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Most dogs have one job, and that is being a
part of a family. Whether they are
whining for an extra treat, keeping your toes warm in the middle of winter or simply
making you giggle at their antics, being man’s best friend is a respectable job
to have. But, some dogs have special jobs
based on their incredible abilities. And
while begging for a tummy rub is not necessarily an exceptional skill, it is something
dogs can do that humans cannot (without looking foolish that is). Coupled with their loyalty and their loving natures,
many dogs get up every morning to go to work.
Search
and Rescue Dogs – These incredible animals work largely
with their finely tuned sense of smell. They
are trained to learn the smell of a particular human, taking it from a piece of
clothing or even a hairbrush and then search for that smell when a person is lost. But, they also head out into disaster areas to
rescue people whose smells they do not know.
Whether it is an avalanche or a collapsed building, these brave dogs sniff
out people who are trapped, then alert their rescue team.
Sniffer
Dogs – You rarely see these dogs except in movies,
but you can bet that there is a team of them at every major airport. Sniffer dogs, unsurprisingly, use their noses
to detect illicit, illegal or dangerous materials hidden within luggage. They also work with police departments,
typically heading off with a search warrant to discover evidence that may be
required for an arrest – or a conviction.
These are the dogs working to keep our streets safe.
Security
Dogs – These dogs make look fierce (and truly that is
part of their artillery), but these working dogs are usually only fiercely
loyal. They will do what they need to
protect a property or a person. The main
job of most security guard dogs is to alert their human companions when trouble
approaches. Hopefully, a few stern barks
do the trick as these dogs do not like it when you come any closer to whatever
they are guarding.
Guide
Dogs – These highly intelligent dogs work with a
wide range of skills to do their job, but one thing they have that their owners
do not, is sight. Guide dogs act as navigators
for the blind. They undergo rigorous training
before even being accepted into a guide dog school, more while they are there
and still more when they are placed with their loving owner. Guide dogs are known to do everything from helping
their masters across the street to alerting the neighbourhood to an emergency in
the house.
Therapy
Dogs – This is where the ability to not look silly
with your legs flailing in the air really comes in handy. Therapy dogs are used in a variety of institutions,
such as schools, hospitals, care centres and nursing homes. They are chosen for their ability to snuggle,
and their gentle natures. Their work is
to help bring people out of their shells and to inspire them to love life. People can
do this; dogs do it better.
Soldier
Dogs – Similar to sniffer dogs, these brave animals
work with their noses – and their instincts to sniff out landmines and other
potentially dangerous situations. They keep
their partners safe, and with some amazing statistics at that. Reports show that war dogs have a 98% success
rate in bomb detection, and these days military units are working to home these
dogs with their partners when their tour of duty is done.
Herding
Dogs – Often called sheep dogs, these animals assist
on farms and ranches. It is one of the oldest
canine professions around. They have a commanding
presence and a wilfulness that other animals just cannot beat. Herding dogs are über efficient at getting sheep
into the right place at the right time in a way that would take several humans to
accomplish. They are also not bad at
moving cows, which is saying something as those animals are much larger.
Sled
Dogs – Another timeless dog occupation is in
transport. These are wildly remarkable dogs
that have more than the ability to work – they work in teams. They can withstand extreme temperatures, dire
situations, long journeys and all of this with a sled of goods weighing in
behind them. In the coldest climates sled
dogs have always been necessary for transporting crucial items from one establishment
to the next, and they are still at work today – even with all the technology we
have available.
Entertainment
Dogs – There are dogs on television and in movies
that we cannot get enough of. From Lassie
and Rin Tin Tin to Marmaduke and Marley, there are dogs that have charmed their
way into the hearts of millions. These
working dogs know how to follow instructions, no matter how ridiculous they may
be. And they are remarkably skilled at marketing
their breed to the public – including both good and, ahem, naughty traits. Other dogs in the entertainment industry are racers,
such as greyhounds that work incredibly hard for their owners before settling
into their forever families.
One thing that all working dogs have in common
is the need for a special diet. Although
man’s best friend may be continually on the lookout for birds in the garden, or
the postman at the front door, working dogs require constant alertness while on
the job, and must maintain peak fitness to be effective at the tasks they perform. Special foods are created for exactly this purpose,
with a focus on maintaining high energy levels throughout their working
shifts.
Vets will recommend working dog food for pets
that are always busy and working – whether it is a recognised profession or not. If you think your dog could benefit from working
dog food, take him off to the vet for a check up and a chat; this food does require
a certain amount of constant energy expenditure for it to be truly effective in
your pet’s regime. Usually though, man’s
best friend does not need working dog food – just working dog recognition.
For more interesting facts about dogs and other animals, visit us online at: www.burgesspetcare.co.uk
