Therapy Dogs Therapy dogs are not considered official service dogs, but they perform a very useful service in the informal sense. Therapy dogs help encourage and comfort people who are experiencing a difficult time. They have been used to help…...

Detection Dogs Detection dogs are trained to detect even minute amounts of key substances. These substances range from drugs to cadavers to peanuts (yes, peanuts!). Bomb dogs and explosives dogs are trained to sniff out dangerous items in airplane luggage,…...

Guard Dogs The guard dog or watch dog has one of the most ancient types of canine relationships with humans. It’s been conjectured that guard duty was the dog’s first job with humans – it may be that the dog…...

Herding Dogs Herding dogs encompass an entire group of dog breeds, all bred with specific characteristics. Herding dogs may be large or small, from the little Shetland Sheepdog (“Sheltie”) to the big, bobtailed Old English Sheepdog. They must display the…...

Hunting Dogs For certain types of hunting, a well-trained dog is considered indispensable. For centuries, dogs have hunted alongside humans, often helping humans survive. While hunting with dogs is often just for sport, many hunters provide for their families through…...

Medical Response Dogs The term “medical response dog” refers to a dog that is trained to alert its owner before the owner’s medical condition becomes active. Sometimes they are called service dogs, but this general description does not really refer…...

Police Dogs The human-dog relationship has come a long way from the early days of cave dwellers, which is likely when the first dogs were domesticated. Now, dogs perform all sorts of functions, from lap companions to law enforcement officers.…...

Rescue Dogs In medieval times, the famed St. Bernard was bred and trained by monks in the Alps to rescue avalanche victims and others trapped in the often treacherous snow. Sadly, the avalanche itself took the lives of many of…...

Service Dogs “Service dog” is a general term that can encompass all kinds of different canine professions. And service dogs are considered professionals – in fact, you are discouraged from petting them and treating them like pets when they are…...

Sled Dogs The wolf-like dogs of the North are what we usually think of when we think of sled dogs. And Huskies and Malamutes are common sled dog breeds. But what most of us don’t know is that a great…...