, yet sturdy – the perfect combination for a service or therapy dog.
  • Bloodhounds have incredible noses that help them excel at search and rescue, security, cancer detection, and other similar jobs.

Those are just some common working breeds – there are plenty more whose skills play important roles in their jobs!

🐶 Don't miss out, get access to the Intro to Service Dogs Course today. Learn more here!

FAQs ABOUT WORKING DOGS

working dog helping with search and rescue

Aside from what breeds and what jobs they hold, we’ve received a few other common questions about working dogs. Let’s answer five of the FAQs!

1. CAN WORKING DOGS BE OVERWORKED?

You may love your job, but would you be able to do it 24/7? Absolutely not, especially if it involves physical activity. The same goes for working dogs.

It’s possible for working dogs to be overworked and overexerted, but as long as they’re given proper breaks and get enough rest when they’re “off-duty,” being overworked is usually not an issue.

2. DO WORKING DOGS GET BREAKS?

It depends. But not in the way you think.

For service dogs that perform life-saving assistance, they have to be ready to act at any time. But they are still able to do their jobs while physically relaxing when they need to.

Other working dogs, like K-9s and herding dogs, for example, have very physically demanding jobs. But, they operate on set hours and take breaks/get time off each day. K-9s get to go home at the end of the day with their human partner and want to relax just like they do!

So even though some dogs do technically work around the clock, they are not always exerting themselves at the same level – so yes, working dogs get breaks.

frequently asked questions about working dogs

3. WHAT PERCENTAGE OF WORKING DOGS DROP OUT OF TRAINING?

Even the goodest boys and girls with the best intentions don’t end up becoming working dogs. In fact, according to Atlas Assistance Dogs, 50-70% of Service dog candidates don’t complete their training.

This doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with the dog. Working dog training is rigorous and requires laser focus and sharp skills. Some dogs are better suited for the task than others.

Related: Speaking of lasers... Are laser pointers bad for dogs?

4. WHAT HAPPENS TO THE WORKING DOGS THAT DROP OUT OF TRAINING?

Nothing bad! They may go up for adoption and become valued members of a family – which is an important job, too, if you ask us!

5. CAN A WORKING DOG ALSO BE A PET AT THE SAME TIME?

Yes – but it’s a complicated yes. Many working dogs assist someone with a family, so naturally, that dog becomes part of the family.

The direct members of the household may have extended privileges over the general population, such as being able to pet and play with the working dog.

However, when the dog is actively “on the job,” they have to let the dog focus on their job and treat it the way others would.

ALL DOGS SHOULD HAVE A JOB

Even if your dog isn't helping fight fires or deter crime, they should still have a job.

While it will depend on your dog's breed, all dogs should have daily outlets that provide physical and mental exercise. This type of enrichment is vital for your dog's happiness every day!

For your dog, it may be as simple as playing fetch.

For another dog, their job might be getting in plenty of foraging and nose work with the help of a snuffle mat.

And for others, it might be finding opportunities to interact with other people.

So, research your dog's breed and find ways every day to help them find outlets for their innate abilities and skills.

Remember, dogs without an outlet or job will often get bored. And a bored dog often behaves in ways we do not want!

WORKING DOGS RECAP

a therapy dog is a type of working dog | Pupford

Working dogs are a valuable part of society. They help people with disabilities, provide labor in farming, and even help keep us safe.

What other questions do you have about working dogs? Or do you have a story about a working dog in your life that you would like to share?

For either one, drop it in the comments!

And before you go, be sure to check out the Intro to Service Dogs Course to learn all about what training a service dog entails.

🐶 Don't miss out, get access to the Intro to Service Dogs Course today. Learn more here!

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