Jobs performed by dogs

Although most modern dogs are kept as pets, there are still a tremendous number of ways in which dogs can and do assist humans, and more uses are found for them every year. The following list provides an idea of the versatility of dogs:

Illustration from The Illustrated Natural History (Mammalia),
 published in 1853 showing the conformation of a Turnspit Dog. 

Turnspit dogs were used as a source of power, they turned a treadmill connected to a roasting spit. Similar arrangements were used for household duties such as churning butter.

A Turnspit Dog at work in a kitchen. 

Service or assistance dogs help people with various disabilities in every day tasks. Some examples include mobility assistance dogs for the physically handicapped, guide dogs for the visually impaired, and hearing dogs for the hearing impaired.

A service dog wearing a colorful Service Dog ID vest
and a waterproof coat with reflective markings. 

Therapy dogs visit people who are incapacitated or prevented in some way from having freedom of movement; these dogs provide cheer and entertainment for the elderly in retirement facilities, the ill and injured in hospitals, and so on. The very act of training dogs can also act as a therapy for human handlers, as in a prisoner rehabilitation project.

Golden Retrievers are often used as therapy dogs due to their
calm demeanor, gentle disposition, and friendliness to strangers 

Rescue dogs assist people who are in difficult situations, such as in the water after a boat disaster. Search dogs locate people who are missing; lost in the wilderness, escaped from nursing homes, covered in snow avalanches, buried under collapsed buildings, etc.

Avalanche search SAR dog 

Herding dogs are still invaluable to sheep and cattle handlers (stock men) around the world for mustering; different breeds are used for the different jobs involved in stock work and for guarding the flocks and herds. Modern herding dogs help to control cattle and wild geese in parks or goats used for weed control. A well trained dog can adapt to control any sort of domestic and many wild animals

A Koolie working with sheep. 

Sled dogs, although today primarily used in sporting events, still can assist in transporting people and supplies in rugged, snowy terrain.

A ten-dog team of Seppala Siberian Sleddogs in tandem hitch on a
frozen Mud Lake, a small lake west of Lake Laberge and the Klondike Highway  

A typical sled dog breed, such as the Greenland Dog, has a very dense
 double coat, wide padded feet, erect ears, a curled tail, wedge-shaped head, and a muscular build. 

Performing dogs such as Circus dogs and dog actors are trained to perform acts that are not intrinsically useful, but instead provide entertainment to their audience or enable human artistic performances.

Australian Shepherd. A trained dog competing in dog agility.

Hunting dogs assist hunters in finding, tracking, and retrieving game, or in routing vermin. Less frequently a dog, or rather or a pack of them, actually fights a predator, such as a bear or feral pig. There are several types of hunting dogs developed for various tasks. The major categories of hunting dogs include hounds, terriers, cur type dogs, and gun dogs. Among these categories further divisions can be made based upon the dogs' skill sets.

Poodle.  Water dogs are a subclass of retrievers.   

Guard dogs and watch dogs help to protect private or public property, either in living or used for patrols, as in the military and with security firms. Many of the now prominent guardian breeds such as Rottweilers started as farm dogs types but then developed over many years into guard breeds. Some breeds, such as the Weimaraner and Rhodesian Ridgeback, were originally bred for hunting, but their large intimidating look and territorial instincts have helped them evolve into guard dogs in today's society. Others like Dobermans were specifically bred as guard dogs.

Breeds like this Doberman were specifically bred for guard duty. 

Tracking dogs help find lost people and animals or track down possible criminals.

Like most scent hounds, the Basset Hound has long ears,
 large nasal passages, and a sturdy body for endurance. 

Tenterfield Terrier in tracking trial. 

Detection dog or sniffer dog is a dog that is trained to and works at using its senses (almost always the sense of smell) to detect substances such as explosives, illegal drugs, or blood. Hunting dogs that search for game and search dogs that search for missing humans are generally not considered detection dogs. There is some overlap, as in the case of human remains detection dogs (sometimes called cadaver dogs), trained to detect human remains. They are also used for drug raids to find where the drugs are.

A Belgian Malinois of a police K9 unit. 

A detection dog at work 

Police dog is a dog that is trained specifically to assist police and other law-enforcement personnel in their work. Police dogs are often referred to as "K9s", which is a homophone of canine. One commonly used breed is the German Shepherd, although now Belgian Malinois are popular K9s to use.

Police dog during training exercise 

War Dogs or K9 Corps are used by armed forces in many of the same roles as civilian working dogs, but in a military context. In addition, specialized military tasks such as mine detection or wire laying have been assigned to dogs.

U.S. Army employing special hoist, and doggles, while landing
and retrieving dog and handler by helicopter 

Dogs are sometimes used in programs to assist children in learning how to read. The Reading With Rover program in Washington pairs trained dogs with children who read aloud to the dog. This process builds confidence and reduces stress.

Working dogs make excellent pets as long as potential owners realize that these dogs must be given 'work' to do. Dogs that are not to be used for their original purpose must be trained from a young age and are best suited to active persons and families. Obedience training, dog sports, informal or novelty shows, and trial work are all excellent channels for these breeds' energy. At the very least they must have daily walks or other exercise at an appropriate level for the breed, given toys, played with, and provided with human company.

Working dogs that are chained, left alone, or ignored become bored, vocal, and even neurotic; they may exhibit malaise, lethargy, destructive behavior or attempt to escape. Working dogs inappropriately chosen as pets are often surrendered to shelters for these reasons.