Anyone who has a dog in the family already knows how precious their presence in the home is, and how good their companionship makes us feel.(discover all the benefits of living with a dog).
But dogs are not just trusted friends to humans. Throughout the long bond that has united humans and dogs for millennia, from their beginnings to the present day, dogs have always held fundamental roles in human life and society.
More than ever today, the numerous and amazing dcharacteristics of dogs are studied and valued, to carry out extremely important jobsfor individuals and for our community, that only dogs are capable of doing. These animals, for example, have an extremely developed sense of smell, so much so that it is almost like a sixth sense! (Learn more about the topic: The sensory organs of the dog: 5 + 1).
These natural qualities of our four-legged friends are refined through a specific training, depending on the tasks the dog will perform. There are no specific breeds for these jobs, though some are more suited than others.
All we have left to do is discover what the most common jobs for working dogs are!
1. POLICE DOG
These are dogs trained to work in law enforcement such as police, carabinieri, financial guard, but also coast guard.
They are also called “molecular dogs” or “specialized biosafety dogs” because, thanks to their extremely sharp sense of smell, they have been trained to both track missing people and detect illegal materials in airports and stations such as drugs, explosives, or other objects they have been trained to recognize.
Among the things they can be trained to sniff out, we even find electronic devices used for criminal purposes.
Having to operate in such delicate contexts, these dogs have been trained to handle dangerous situations. Therefore, they are often also used to resolve public order issues.
2. TRUFFLE DOGS
Once upon a time, pigs were used to find this famous “black gold” in the ground, but their “flaw” was that they would eat the precious truffles once they were found.
So, taking advantage of their great sense of smell, dogs have also been trained to search for truffles, proving extremely skilled at this job, to the point that they have now completely replaced the use of pigs for this type of search.
3. FISHING AND HUNTING DOGS
Thanks to their qualities as expert hunters and skilled swimmers, in some states (such as Florida) dogs have been trained for fishing, specifically for catching delicious lobsters!
But our four-legged friends are also very good at catching waterfowl and are generally known for being used in hunting in general (whether it's land birds or small mammals).
4. SHEPHERD DOGS
This is certainly one of the oldest jobs for dogs: shepherds.
An extremely important job that mainly consists of guiding flocks from sheep or cattle farms into safe spaces, knowing how to gather, and retrieve the animals that stray from the group.
But the shepherd dog also serves as a guard dog: protecting the flock from possible attacks by predatory animals or thieves.
Even today in mountain communities, dogs are the first ally in managing farms.
5. RESCUE DOGS
These animals have been trained to sniff out people to save their lives in all the various emergency situations that can occur: in high mountains, as well as in water, or in the event of extreme weather events.
Depending on the situation, dogs trained for different emergency scenarios will be deployed:
- WATER RESCUE DOGS OR LIFEGUARD DOGS
These are dogs trained to save people drowning at sea, and also to keep waters safe. That's why they are used both as lifeguards (how to become a lifeguard dog), and by the coast guard.
- ALPINE RESCUE DOGS
Dogs trained to sniff out people even under several meters of snow. They know how to climb and navigate the most extreme and inhospitable environments, thus becoming an indispensable help for alpine rescuers in carrying out this extremely important and delicate job.
- DISASTER DOGS
These are canine units working for the Civil Protection, used in the event of earthquakes, floods and other extreme events.
6. ASSISTANCE DOGS
This category includes dogs that have been trained to support people with various disabilities, making it easier for them to face the challenges of daily life.
These animals therefore include:
- Guide Dogs for the Visually Impaired: who help with mobility and navigating obstacles.
- Dogs for Deaf People: able to alert to important environmental noises and sounds.
- Dogs for People with Reduced Motor Skills: trained to overcome obstacles, as well as open doors and carry items.
We also find in this category dogs trained in Pet Therapy (learn more about pet therapy) that are a formidable support for all people who are facing moments of physical or psychological illness.
Here are the many ways our adorable furry friends make our lives not only more beautiful but also easier and safer!