Working Dog Group
Best For Dedicated Owners!

Many dogs in the Working Dog Group are of independent nature and need solid training or they will take over the dominant role - displacing you as the pack leader!

The dogs in this group are certainly not for the feint of heart, or first time dog owners. Having made these cautionary comments, the plus side is that once trained, these dogs make very devoted and loyal companions.

Working Dog Group - The Breeds

The working dog breeds are quite a diverse group both in physical appearance and in the abilities they bring to a given job.

Akita Dog Breed
Impressive guardian and one of the breeds declared a national monument in Japan.

Alaskan Malamute
State dog of Alaska. A very ancient breed common to Arctic regions.

Anatolian Shepherd Popular herding breed from Turkey with incredible hearing and fearless demeanor.

Bernese Mountain Dog
The Berner derived this familiar name from the Swiss canton of Berne where he lived and worked on farms.

Black Russian Terrier
A working dog with great agility but also a breed with a stately body, gorgeous coat, and amazing personality.

Bull Mastiff
A powerful breed regarded as highly intelligent, calm in nature and very loyal to the entire family.

Doberman Pinscher
He's not just a guard dog, the "Dobie" has
also made his mark
in search and rescue, police work and more.

Newfoundland
A web-footed breed with great swimming ability, he's a natural for pulling in fisherman's nets and more.

Rottweiler
Originally of German origin, the "Rottie's" skills include guarding, search and rescue, herding, law enforcement efforts, and schutzhund.

St. Bernard
Well known as rescue dogs of the famed Swiss Hospice founded by Archdeacon Bernard de Menton around 1050.

Mastiff
The diverse and exotic mastiff breeds have a job history from war dogs and guard dogs to hunting and sheepdogs.

Great Dane
A mighty breed originating in Germany 400 or more years ago. A gentle giant and former boar hunter now a courageous and alert protector.

Tibetan Mastiff lying down in snowy area

Tibetan Mastiff
Originating in China this ancient guarding breed is among the largest dogs in the world. Marco Polo is said to have described them as the size of a small donkey.

Jobs of the Working Dog Group

Dogs in this group were bred for a variety of tasks. The Akita, for example, was once bred to protect the emperor of Japan.

They were also used at other times to hunt large game such as bears, defend flocks from wolves, and for dog fighting.

The Saint Bernard and the Newfoundland have always been known for their rescue abilities, the former excelling in snowy mountain terrain, and the latter in perilous waters, where it is recognized for its renowned swimming abilities, as well as in aiding fisherman to haul their catch to shore.

Dobermans and Boxers are associated with police work and as fearless watchdogs. Others in the Working dog group have assisted in military work, guarding and herding flocks, pulling sleds and simply as companions to royalty.

Working Breeds Catch The Eye

Komodor
The Komondor aka Hungarian Sheepdog has a unique appearance with his corded coat. He is an ancient breed commonly used to guard livestock.

One of the more distinctive looking dogs in the Working Dog Group is the Komodor, which has been used for guarding livestock in mountainous regions.

The protective instinct can overdone and become a problem in a family setting if not trained and socialized beginning while still a puppy.

This very large dog has an unbelievably huge white corded coat, resembling dreadlocks, which is just the ticket for protecting this dog against predators and while working in very cold climates.

Strangely enough, the Komodor's coat should never be brushed or combed! Instead, when the inevitable cords start to clump together, sometime before they are a year old, they should be split apart using a greyhound comb or similar. A detangling spray can help here.

When bathing the Komodor, make sure to remove every bit of soap residue to avoid ending up with a smelly coat. And, just as importantly, dry thoroughly, first squeezing out moisture with towels, the positioned next to a powerful dryer.

Bottom line, the coat needs diligent grooming.

Overall, the dogs in this class are courageous, intelligent, quick learners, athletic and have great stamina, but because of their size they do need a suitable environment, as well as owners with the enough time to train and exercise them well.

Other Notable Working Dog Breeds

Boxer

Greater Swiss Mountain Dog

Anatolian Shepherd Dog

Kuvasz

Neapolitan Mastiff

Portuguese Water Dog

Samoyed

Siberian Husky

Standard Schnauzer

German Pinscher

Giant Schnauzer

Great Pyrenees

Share Your Knowledge of Working Dog Breeds

If you have knowledge or insider information regarding any of the working dog breeds, please share it with our visitors. Some of these breeds are quite rare and credible information can be hard to find.

To help other researchers, you can post your information here.

Thank you.

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