Anyone who has a dog in the family already knows how precious his presence is at home, and how good his company does us ( discover all the benefits of living with a dog ) .

But the dog for humans is not just a trusted friend. Over the long bond that for millennia has united the human being to the canine race, from the beginning to the present day, dogs have always played fundamental roles in the life of man and society .

Today more than ever the numerous and amazing dogs are studied and valued, to carry out very important jobs for individuals and for our community, which only dogs are able to accomplish. These animals, for example, enjoy an extremely developed sense of smell, so much so that it is almost mistaken for a sixth sense! (Learn more about the topic: The sense organs of the dog: 5 + 1 ) .

These natural qualities of our four-legged friends are refined through specific training, depending on the tasks that the dog is going to perform. There are no specific breeds to do these jobs, although some are more suitable than others.

We just have to find out which are the most popular professions among working dogs !

1. POLICE DOG

They are dogs trained to work in the police forces , such as police, carabinieri, financial police, but also harbor master’s offices .

They are also called “molecular dogs” or “dogs specialized in biosecurity” because, thanks to their acute sense of smell, they have been trained both to track down missing persons, and to identify illegal materials in airports and stations such as drugs, explosive substances , or other objects for which they have been trained for recognition.

Among the things they can be educated to sniff at, we even find electronic devices used for criminal purposes.

Having to move in such delicate contexts, these dogs have been trained to deal with dangerous situations. Therefore they are often also used to solve public order problems.

2. TRUFFLE DOGS

Once upon a time to find this famous “black gold” in the ground, pigs were used, but they had as a “defect” that of eating the precious nuggets once they were found.

Thus, taking advantage of their great sense of smell, even dogs have been trained to search for truffles, proving to be extremely skilled in this profession , so much so that they have now completely replaced the use of pigs for this type of research.

3. DOGS, FISHERMEN AND HUNTERS

Thanks to their qualities as expert hunters and at the same time skilled swimmers, in some states (such as Florida) the dogs have been trained for fishing , especially that of the delicious lobsters!

But our four-legged friends are also very good at catching waterfowl and in general they are famous for being used in hunting in general (be it land birds or small mammals).

4. SHEPHERD DOGS

This is certainly one of the oldest professions of the dog: the shepherd.

A very important job that consists above all in guiding the flocks of sheep or cattle farms within safe spaces, knowing how to gather them , and recover the animals that move away from the group.

But the shepherd dog also plays the role of guard dog : it protects the flock from possible attacks by predatory animals or from thieves.

Even today in mountain communities, dogs are the first ally in the management of farms.

5. AID DOGS

These animals have been trained to sniff people to save their lives in all those different emergencies that can occur: in the high mountains , as well as in the water , or in the event of extreme weather events .

Based on the situation, dogs trained in the various emergency cases will be fielded:

  • AQUATIC AID DOGS or LIFEGUARD DOGS

They are dogs trained to save people at sea who are drowning, but also to keep the waters safe. For this they are employed both as lifeguards (how to become a lifeguard dog ), who from the coast guard.

  • ALPINE AID DOGS

Dogs trained to sniff people even under several meters of snow. They know how to climb and juggle in the most extreme and inhospitable environments , thus becoming an indispensable aid for alpine rescuers in carrying out this very important and delicate job.

  • CATASTROPHE DOGS

These are the canine units at the service of the Civil Protection , used in case of earthquakes, floods and other extreme events.

6. ASSISTANCE DOGS

This category includes dogs that have been trained to support people with various disabilities in facing the challenges of everyday life more easily.

Therefore, these animals include:

  • Guide Dogs for the visually impaired : they help in mobility and in overcoming obstacles.
  • Dogs for deaf people : able to signal environmental noises and sounds of a certain importance.
  • Dogs for people with reduced motor skills : trained to overcome obstacles as well as open doors, carry objects.

In this category we also find dogs trained in Pet Therapy ( find out more about pet therapy ) which are a formidable support for all people who are faced with moments of physical or psychological illness .

Here are how many ways our beloved furry ones make our life not only more beautiful but also easier and safer!