working dogs Archives

Team of Border Collies Work To Keep Airline Passengers And Birds Safe

A highly skilled and expertly trained working dog will soon be setting off for an assignment in the Hawaiian Islands. He has been training for months with Goose Masters in Franklinville, North Carolina and will join two other working dogs and kennel mates already working in Kauai. These 3 Border Collies will make up a team that is charged with the important task of keeping airline passengers, crew, and a species of protected birds safe at the island’s airport. Nene Birds Were Settling … Read more

Here’s How Selective Breeding Changed The Brains Of Our Dogs

Anyone familiar with a wide variety of dog breeds can tell you that some seem to have an innate knack for certain jobs or personality traits that are consistent across the breed. German Shepherds have great success in police work, for example, while Golden Retrievers are tolerant and gentle with children. Despite the fact that these stereotypes are generally accepted across countless breeds for countless traits, there has been little scientific research done on the subject. Until now. Researchers set … Read more

10 Jobs For Working Breed Dogs Even If You Don’t Live On A Farm

While some dogs are content to sit on your lap and look cute, working breeds have a different agenda. These are the dogs that are bred to hunt, herd, retrieve, and detect. They were born with an urge to work, and when they’re bored they tend to be mischievous and destructive. Working dogs like Siberian Huskies, German Shepherds, Border Collies, Newfoundlands, and all the others, thrive on farms and ranches where there’s never a shortage of things to do. But … Read more

Scent Detection Dogs Are The Newest Technology In Stopping The Spread Of Malaria

Thanks to a Labrador named Sally, a Labrador-Golden mix named Lexi, and a Springer Spaniel named Freya, how the world manages disease prevention might soon change. It’s no secret a dog’s nose is powerful, and scent detection dogs are already trained to detect everything from fruits and vegetables to low blood sugar in humans. Sally, Lexi, and Freya won’t tell you when someone is smuggling illegal ivory, but they’ve been trained to help with a worldwide health issue. They’re proving … Read more

Researchers Hope To Identify Successful Working Dogs Through Cognitive Testing

There are a wide variety of working roles available to dogs. From detecting drugs, bombs and bedbugs, to guiding the blind and sniffing out signs of illness, there are more jobs than there are qualified dogs to fill them. Although many dogs are specifically bred to perform these assistance roles, Science Daily reports only about 50% successfully complete their training. The rest go on to be loving family pets while people in need wait up to two years for qualified … Read more

21 Things You Didn’t Know About The 7 Dog Breed Groups

There are 190 canine breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club, and each one is categorized into one of seven dog breed groups. How the groups are determined goes back to the days when dogs were bred for specific purposes. Humans bred dogs to herd animals, protect property, and hunt down dinner. Some breeds were designed specifically to be man’s best friend. There are big dogs and little dogs, hyper dogs and laid-back dogs, and each breed offers the world … Read more

Superpower Dogs Showcases The Hardest Working Canines With Uplifting Documentary

Heroes come in all shapes, sizes, and even species. They don’t all walk on two legs, and some of the bravest heroes in the world have four paws, tails, and unyielding determination to help people. Dogs from countless countries work every day to make the world a better place. Superpower Dogs is the documentary that’s going to showcase all that they do. An IMAX original film, Superpower Dogs follows a few of the world’s most hardworking canines. There’s Ricochet, an … Read more

Why More Workplaces Should Be Dog-Friendly

Dog lovers already know the presence of a pet can reduce stress at home. Research has shown they reduce the stress hormone cortisol and help lower blood pressure. Virginia Commonwealth University performed a study to see if the same held true in the workplace. They found that employees with access to dogs maintained lower levels of cortisol than their dog-free coworkers. Dogs in the workplace may also increase productivity, improve morale and motivate employees. “It’s definitely good for the work atmosphere … Read more

Can Dogs Suffer From PTSD? What Can I Do For My Dog?

Can dogs suffer from PTSD? Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) was not added to the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders until 1980. Even then, it remained a controversial and poorly understood diagnosis for decades to come. One question that is asked more and more frequently from individuals rescuing pups from shelters or abusive conditions is – is my dog suffering from PTSD or some kind of lingering trauma from past abuse or neglect? It is no … Read more

5 Big Jobs For Small Service Dogs

Golden Retrievers, Labradors, and German Shepherds are the first breeds that come to mind when you think about service dogs, but they’re not the only kinds of canines trained to work. Smaller breeds, like Chihuahuas, Miniature Poodles, Shih Tzus, and terrier mixes also excel in the working world. They might not fit the preconceived image of what a service dog should be, but to their owners, these pint-sized dogs offer invaluable assistance. Here are a few of the jobs small … Read more

9 Modern Uses For Military Dogs

You’ve probably seen drug-sniffing dogs at the airport, and you may be vaguely aware that there are bomb-sniffing dogs working overseas, but did you know there are a variety of tasks military dogs are trained for? Some dogs are trained for only one purpose, but some are trained for 2 or more. Here are 9 types of modern military dogs. Single-Purpose Single-purpose dogs are trained to do one thing and do it well. #1 – Narcotics Detector Dog (NDD) Scent-detecting … Read more

6 Medical Conditions Dogs Can Sense

To understand why dogs are so incredibly gifted at sniffing out medical conditions (not to mention drugs, explosives, lost humans, and, of course, cats) you have to fully appreciate the wonder of the canine nose. Your average family dog has a sense of smell 10,000 to 100,000 times more sensitive than any human. They have 300 million olfactory receptors to our measly 6 million. Scientists have likened their ability to “catching a whiff of one rotten apple in two million … Read more

Watch This Hard Working Dog Complete Tasks Around The Veterinary Office!

Working at a veterinary office can be hectic. It’s noisy, stressful and the hours are long. One brilliant clinic in Texas has found a solution to their staffing problems with Yellow Labrador, Maizey. Not only does Maizey love what she does for a living, all she asks in return for her services is a few treats! Sweeping up the lobby after a busy day… Or putting the final touches on those dirt-free floors with the mop… Maizey is always … Read more

Here’s How Cyber Crime Dogs Help Bust Terrorists & Child Predators

There seems to be no limit to what the canine nose is capable of. The latest set of heroic working dogs are trained to sniff out unique chemical compounds emitted by electronic storage devices such as laptops, cellphones, memory cards and flash drives. Their skills can mean the difference between conviction and acquittal in cases of terrorism, sex trafficking and child pornography. URL (pronounced “Earl”) is an 18-month-old Black Lab mix, twice rescued from a shelter. On the surface, … Read more

7 Careers For Canines

Dogs working in the arts may not be as heroic as police canines or service dogs, but they do serve an important purpose. The creative pups who work in the following careers help to strengthen the human-canine bond, and often raise money and awareness for charities and rescue efforts. 1. Actor Dogs have been performing on the silver screen since the days of silent film. Uggie, the Jack Russell Terrier who co-starred in the 2011 Oscar-nominated film, The Actor, and the … Read more

Children’s Hospital Staffs 2 Dogs To Provide Love And Support To Young Patients

As dog lovers, we understand how much of a difference a dog can make to someone in pain – both physically and emotionally. So we just love it when we see those in the healthcare industries who realize it too! Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center recently welcomed two facility dogs to the Division of Child Life and Integrative Care. The Division of Child Life and Integrative Care at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital works with inpatients and visiting patients to offer family-centered … Read more

working dogs