We all know about some of the jobs that dogs were bred to do, such as herding, hunting, and retrieving. In fact, dogs have been helping humans for hundreds of years with tasks around the farm or to protect livestock, property, and the home.
Today, there are several jobs dogs are well-known for, including service dogs, therapy dogs, and search-and-rescue dogs. But some dogs have specialized jobs that are so unique only canines can complete them. Learn about 15 unique dogs with jobs.
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On today’s podcast episode we are talking about 15 jobs that only dogs can do. Of course, we salute working dogs of all sizes and breeds. Heck, it’s in our business name! Did you know that we have compiled an ever-growing list of breed profiles over on our website, AlaskaDogWorks Just search ‘most popular dog breeds in the search box.
Also, I am going to let you in on a little secret… We are planning a re-launch of our Daily Dog podcast, right here on this feed and every day we will be profiling a different breed every…single…day! We are also going to do some cool stuff with those shows over on our YouTube channel. Please do me a favor and check that out too the channel’s name is First Paw Media.
Ok, let’s kick it off. The first job is…
Disease Detectors
In the spring of 2020, the Working Dog Center at UPenn’s School of Veterinary Medicine started training eight Labrador Retrievers to sniff out COVID-19. But training dogs to sniff out diseases is far from new. Many dogs are trained to sniff out rare diseases such as cancer and even Clostridium difficile (C. diff), a dangerous bacterium that is transmitted through feces.
Truffle Hunters
What would the gastronomic world do without these pungent fungi? Truffles grow underground near specific types of trees, and for centuries pigs were used to hunt these delicacies. Unfortunately, pigs are not only talented at finding truffles; they also like to eat them. Enter the dog, specifically the Italian Lagotto Romagnolo. Originally used as hunting dogs and water retrievers, Lagotti have a keen sense of smell and have been trained to search for truffles. Unlike pigs, they show no inclination to eat their find.
Reindeer Herders
For centuries, people living north of the Arctic Circle used the Finnish Lapphund to herd reindeer. Reindeer are essential to these Scandinavian people for their meat and hides, and these thick-coated, powerful, and hardworking dogs are up to the task.
Dogs are better than humans at many tasks. In fact, there are jobs where talented, trained dogs excel at that humans probably can’t do at all. Here are some of the unique dogs doing unique work.
Art Protectors
The Boston Museum of Fine Arts has come up with a way to protect artwork, delicate materials, wooden objects, and books from bugs: A dog, Weimaraner puppy named Riley is being trained to sit down in front of an object when he detects the smell of a bug. Since humans can’t smell insects, Riley can save countless hours, dollars, and much heartache by detecting the offending insects before the damage is done. The museum chose a Weimaraner because the breed has a keen sense of smell and the stamina to work long hours without becoming bored.
Milk Delivery
All around Europe, especially in the Netherlands, France, Germany, and Belgium, farmers used dogs to pull small carts of milk from the farms to the cities, where they’d sell milk on the streets or at markets. Even today, there are a few dog-drawn milk carts in France and Belgium. These carts, however, tend to be unique forms of exercise for the dogs rather than a necessity for the owners.
Carting
Milk isn’t the only thing dogs can cart around. Although carting milk and other goods was phased out in many places during the 19th century, carting dogs came back into use during World War I. Breeds such as the Bernese Mountain Dog and Greater Swiss Mountain Dog were used to pull small guns to the front and to bring refugees to safety. Today, carting is becoming a popular dog sport.
Electronics Detectives
We know dogs can detect bombs and drugs. Now some dogs are used to detect electronics, such as a computer, thumb drive, or microchip. The Connecticut State Police have two electronic storage detection (ESD) dogs on their team who can help detect pornography.
Runway Wildlife Control
A Border Collie named K-9 Piper had an important job to do at the airport in Traverse City, Mich. he kept wildlife off the runways, which is federally required by the Wildlife Hazard Management Plan. One of only ten such working dogs in the country, K-9 Piper’s task was to chase away rodents and the birds of prey they attract from the airport. He also made routine perimeter checks.
Lobster Catchers
Along with his serious job of conserving sea turtles, Alex Schulze has trained his two Labrador Retrievers, Lila and Maverick, to swim down to 15 feet deep to catch lobsters on the ocean floor. It took Schulze almost two years to teach the dogs how to swim that deep, and now a fresh lobster dinner is only a dive away. He uses any proceeds from the dogs’ endeavors to promote sea turtle conservation work.
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Crisis Response
As the co-founder of Crisis Response Canines, flying toward tragedy is John Hunt’s job. Hunt, his Rottweiler Gunther, and his team frequently jet off to funerals, hospitals, and sites of mass shootings with a small but mighty army of dogs, hoping to bring some light and relief during a tough time. Many dogs also serve as therapy dogs in other roles at children’s hospitals, nursing homes, and more.
Fire Dogs
The Fire Department of New York City can take some credit in making the breed famous as fire dogs. Due to their expertise as carriage dogs, it was logical that Dalmatians would serve well running with fire carriages. FDNY began utilizing Dals as early as the 1870s. Today, some Dalmatians still work in firehouses.
Wine Inspectors
International vintners depend on dogs to find wine-tainting molecules. The Natinga Project has trained dogs to detect 2,4,6-trichloroanisole (TCA), a molecule that imparts a musty odor and flavor to wine, rendering it undrinkable, in the TN Coopers production facilities.
Spit Turners
Imagine standing over an open fire, cranking a giant spit of roasting meat repeatedly and for hours on end. This thankless task fell to dogs from the 16th century through the 19th century. It was such a common practice that a breed was specifically developed in England to do the job. These stocky dogs, shaped like a Basset Hound with a Bulldog-like head, would run or walk on equipment that was similar to a hamster wheel until the meat was evenly roasted. Never meant as pets, this rather unattractive and surly breed died out with the invention of a mechanized spit turner.
Sled Pullers
What does it take to run hundreds of miles across packed ice and frozen terrain, for days and weeks on end, in arctic temperatures? That’s easy: A lot. A lot of grit, guts, and a laser-like focus on getting where you’re going. The Samoyed, Alaskan Malamute, Siberian Husky, Chinook are some of the most well-known of the sled-dog breeds, and with good reason.
Whale Poop Detectors
One dog and his mates are important members of the scientific team at the Center for Conservation Biology at the University of Washington. Labrador Retriever Tucker and his canine colleagues go to sea with the scientists to track the majestic Orca whale, which is threatened with extinction. Tucker and the 16 other dogs on the team are trained to detect the scent of whale scat and can sense the smell of the “killer whale” up to one nautical mile away. Collecting and studying feces is the least intrusive and safest way to monitor the movement, health, and diet of the Orcas, and it helps scientists analyze how the species is doing. Tucker can also identify the scent of moose, caribou, wolves, iguanas, and bats, and in this way, he’s doing his part to preserve and fight for the survival of other species.
While most dog owners are happy if their dogs can sit, stay, and come, some dogs have such extraordinary talents and a natural drive to work. The work of so many dogs improve life for all of us. We salute these canine contributors!
So, does your dog have a special job or is his occupation a certified couch warmer, or maybe she is a super-fast squirrel chaser? Let us know in the comments section of this podcast or on our social channels. Just search Dog Works Radio.