15 Working Dog Breeds & Their Essential Jobs

Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.

For centuries, dogs have been more than just loving companions. Their intelligence, strength, and keen senses have allowed them to assist humans in many ways—from saving lives during war to protecting livestock to providing therapy.

The term “working dog” applies to canines assigned to a specific task to aid humans. Over time, specific breeds have become known as “working dogs,” with instincts and personality traits that allow them to excel in their roles.

“Working breeds range from the Australian Shepherd to the Siberian Husky,” says GoodVets Medical Director Dr. Jordan Beauchamp, DVM. “You’ll find different personalities across the board with working dogs, so it can be helpful to understand their traits to see if your lifestyle matches.”

Whether you’re considering a service dog or looking to adopt a working breed as a household pet, this guide explores what to expect from these incredible canines.

15 Most Popular Working Breeds

Though working breeds range in shape and size, they all share impressive intelligence, loyalty, energy, and trainability. Certain breeds, such as the Belgian Malinois, prefer some independence while fulfilling their task. Others, like the Border Collie, prefer their human or handler to be with them at all times.

Popular working breeds include the following.

German Shepherd

This working dog breed wears many hats! From assisting law enforcement to herding animals to aiding individuals as a service dog, the German Shepherd is a strong, intelligent, and loyal companion.

These obedient and cooperative dogs love to please their owner, responding well to training and challenges. Well-socialized German Shepherds are friendly with children and benefit from having plenty of space to run and roam.

Labrador Retriever

There’s a reason that Labs are such a sought-after companion! With their playful, loyal, and easygoing natures, they make for great family dogs. As a hunting breed, you might notice that your Labrador Retriever enjoys chasing toys and bringing them back to you. Get ready for lots of fetch!

This breed is more than just a fun furry friend—as seen by Jake, the amazing dog who helped rescue people after 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina.

Belgian Malinois

The Belgian Malinois is a common police and military breed. Though very independent, these clever canines can respond well to training when it’s started at a young age. They look to their favorite human for leadership and can be protective of those in their household. Their knack for herding and detecting means they also require plenty of exercise.

A Belgian Malinois named Cairo is known for helping take down terrorist Osama bin Laden with a group of Navy SEALs in 2011.

Golden Retriever

Often deemed “man’s best friend,” the popular Golden Retriever is gentle, kind, people-pleasing, and loyal. Their hunting nature means they thrive with plenty of play sessions, and they’ll adore extra pets and praise when they bring their favorite ball to you.

Border Collie

These high-energy herding dogs will bring life to your household! They are known for being a cooperative dog breed (eager to please their humans) and are happiest getting lots of exercise. Border Collies enjoy having a job and can become excessive barkers if they don’t have enough to keep them busy.

Bigandt_Photography via iStock

Doberman Pinscher

Dobermans Pinschers work well with humans, as seen by their frequent work as military and police dogs. They prefer an active lifestyle and a human that will give them plenty of attention. This cooperative breed is vigilant, watchful, and protective, but also desires plenty of pets, praise, and belly rubs.

A war monument dedicated to the Doberman Pinschers who saved many marines during World War II is located at a Naval base in Guam.

Great Pyrenees

Regal and independent, the Great Pyrenees is a gentle giant. Historically used for herding sheep and other livestock, these dogs are used to being around smaller creatures, making them fantastic pets in homes with small children. They are known for being observant, relaxed, and calm.

Siberian Husky

Bred as a sled dog, the Siberian Husky thrives on exercise and socialization. They are the perfect blend of independent and cooperative, as they don’t mind a bit of alone time, but also enjoy the company of humans and pets.

Since their sled-dog background makes them quick and agile, the Husky can become quite the escape artist without the right safety supplies, such as a reliable harness and fencing. Husky lovers may recall the story of Balto, the dog who famously delivered medicine to a town in Alaska in 1925.

Bloodhound

No one can sniff out a scent like a Bloodhound! Often used in search and rescue missions or other detective work, this incredible canine tracks with its nose. As a household pet, the Bloodhound can be affectionate and loving, as well as stubborn and independent.

