Lexie Forman-OrtizThere’s a very good reason dogs have been given the reputation of “man’s best friend”, so we thought it would be appropriate to acknowledge our four-legged friends for all the work they do.
Read our updated Jobs for Dogs list here!
We count on our pups to sit at our feet at dinner, bark when someone is coming to the door, and run by our sides when it’s time for a jog, but they do a lot more than that. Every day dogs are trained and hired to be members of the professional world. They have jobs too! Only as much more noble creatures than humans (generally speaking) instead of a paycheck they ask for payment in belly scratches, long walks, and extra bones. Here are the top jobs for dogs.Guide Dogs: The first school for guide dogs was established in Germany after World War I in order to assist soldiers that had been blinded or injured during the war. These dogs act as the pilots of their handler’s lives. Common breeds include Labradors, golden retrievers, and German shepherds. There are approximately 8,000-20,000 active service pups working each day.
War Dogs: Dogs have been used in combat since ancient times. Today’s war dogs have a 98% success rate in bomb detection making them incredible assets in providing safety to their battalions. Military dogs have also been said to reduce PTSD symptoms if they are able to return home with their partners – there are now tons of war dog adoption programs.
Therapy Dogs: A therapy dog’s sole purpose is to make people feel better. You’ll see them walking the halls of hospitals, retirement homes, classrooms, hospices, nursing homes, and disaster relief areas. Therapy dogs make people feel comfortable with physical contact they may not be used to and as a result make their treatment easier. It’s a special pup chosen for this job; they need to be extra gentle and calm.
Herding Dogs: You know that ONE dog at the park, constantly trying to round up the rest of the dogs by barking and running in circles? Don’t hold it against, him it’s in his DNA… and he thinks your dog is a sheep, or a cow. Herding dogs maintain control over livestock, rounding them up when it’s time to get back to farm. Talk about having influence, these dogs can gather up to hundreds of livestock at a time.
Acting Dogs: Everyone has their favorite movie about a dog. These canines go through rigorous training to become the star of the show. Acting dogs come in all shapes in sizes, but one thing they all have in common in the amazing ability to take direction and melt our hearts. Want to be reminded of some of the best movie dogs? Check this out!
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Search and Rescue Dogs: Pair an amazing sense of smell and direction with amazing bravery and you’ve got yourself a search and rescue dog. These heroes go into serious disaster situations to retrieve lost humans. And that’s just their day jobs…
Detection Dogs: These sleuths can find just about anything they’re trained to, from drugs to explosives, specific foods, humans, and even money. Detection dogs can be employed at airports, police stations, borders, and schools.
Tracking and Hunting Dogs: Hounds, terriers, and dachshunds are the most popular types of hunting and tracking dogs. These dogs are trained to be the eyes, ears, and retrievers for their human companions. These dogs are not only impressive because of their ability to track, but also they don’t chew their prey to pieces… like my Rottweilers would.
Sled Dogs: Imagine a pack of of dogs having the strength, discipline, and organization to effectively pull a sled full of goods and humans through the coldest winds and harshest snows. Sled dogs have unmatchable resilience and many people in the most northern corners of the world rely on them solely for transportation and deliveries of crucial goods, like medicine.
Best Friend Dogs: This is the most common dog job. As the world’s first domesticated animal, dogs have a long history of being by humans’ side – doing everything from working hard to hanging out. There is no question that nothing compares to the relationship between a human and their pup. I mean, my dogs love me so much they’re happy to come to work even when they don’t have to.
Jobs for Dogs
According to the American Pet Product Association in the US alone, people spent $55.33 billion on their pets, and 56.7 million US households have dogs. As if those massive numbers aren’t proof enough that dogs are the most beloved creatures, anyone who owns or loves a dog knows you can’t put a dollar sign on the relationships they build. The diversity of tasks and jobs that dogs can do is a testament to the kind of creature they are. My advice to you, find an office that will let you take your pooch to work.
Lee Ann Prescott
Augusta Henning