As most people know, dogs are not only loving pets and
companions. Many dogs also serve important functions in the
community as well. Dogs help the police and military search for
bombs, drugs and people. Dogs help blind people make their way
through the world. Dogs work on farms and pastures and serve
their masters as tough and militant guards and even soldiers.
This article will discuss which breeds thrive in different tasks
and why.
The organization Guide Dogs of America relies on three pure
breeds to use as guide dogs for the blind. The majority of the
guide dogs are Labrador Retrievers, followed by Golden
Retrievers and German Shepherds. These breeds are chosen based
on three behavioral characteristics: willingness, health and
temperament. These dogs possess the intelligence and patience to
assist their owners in the best way possible. They are robust,
fit and well-suited to the task. They are also loyal and love
people, which helps them stay focused in crowded situations. All
three of these breeds also exhibit a variety of sizes, making
The top three guard dog breeds are the Bullmastiff, Doberman
and the Rottweiler. Bullmastiffs, which are 40% Bulldog and 60%
Mastiff are loyal, courageous and very strong. These dogs have
an inherent protective instinct and will bite or wrestle
intruders to the ground. Dobermans are exceptionally intelligent
dogs that vary in temperament, but generally they will not
hesitate to attack if they feel their family is in danger.
Rottweilers are also intelligent dogs, considered ninth most
intelligent breed in the world. Rottweilers are calm and loving
with their families, but also fiercely protective. They are very
strong, have great stamina and are resistant to pain.
Depending on the task, many different breeds are used for
police work. However, the most common police dog is the German
Shepherd. The key attributes for an effective police dog are
intelligence, strength, aggression and sense of smell. Most
police German Shepherds are males, left unneutered to maintain
their natural aggression and strength. German shepherds also
possess a highly acute sense of smell and are very intelligent
There are over a dozen common and well-qualified herding
breeds, but the most well-known and best regarded of those
breeds is the Border Collie. Border Collies are widely
considered to be the smartest dogs in the world and because of
this, dog obedience training of the breed is easy. With their
high intelligence, the Border Collies demand difficult tasks.
They are also highly agile and fast dogs, and their natural
herding instinct makes them perfect farm dogs. Border Collies
are also renowned for their performance in athletic
competitions, and their powerful sense of smell makes them
excellent search and rescue dogs.
As you can see, dogs are not just the loving, happy pets we
often consider them to be. The breeds mentioned above are only a
few of many types of dogs humans have bred throughout history to
serve them. Though any of the breeds will make excellent pets,
remember the purpose they were created to serve. Knowing what
your dogs' inherent instincts and abilities are will make you a
better, more informed dog owner. |
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