Disney lovers might recognize this dog in animated form as Bruno from “Cinderella” and Trusty from “Lady and the Tramp.”

Akita Inu

Fiercely loyal, the Akita Inu is a common service and therapy dog. Like other therapy pets, these dogs visit hospitals, schools, and retirement homes to help relieve stress and provide happiness among the population.

One of the most famous Akita Inus is Hachiko, who waited around the same train station for nine years hoping to reunite with his human.

Rottweiler

Though Rottweilers often appear as menacing in TV and movies, this misunderstood dog can be a loving addition to the family. Rottweilers are highly protective due to their innate guard dog instincts but can be gentle when socialized with people and other dogs.

This intelligent breed also aids police officers and is highly receptive to training.

Anatolian Shepherd

Traditionally taught to protect livestock on the farm, the Anatolian Shepherd is a strong, loyal, and independent dog. Their stubborn streak may make training a difficult task, but with time and patience, an Anatolian Shepherd will come to trust and love their human.

Australian Cattle Dog

Bred to herd cattle, this stunning canine is best known for its high energy, sharp mind, and love of herding—even humans! They require lots of physical and mental exercise, so it’s important to give them plenty of space to roam, as well as plenty of time to play. When in the right home, the Australian Cattle Dog is a devoted companion.

Australian Shepherd

Like the Australian Cattle Dog, the Australian Shepherd is a herder through and through. Similar to their Aussie counterpart, they require lots of exercise and mental stimulation but are eager to please their human through training.

During the 1970s, a talented Australian Shepherd named Hyper Hank rose to fame for winning numerous disc-catching competitions.

Cane Corso

The Cane Corso (also known as the Italian Mastiff) is a wise and faithful companion. Though they boast a muscular appearance that can be seen as intimidating, these dogs are affectionate and devoted. With experience ranging from farm dog to military dog, this breed loves physical activity!

As a pet, the Cane Corso will be living their best life with an active family who will go for runs and walks aplenty.

Other popular working dogs

Great Danes, Newfoundlands, Schnauzers, and Bernese Mountain Dogs are other breeds commonly used in working dog roles.

But purebred dogs aren’t the only canines with talent to spare. Mixed breeds often share traits with their purebred counterparts and can excel as service dogs, therapy dogs, and search and rescue dogs.

While a shelter or rescue may not know your mixed breed’s lineage, a doggy DNA kit can shed insight into intrinsic traits and needs based on breed.

Common Jobs for Working Breeds

The jobs occupied by working breeds say a lot about their temperament and instincts. “Herding breeds, for example, are headstrong, loyal, and intelligent,” says Dr. Beauchamp. “Guard breeds are protective, energetic, and may need extra practice with socialization as they have less tolerance for things they don’t like.”

Over the years, common jobs for working breeds have included the following.

Service

According to the Americans with Disabilities Act, a service animal is a pet that aids in a disabled person’s daily life. This includes assisting the visually impaired, hearing impaired, those with PTSD, and those who experience seizures. Breeds like Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, and German Shepherds are popular service dogs.

Herding

Border Collies, Australian Cattle Dogs, Australian Shepherds, and other herding dogs were bred to herd livestock. Strong, agile, and quick-witted, these canines can display herding behaviors, such as chasing, staring, and barking. They are commonly wonderful family pets, though they require lots of mental stimulation and exercise.

Detection or search and rescue

Bloodhounds, Beagles, and other hounds have an incredible sense of smell. These canines have a knack for detecting specific scents and odors, whether to help with the search for a missing person or to detect harmful substances with airport security.

Police & military

If you’ve ever seen breeds like the German Shepherd or Belgian Malinois accompanied by law enforcement, they are likely on the clock as a police dog. These obedient canines are well-trained, loyal, and protective, and can assist police officers and military personnel. These dogs also have scent-detecting abilities similar to search and rescue breeds.

niuniu via iStock

Hunting

Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers were originally bred to locate, track, and retrieve game for hunters. As a family pet, you may notice these hunting breeds enjoy chasing things and returning toys (or, unfortunately, prey) to their human.

