Types of Jobs for Dogs

The term "man's best friend" exists for a reason. Since dogs were domesticated, they've helped us in so many ways. Today, dogs' skills and senses are used for many different tasks, from saving lives to helping the disabled and even catching criminals. Different breeds of dogs can be used for specific tasks and, in some cases, have been bred with a purpose in mind.

  1. Assistance Dogs

    • Certain breeds of dogs such as the labrador and golden retriever are suitable as assistance dogs. They're trained to use their intelligence, patience and loyalty to help people with disabilities. Tasks may include being a guide dog for the visually impaired or helping the deaf around the home. Those in wheelchairs can also have assistance dogs to retrieve things, open doors or press elevator buttons. Dogs are also used during therapy for those with psychological problems or mental disabilities, who can often benefit from their affection, but can't care for the animal themselves.

    Search and Rescue Dogs

    • In the aftermath of a huge tragedy such as an earthquake or an avalanche, where people can be trapped under rubble or deep snow, dogs can be invaluable. Dogs' amazing hearing, sense of smell and night vision lead to them being used to locate trapped or buried disaster victims. They can follow the scent coming from within an area of snow or building rubble and can hear the sound of someone calling for help. Dogs commonly used for search and rescue include dobermans, German shepherds and labradors.

    Hunting and Farming

    • Some of the oldest jobs performed by dogs are animal herding and hunting. Numerous breeds of dogs are used to herd sheep, cattle and other large livestock. German shepherds, border collies, Australian cattle dogs and even corgis are among the many breeds that can be trained to chase, contain and move herds. Dogs have also been used in hunting to flush out game, retrieve birds that have been shot and track large game animals.

    Military and Law Enforcement

    • Dogs have been found to be useful in law enforcement and the military. Scent dogs are able to locate narcotics, people and even some explosives. Some dogs are trained to bring down people attempting to run away from the law or posing a threat to their handlers. In war zones, dogs can also be used to find wounded or trapped personnel. German shepherds are one of the more common breeds for police service, as they have great tracking skills and can be fiercely protective of their handlers.