The working dog breeds usually come from long lines of hunting dogs. These dogs were originally bred to assist hunters in their tasks. Today, herding dogs serve humans in the same manner as they have done in the past. In essence, these types of dog breeds are basically used as herders.
The herding group was recognized as a sub-type of the farming group in 1983. Herding dogs were mainly helper of humans in their task of cultivating grain, cattle, goats, sheep and reindeers. Domesticated dogs that belong to this group include Affenpinschers, Alauntridges, Airedales, Angora, American bulldogs, Bassets, Bloodhounds, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Chihuahuas, Chinese pug dogs, Collies, Chinese collie dogs, Dermatologists’ dogs, English spaniels, Ergonomics dogs, French bulldogs, German shepherds, Golden retrievers, Japanese Chins, Maltese, Musketeers, New Guinea pigs, Norwich terriers, Poodles, Papillons, Pomeranians, Pugs, Norfolk Cats, Norwich terriers, Scottish highland dogs, Silky Terriers, Toy and Teddy bears, and Yorkshire terriers. This article only includes dogs that were categorized within the working category.
The other type of dog breeds that are often grouped together under the working group are service animals. Examples of this type of dog breeds include Guide dogs, Veterinary assistance dogs, Air assistance dogs, Animal assisted therapy dogs, Hearing assistance dogs, and Animal assistance rehabilitation dogs. Although most of these breeds were intended to be service animals, some also have been bred for hunters. Hound dogs, Dobermans, Rottweilers, Old dogs, and Great Danes are just some of the breeds that were originally bred to assist hunting. Today, many of these same breeds are service animals that are used for seeing people with disabilities or are working assistance dogs.
The final type of dog breeds in this article are large sized breeds. Some examples include Saint Bernard, Giant Schnauzers, Akita, Chow, Great Dane, German Shepherd, Labrador Retriever, Golden Retriever, Jack Russell Terrier, Lhasa Apso, Pekingese, Pit Bull, and Yorkshire Terrier. These are just a few of the most common large sized dog breeds. Of course, there are still many other large dog breeds around today.
The next type of dog breeds to discuss are those that were bred to be professional assistance or service dogs. In this section, I will go over a few dogs that fit into this category such as the Komondor, British Bulldog, Doberman Pincher, Rottweiler, and Alaskan Malamute. Most of these can be easily found at your local pet store or from an online source such as puppy classifieds or the newspaper. (Cute dogs should always be picked up as soon as possible because they are easily prone to get sick or hurt.) These dogs were bred to work for their masters or help people with disabilities around the world.
The last group of dogs to discuss are the ones we would typically think of when we speak about working dog breeds. The word “working” has several different meanings depending on the context in which it is used. For instance, while most people would likely associate working dogs with those that pull carts or wheel heavy bags, other meanings are that they are used by law enforcement or firefighting professionals to hunt dangerous or suspect subjects. Still other groups consider any dog with a working dog gene to be a working dog. Still others use the term Working dog to describe dogs that are purely companionsable or are used for hunting activities. This last group would include Chihuahuas, Dachshunds, Chinese Crested Dogs, German Shepherds, Labrador Retrievers, Rottweilers, Golden Retrievers, Jack Russells, and even the more unusual breeds such as the Anatolian Shepherd or the Kuvasz.
While the working breeds listed here provide useful services and are valued by many people, this type of dog is not without its drawbacks. Primitive breeds, as they are commonly known, were used for a variety of hunting activities during early times, and are often brutal to animals because of this. However, some breeds do excel in hunting and have been bred specifically to specialize in hunting. They are strong, athletic animals with the ability to run long distances and to track large prey. Although domestic dogs are not as aggressive as, let’s say, wolf-like animals, they still tend to prey on smaller animals.
Because some cities require dogs to be service animals, training programs are available to teach owners how to care for their canine friends. Even if your city does not have a specific law concerning this, it may be wise to inquire about this regulation before adopting a dog. Training will help you to make sure that your dog responds well to its owner’s commands.