Some dogs are kept as pets, keeping our company and being a loyal family member. Others are trained to perform various tasks carefully selected based on the breed’s natural instinct.
From military dogs and farm dogs to therapy pups—there are many working canines out there, but do you know exactly what is the job of each one of them?
Here are 8 types of working dogs, and their jobs explained.
8 types of working dogs
1. Service Dogs
Service dogs are likely the most well-known type of working dog. They are carefully trained for the job, so they can perform tasks to help people with disabilities live as comfortably as possibly regardless of their disability, which can be physical, sensory, intellectual, or psychiatric.
Service dogs can be in public spaces where dogs are usually not allowed so they can help their humans. You can recognize them by the service dog vest.
Most quality service dog breeds are:
- Labrador Retrievers
- Golden Retrievers
- Saint Bernards
2. Military Dogs
Military dogs are trained to do similar jobs like police dogs. These tasks include patrolling, tracking, guarding, attacking on command, as well as search-and-rescue.
The standard uniform for a military dog includes a tactical vest harness or a vest, with a strong and high-quality leash that can help control their strength.
Most common military dogs are:
- German Shepherd
- Belgian Malinois
- Doberman Pinscher
3. Police Dogs
Police dogs are sometimes confused with military dogs, although they are not the same.
Also known as K-9s, these pups help people working for law enforcement and complete many helpful tasks, such as apprehending suspects, working as detection dogs that sniff out drugs or other illegal substances and items, and keeping policemen safe in dangerous situations.
Of course, police dogs need a good tactical dog harness to complete their dog successfully.
Common police dog breeds include:
- German Shepherds
- Belgian Malinois
- Dutch Shepherd
4. Therapy Dogs
Therapy dogs are similar to service dogs, but they provide affection, emotional support, and comfort to people in difficult situations.
Not all therapy dogs are certified, nor do they require a service dog vest – although it is still advised to buy them a proper dog leash Some are simply well-behaved dogs that are friendly and affectionate with strangers.
These breeds make good therapy dogs:
- Labrador Retriever
- Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
- Golden Retriever
5. Farm Dogs
Farm dogs and herding dogs are another popular type of working dogs. What makes them stand out from the rest, though, is that most of these pups are born for this career.
These canines work usually on farms where they typically herd animals such as cattle and sheep. However, some pups are good for herding reindeer or even geese!
Some of the best farm dogs are:
- Corgis
- Australian Shepherds
- Blue Heelers
6. Guard Dogs
Guard dogs are usually large dog breeds that can protect their owner’s homes, properties, or even workplaces.
However, not all big dogs make good large dogs, and certain medium to small dog breeds are excellent at keeping your home safe. This is because they are loud barkers that will let you know if any intruder steps foot onto your property.
As these are strong dogs, many will need one of the top-quality no-pull dog harnesses for large pups.
Many breeds that make good military dogs also make good guard dogs. These include:
- Doberman Pinschers
- German Shepherds
- Rottweilers
7. Hunting Dogs
Finally, we have hunting dogs. This type of working dog help hunters in various ways, and are commonly trained with the help of a tactical dog harness and a proper leash.
Hunting dogs can be divided in five categories, depending on the job they perform. These are:
- Retriever dogs that retrieve birds shot by hunters. Some retriever breeds are Labrador Retriever, Golden Retriever, and Chesapeake Bay Retriever.
- Pointer dogs that hunt small game and point at it, such as German Shorthaired Pointer, Irish Setter, and Bracco Italiano.
- Blood-tracking dogs used to recover injured large games. A few of these breeds are Basset Hound, Bloodhound, and Beagle.
- Hound dogs scent ant track various animals and inform the hunter of the prey’s location by barking. Common hound breeds are Coonhound, Fox Hound, and Dachshund.
- Flushing dogs stay close to their owner but flush out game. These breeds include Cocker Spaniel, Springer Spaniel, and English Setter.
8. Search-and-Rescue Dogs
The job of search-and-rescue dogs (SAR) is pretty straightforward. These pups search and rescue people in critical situations!
All of these breeds have good hearing and sense of smell. Also, they are highly trained, as this type of working dog has one of the most responsible jobs out there.
Breeds that make good SAR dogs are:
- Saint Bernards
- Newfoundlands
- Basset Hounds
The Bottom Line
Dogs can be hard-working, too! With our little help and proper gear, many breeds can help by performing tasks and duties we might not be able to complete on our own.
We hope this article gave you a better insight in military dogs, farm dogs, therapy dogs, and other types of working dogs.
If you’re interested in getting a working canine for yourself, check out Rabbitgoo and get yourself some of the best dog training products in the market.
