While dogs make phenomenal pets, many breeds exist due to jobs they had in pre-industrial civilization. Some dogs still have unique jobs that their biological gifts make them singularly suited for. Here are ten interesting jobs some dogs still have today!
Protecting Fine Art
The Boston Museum of Fine Arts has a vast collection of priceless pieces of human history. Protecting objects like books and fabric from pests is a time-consuming and costly endeavor. To cut down on this expense, the museum has a trusted professional who sniffs out bugs and signals when she detects them: Riley, a Weimaraner who can smell insects within the objects she guards.
Pulling Carts
During the First World War, some dogs were trained to pull carts loaded with munitions, ammo, and even wounded soldiers to and from the front lines. In the modern era, dog carting is a popular sport among enthusiasts. Some breeds, like the Bernese Mountain Dog and Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, are especially well-suited to this endurance-testing contest.
Sniffing Out Illness
Dogs’ sense of smell is legendary, and it might be even better than you realize. Dogs can sniff out chemicals emitted by cancer cells and can alert medical professionals to the presence of diseases before even the most advanced modern technology.
Finding Truffles
While truffle hunting is typically carried out by hogs, dogs are equally adept at finding these valuable fungi. Dogs can be trained to sniff out truffles using their unparalleled sense of smell. And, unlike hogs, breeds like the Lagotto Romagnolo are trained not to eat the truffles they sniff out!
Fire Fighter
The image of a team of firefighters battling a blaze attended by a Dalmatian is iconic for a reason. Dalmatians and other cart-pulling breeds were commonly used before cars to help carry water to put out burning buildings. These days, Dalmatians’ main job around firehouses is to be a faithful companion to the hard-working first responders.
Detecting Electronics
You’ve likely seen service dogs who are trained to sniff out explosives and other hazardous objects. In a similar vein, some law enforcement agencies use dogs to find electronics. Trained hounds can identify computers, flash drives, and even objects as small as microchips!
Comforting Victims
Experts have found that some people can be comforted by dogs in times of crisis. Many first responder teams include service dogs who are specifically employed to calm victims of tragedies. These dogs are more than just fuzzy friends, too. They’re specifically trained in ways to calm people down and help them focus.
Sled Team
Siberian huskies and other cold-weather breeds were initially employed as sled teams. It’s very difficult to travel over the Siberian tundra and similar snowy areas. With help from hardy, cold-loving canines, though, a skilled sled driver can cross many miles in a single day.
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Inspecting Wine
Wine is a delicate drink. The smallest imperfections in its chemical composition can render it foul-tasting and even unpalatable. That’s why some vintners rely on dogs trained to pick up the smell of molecules like 2,4,6-trichloroanisole (TCA), which can impart a foul musty flavor to otherwise clean wine.
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Controlling Wildlife
Dogs have worked as shepherds for longer than some civilizations have existed. That’s why it’s no surprise that they can still work as wildlife controllers. An airport in Traverse City, Michigan employed a Border Collie named Piper who kept wildlife off the runways. Rodents and the raptors who hunt them were his main concern, and he did a stellar job keeping them away from the planes.
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