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Jobs for Dogs

Dogs are man’s best friend, but the role of happy house pet is not the only one that these magnificent creatures fill. All around the world dogs are filling vital roles on a daily basis, working just as hard as their human counterparts to make the world a happier, safer place to live.

Police Dogs

Dogs have filled a vital role as a part of the K-9 police force for many years. These animals perform a variety of roles in the force; their primary function is to sniff out and give chase to fleeing suspects, holding them at all costs. These dogs and their human handlers go through a rigorous training program to teach the dog to respond to commands given by their handler (and only their handler) to prevent the chances of the dog attacking an innocent civilian merely because they overheard a command being “given” as part of a daily conversation. To further prevent this from happening many dogs are now being taught to respond to commands given in languages that are not primary in their native country.

Giving chase to a suspect is not the only job that K-9 dogs have. With special training these dogs can learn to sniff out drugs, an ability that makes them invaluable to narcotics officers when they are performing a sweep of a building in search of illegal substances. Narcotics officers will usually employ their dogs when performing a school search as well. Police dogs also learn to sniff out bombs and other explosive substances, and to perform many other tasks for which their human handlers are not as well suited.
Search and Rescue Dogs

A dog’s unique sense of smell and their devotion to their human handlers make them an integral part of any search and rescue team. They are taken to natural and unnatural disasters around the world to search for survivors, and without their help many lives would be lost due to the simple fact that the people in question would never have been found. It is estimated that a search and rescue dog’s enhanced senses allow it to perform the work of 20 to 30 human searchers.

A good search and rescue dog is trained from birth in the art of tracking and unquestioning obedience. Any dog that fails to pass muster will not be allowed out into the field; a moment’s disobedience in the face of an avalanche, mudslide or a hurricane could bring death to themselves, their handlers and the very people they are intended to save.

Seeing Eye Dogs

Seeing eye dogs are an invaluable asset to a person who has lost their vision, and their role has become so commonplace that they are welcomed in many public establishments otherwise prohibited to animals. A seeing eye dog will not only help its owner navigate through a crowd of people, it will also help to guide them away from dangerous situations such as fire or traffic, and will assist them in finding objects which have been dropped or lost. A seeing eye dog serves as eyes, hands, feet and constant companion to the humans they serve.

These are only a small number of the roles filled in society by working dogs, and their worth cannot be overemphasized. For more information on working dogs, or on the roles described above, go to www.howstuffworks.com or speak to your local veterinarian.

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