These 5 Types Of Working Dogs Do Important Jobs

We all can agree that dogs are man's best friend, but did you know they can also be your best co-worker? Working dogs are a special category of dogs trained to do specific jobs like patrolling war zones and rescuing missing people. They perform integral tasks for their human companions and are taught to listen to and assist their handlers in whichever position they fill. 

Whether they are helping someone with a disability or protecting a member of law enforcement, working dogs are vital members of their teams. Below, you can read about five working dogs and the important work they do. But before you do, make sure to get your tickets for "The Secret Life of Pets 2," in theaters June 7. 

From detecting the onset of a seizure to guiding the blind, service dogs are trained to help people with disabilities perform everyday tasks. According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), any type of breed can be service animals, but some of the most common are Labrador retrievers, golden retrievers, German shepherds, and standard poodles. 

Known as K-9s, police dogs are specifically trained to assist law enforcement with tasks such as maintaining public order, protecting their handlers, and chasing down criminals. The most common police dog breeds are German shepherds and Belgian Malinois, and they serve for about six to nine years before they retire, according to the National Police Dog Foundation.

Military working dogs, or MWD, help service members in various roles including scouting and patrolling, altering their handlers, detecting mines, carrying messages, and searching and reporting casualties. According to The United States War Dogs Association, the most common breeds of MWD are German and Dutch shepherds and Belgian Malinois because they are intelligent, loyal, and aggressive. 

Detection dogs and their incredible sense of smell are utilized in locating substances such as explosives, blood, illegal drugs, human remains, currency, and more. Some of the most common dog breeds used to sniff out contraband are Weimaraners, German shepherds, golden retrievers, Labrador retrievers, English springer spaniels, border collies, and Belgian Malinois. 

Search and rescue dogs are made up of athletic, loyal, and intelligent breeds like American pit bull terriers, Labrador retrievers, border collies, golden retrievers, English springer spaniels, German short haired pointers and German shepherds. They are used in wilderness tracking, cadaver location, missing persons location, natural disasters, and mass casualty events.