9 Types of Working Dogs and the Jobs They Do

Service Dogs

Service dogs or assistance dogs are working dogs that have been trained to assist people with disabilities. The Americans with Disabilities Act has special guidelines regarding service dogs and their treatment in public places.

A true service dog is trained to behave well in all types of situations, so the dog can accompany the handler anywhere. Therapy dogs and emotional support dogs are not service dogs.

Some examples of service dogs include:

• Guide dogs for people with visual impairments
• Mobility-assistance dogs
• Seizure dogs and other medical-assistance dogs
• Hearing dogs for people with hearing impairments

Dog breeds commonly trained to becoming working dogs include:

• Golden retriever
• Labrador retriever
• Standard poodle
• German shepherd

Therapy Dogs

Animal-assisted therapy involves the use of trained, certified animals as part of a medical patient's therapeutic plan. These therapy dogs offer emotional support to sick or injured people, often visiting hospitals and nursing homes. They also visit schools and day care centers to help educate children about dogs.

Dogs of any breed, size, and age can become therapy dogs. But they need the right temperament, socialization, and training. Therapy dogs must be even-tempered, well-socialized, well-trained, and non-fearful.

The most common dogs trained as therapy dogs include:

• Golden retriever
• Labrador retriever
• Standard poodle
• Border collie

Police Dogs

Police dogs, often called K-9s, are trained specifically to assist police and other law-enforcement personnel in the line of duty. Police dogs protect their handlers. They can chase down and hold criminal suspects who try to run from police.

In some cases, K-9s might be trained to sniff out substances. Those dogs also might be categorized as detection dogs.

The most common dog breeds used as police dogs include:

• German shepherd
• Belgian Malinois

Military Working Dogs

Similar to police dogs, military working dogs assist members of the military with their operations. These dogs may be used as detectors, trackers, sentries, and scouts. And they can take part in search and rescue.

Most of the military working dogs include:

• German shepherd
• Dutch shepherd
• Belgian Malinois

Detection Dogs

Detection dogs have exceptional senses of smell and are highly motivated by positive reinforcement. A detection dog is trained to sniff out a particular substance or group of substances.

Common types of substances to be sniffed out include illegal drugs, explosives, blood, and human remains. Some detection dogs even learn to detect cancer, abnormal blood sugar levels, certain types of insects (such as bed bugs), or even animal feces.

Detection dogs are used in law enforcement, wildlife biology, and health care. One of the oldest uses of detection dogs is in hunting for truffles.

The breeds often used include:

• Beagle
• Labrador retriever
• Golden retriever

Search-and-Rescue Dogs

Search-and-rescue dogs have great agility and exceptional senses of smell and hearing. These highly trained animals serve in many different fields, including tracking, specialized search, avalanche rescue, and cadaver location.

Breeds often used include:

• Labrador retriever
• Golden retriever
• Border collie
• Leonberger
• German shepherd

Herding Dogs

Herding dogs work with various types of livestock, such as sheep and cattle. A herding dog is basically born for the job, meaning the dog is a specific breed and part of a herding breed group.

However, not all herding breeds are naturally expert herders. Some need their skills honed with training while others are better suited to lives as companion dogs. Dogs that do become herders can also compete in dog herding trials.

Breeds include:

• Border collie
• King shepherd
• Black mouth cur
• Icelandic sheepdog

Guard Dogs

Guard dogs are considered protection dogs and can be used to protect territory or an owner. These dogs are highly trainable, intelligent, and strong.

Guard dogs should be very loyal and are often used by the military or police. While they have a natural instinct to protect, they can be trained to actually charge and pin down a threat.

Breeds usually include:

• German shepherd
• Akita
• Bullmastiff
• Doberman pinscher

Livestock Dogs

Livestock dogs are used to guard farm animals, particularly sheep. Because these smaller animals can be vulnerable to predators (coyotes, wolves, mountain lions, and more), a livestock dog can be necessary in addition to fencing.

These dogs are generally very gentle, but have an instinct to be aggressive towards predators. Livestock dogs usually blend in with the animals they are protecting. They can bark and vocally intimidate as well as attack if needed.

Breeds include:

• Great Pyrenees
• Border collie
• Australian cattle dog