The Importance of Dogs to Man

Dogs have been domesticated by man for centuries and have served as companions, protectors and as working dogs in many roles within human society. The breeding and showing of illustrious dog breeds in cultural societies and competitions all over the world is a lifetime passion for many people and new designer cross dog breeds are still introduced. Dogs can be highly trained and used in forensic investigations and as sniffer dogs to aid police in finding drugs and explosives. Guide dogs help blind people to lead more independent lives and farmers rely on dogs to round up livestock and keep away predators.

  1. Working Dogs

    • Dogs have been active members of communities since early times; their keen hearing and sense of smell and distinctive bark were used to keep villages and camps safe from intruders. The dogs hear someone approaching long before a person does. Dogs were used for hunting, trained to track down the scent of game and to take chase as with wild pig hunting. Gun dogs are especially trained dogs, usually Labradors or golden retrievers, used to retrieve the game for a shooter without damaging it. Farmers rely heavily on working dogs to maneuver cattle and other livestock and they also guard the property from predators.

    Specialist Dogs

    • Dogs with specialized training are used in forensic science to help solve crimes, through their keen smell and training to identify explosives, drugs, chemicals or the scent of an individual. Arson dogs are used by the fire department to discover the starting point of fires because they can detect traces of accelerants better than machines. The military use highly trained dogs to find hidden explosives and to detect traces of explosives on individuals and objects. Highly trained dogs are used by customs and the post office to check luggage and mail.

    Companion Animals

    • Dogs have been kept as companion animals as long as they have been domesticated. Dogs as companion animals provide mental stimulation and encourage regular exercise for people that live lonely sedentary lives. A companion dog provides company for its owner and they have been proven to improve the lives of the disabled people or to people in recovery from suffering a loss or an illness. Just as blind people can attend university go shopping and take walks in the park, with the aid of a guide dog, companion dogs also play vital roles in many people's lives.

    Sled Dogs

    • Huskies were used as draught dogs for their strength and speed and they played a major role in the exploration and inhabitation of the Antarctic region. They were also used for the transportation of medicine and supplies and rescuing inhabitants from epidemics. These sled dogs are still used and they also raced in international events around the world.