Characteristics of Working Dog Breeds

Working dog breeds have helped mankind in a number of ways throughout their history. Working dog breeds, as the name suggests, are dogs that have been bred for certain purposes. Working dog breeds have certain characteristics that help identify them as the working breed, and are typically muscular dogs who excel at doing physical activities and having great endurance and intelligence.

  1. Size

    • The working type of breed is the largest of any size in dog pedigree, and includes mastiffs that weigh more than 250 pounds and great Danes that stand several feet tall on their hind legs. All working dogs can be considered large dogs, and this assists them for several reasons. Some breeds of working dogs are used as guard dogs, like the akita and rottweiler. Their large size also helps them be effective watch dogs, as the boxer breed and the giant schnauzer.

    Personality

    • While working dog breeds may look intimidating because of their size, they are generally kind, playful and protective dogs. Working breed dogs like the German pinscher are territorial and make great family pets for families with older children, while other working breed dogs like the great Dane are amazing for families of any age group and generally get along great with small children and strangers. Generally, the working dog breed is territorial and are effective at protecting homes while the family is away.

    History

    • Learning the original purposes of working-class dogs helps to fully appreciate working dogs' size and strength. Working breed dogs were used for jobs that, today, are commonly held by mules and horses. They commonly worked laborious jobs such as pulling sleds hundreds of miles over ice in the frozen north or pulling sleds to clear fields for plowing on farms. The working dog breeds also have worked such jobs as turning the stone wheels on gristmills and plowing sledges through forests. In 2011, working breed dogs are used primary for search and rescue operations and as companion dogs for people with disabilities.

    Origins

    • The dogs in the working breed come from all over the world, and you can find them on every continent. Dogs such as the akita and Alaskan malamute hail from Alaska and Japan, respectively, while other breeds such as the Bernese mountain dog hail from Switzerland. Other working breeds hail from Europe, including the boxer and doberman pinscher, which come from Germany, the great Pyrenees, which comes from France, and the Neapolitan mastiff, which comes from Italy.