Dogs are man’s best friend, and they help us in more ways than we could ever repay them. Their unconditional love and companionship make them the perfect pet, but they can also be great workers, as proven by these ten unbelievable jobs that dogs do. A dog’s work ethic will never cease to amaze you! Click through to discover more about these ten unbelievable jobs that dogs do and their contribution to the workplace.
1) Sniffer dog
Sniffer dogs are trained to detect certain types of contraband, such as drugs, explosives and firearms. They might be placed at a border crossing or airport to search for illicit substances in luggage or on passengers. Military sniffer dogs have also been used to detect landmines. The bomb-sniffing dog was born after World War II in Germany, where stray military dogs proved invaluable at locating unexploded bombs and other remnants of war buried underground.
2) Police K9
Police K9s can track down a suspect or serve as bait to lure criminals out of hiding. Service dogs can also be trained to open doors and perform other helpful tasks. In fact, there are a wide variety of ways in which service animals benefit their human companions.
3) Service dog
These animals help people with disabilities. Guide dog: A dog trained to assist blind people navigate safely. Hospital or therapy dog: A canine companion who visits hospitals and nursing homes, providing emotional support and helping in patients’ rehabilitation. Hearing-assistance dog: These animals can recognize and alert deaf people to sounds they cannot hear. Seizure-alert dog: These canines can warn their owners of impending seizures, helping them get out of harm’s way before one occurs.
4) Therapy dog
Therapy dogs are used in a variety of settings, such as hospitals, schools and nursing homes. Therapy dogs are usually trained for six months to two years by an animal organization. Many therapy dog organizations register their animals with Pet Partners so they can take advantage of free services from participating health care agencies, hospitals and nursing homes. If you’re interested in becoming a therapy dog team, contact a local pet organization or Pet Partners for more information on how to begin training your dog.
5) Guide dog
A guide dog is a highly trained seeing eye dog. Guide dogs are usually donated from local breeders or shelters to be specifically trained for a blind or visually impaired owner. They assist their owners in everyday life by helping them with tasks such as opening doors, reading street signs, and getting safely around obstacles in busy public places. Once they retire from guide work, many dogs go on to become therapy pets for nursing homes and hospitals.
6) War dog
Many combat troops have a four-legged soldier in their ranks. Dogs are used to help find weapons and hidden enemies, warn of impending attacks, detect mines and booby traps, scout out enemy positions and protect supply lines. They’re also occasionally tasked with carrying supplies or evacuating wounded soldiers from danger zones. In Iraq and Afghanistan, bomb-sniffing dogs were used to clear ground zero before troops moved in.
7) Military working dog
For thousands of years, canines have been helping humans protect their communities. Considered to be excellent guards and scouts, military working dogs are often used in search-and-rescue missions. This skilled breed is easy to train and is quick on its feet—making it perfect for dangerous situations. These four-legged soldiers come from a variety of different breeds, including German shepherds, Labrador retrievers and Belgian Malinois.
8) Bomb sniffing dog
Since prehistoric times, man has been using dogs to find things. More recently, they’ve used them to aid in law enforcement and even to help find drugs or illegal contraband. Their keen sense of smell allows them to detect a wide range of items. Dogs have been trained to locate everything from hidden bombs (and people) to drugs and illegal substances. Border collies are particularly adept at detecting bombs because they were initially bred for herding and controlling livestock.
9) Hunting, pointing and retrieving dogs
Hunting and pointing dogs, also called bird dogs, use their scent to track down game birds. Retrieving dogs are specialized in retrieving shot birds. Dogs with a high desire for retrieving are called soft mouth retrievers—meaning they bring back prey without damaging it. These types of dog often curl their upper lip, which protects the prey from being cut by teeth. The Labrador retriever and Golden retriever are considered to be soft-mouth retrievers.
10) Dog sledding
Dog sledding is a popular winter activity in many parts of Canada and Alaska. In these areas, people use dogs to transport goods and services. Dogs are usually a team of strong Siberian Huskies or Alaskan Malamutes. More than ten dogs can pull sleds made from fiberglass or wooden frames with plastic runners on packed snow or ice.