Guard

Breeds such as the Rottweiler, Doberman Pinscher, Cane Corso, and Great Pyrenees are known as guard dogs, given their keen ability to detect danger. Their size can make them particularly intimidating to a home intruder, for example, but these loyal and protective breeds can be gentle giants among their families.

Sled

The Akita Inu, Siberian Husky, and other sled dogs are built with strength and determination. These breeds were once known for pulling sleds to transport people, supplies, and other goods. They hail from cold climates and are known for their energy, endurance, and speed.

24K-Production via iStock

Pros & Cons of Raising a Working Dog

Though working breeds share a history of close partnership with humans, their personalities can be dramatically different.

Dr. Beauchamp offers the example of her beloved Border Collie. “We would run together daily, do training for mental stimulation, and work on sign language since she was deaf,” she shares. “Even with this enrichment, there were moments when I was in vet school where she would get restless and display OCD tendencies. Now, I have a Bernese Mountain Dog, another working breed, who is relaxed and chill. These breeds have very different needs.”

Adopting a former working dog, like a retired police dog, also comes with some challenges—and some big rewards.

Pros

“With strong working dogs, such as the German Shepherd or Belgian Malinois, comes a fierce sense of loyalty,” says Dr. Beauchamp. “All dogs can love you, but there is an individualized affection with breeds who guard or protect. These pets connect with you at a deeper level.”

Cons

“When raising one of these dogs, you will challenge them, but they’ll also challenge you,” Dr. Beauchamp says. “It’s not always an easy thing for first-time pet owners. I would recommend having experience with dogs before adopting a working dog. Many breeds need extra work on socialization, as they are extremely protective. Desensitization training is also crucial if they’re triggered by certain things from their job.”

You’ll want to carefully consider that a working breed might also mean:

Mandatory training and socialization; a working breed without a strong training and social foundation can quickly become destructive
Getting help from an experienced positive reinforcement trainer, who can work with you on any triggers or sensitivities an adult working dog may have developed from their job
Maintaining an active lifestyle, with lots of time for regular exercise and enrichment

Companion Vs. Working Dog

While a working dog is trained for a specific role, a companion dog is your standard household pet (supplying you with emotional support and love aplenty!). If you’re adopting a dog of a working breed who is solely a companion, it’s still important to understand the traits of the breed to ensure your lifestyle is a match.

“Herding breeds, for example, are high-energy and very intelligent. If you live in the city and don’t have much time to spend on mental stimulation, or much space to let them roam, they can develop OCD tendencies,” says Dr. Beauchamp.

“Your lifestyle and living situation should fit the needs of the dog to avoid these stressors,” she adds. “If it doesn’t, be prepared to make accommodations to provide them with the happiest and healthiest life they can lead.”

Rising to the Challenge of a Working Dog

Working dogs can thrive in the right household with a pet parent who is dedicated to training, staying active, and socialization.

“If you’re adopting a high-energy breed, taking them on a walk twice a day may not be enough. They may fare well with a family who takes them on runs and hikes too,” says Dr. Beauchamp. “They might also enjoy swimming, agility courses, and other activities that burn energy and allow for problem-solving play.”

Working breeds benefit from the following:

Rigorous and advanced training (more challenging cues than “sit” and “stay”)
Puzzle games and toys
Hide-and-seek games
Memory games
Button training
Mock herding events
Agility courses
Frisbee and fetch
Swimming
Daycare and other socialization activities (though this can be a challenge for less social breeds)

“I also recommend looking into local breed-oriented organizations who might put on fun activities,” suggests Dr. Beauchamp. “Here in Chicago, we have an event for Huskies, Bernese Mountain Dogs, and Alaskan Malamutes to pull sleds through the city. You would be surprised at the amazing events available if you look for them!”

Everything You Need To Know About Working Dogs