Working Dogs: 7 Types of Working Dogs

Do you know that some dogs do more than just being your friend and providing comfort? They are working dogs and they are here for a purpose. A working dog is trained to perform a certain task and duty.

Usually, these dogs have some innate talents that are honed and used for multiple purposes. They are trained to help others and they love their jobs. Following are the main kinds of working dogs that we may see around ourselves.

1. Service Dogs

A service dog is specifically trained to assist a disabled person. The training is given according to the owner and they assist people with different physical and mental issues like blindness, deafness, people who are in wheelchairs or have mobility issues and those suffering from seizures.

2. Emotional Support Dogs

Unlike a service dog, an emotional support dog is not trained to perform any job or task, it is just there to provide emotional support and comfort for its owner. Why did we add it into the working dogs lists? Because they are more than pets and provide comfort and support to the people suffering from depression. To get an ESA, a person needs a valid and genuine emotional support animal letter to live and travel with the animal.

3. Therapy Dogs

Therapy dogs are used in Animal-Assisted therapy that uses trained and certified animals to assist in the therapy and help soothe the patient during the treatment sessions. These dogs also visit places like hospitals, nursing homes and hospices to comfort the people of all ages. Besides, they also visit schools and daycare centres to help the kids cope with the new environment.

4. Police and Military Dogs

Generally, police dogs are recognized as K-9s. these dogs assist and protect their handlers and keep the criminals down when they try to escape from the police. These dogs are specially trained for the purpose of chasing the criminals and assisting the police in finding them. Similarly, military dogs also protect their handlers and help the military personnel in several military operations.

Generally, German Shepherds, Belgian Malinois and Dutch Shepherds are used for the purpose.

5. Detection Dogs

Detection dogs have exceptionally developed sense of scent and smell. These dogs are used to find out certain things like drugs, explosives, human remains, blood traces and some diseases also. Dogs can detect diseases like cancer and abnormal blood sugar levels and, interestingly, they are also trained to sniff and detect truffles also.

6. Rescue and Search Dogs

Rescue and search dogs are trained to track and search different objects including the people lost in the disaster. They work in different fields  and fulfill the purpose of tracking, cadaver location and rescuing people from the avalanche and other disaster spots. Usually, Golden Retrievers, Border Collies, German Shepherds and Labrador Retrievers are used for the purpose.

7. Herding Dogs

A herd dog is specifically bred for the job and is further trained to work as a herding dog. These dogs work with livestock and keep them safe while they are grazing lazily in the fields. While some dogs have a natural talent for it, others could be trained to be used as herd dogs, dogs like King Shepherds, Icelandic Sheepdogs and Border Collies work best as herding dogs.

Working dogs make our lives easy and comfortable in many areas. While some dogs are bred for the purpose of a working dog, others are suitable for being lap dogs and companions but for working dogs get your esa letter for housing first.