Think your dog’s biggest job is guarding the house or chasing out squirrels? Think again. Dogs around the world are taking on some truly surprising careers. These pups aren’t just man’s best friend, they’re coworkers, lifesavers, and even artists. Today, we’re bringing you 10 dog jobs that will blow your mind. Get your dog’s resume ready, as we’re bringing you 10 dog jobs that will blow your mind.
10. Truffle Hunters
Since dogs have a keen sense for hunting, they’re being trained to be Truffle Hunters. Originally, pigs did these jobs since they were talented at hunting them. However, pigs eat the truffles once they spot which ground contains truffles. Specifically, the Italian Lagotto Romagnolo breeds are the dogs being trained for the job.
9. Milk Delivery
Farmers in some European countries, like the Netherlands, France, Germany, and Belgium, used dogs to pull small carts of milk to cities. Farmers will sell milk to the streets and markets while their dogs pull the cart. Even today, you’ll still spot a few dog-drawn carts around Europe. For some trainers, this is a form of exercise for their dogs.
8. Lobster Catchers
Alex Schulze from Florida trains his Labrador Retrievers, Lila and Maverick, to help catch lobsters. How? By swimming 15 feet deep on the ocean floor. It actually took Schulze two years to teach his dogs how to swim in the deep and catch fresh lobsters. He uses a portion of the proceeds from his dogs’ work to promote the conservation of turtles.
7. Gold Transporter
Back in the days of Yukon, dogs used to walk with men to help them transport goods. The town of Dawson employed about 4,000 dogs to regularly work with the carriers and miners to help transport wood, goods, and deliver mail. They were the animals fit for the job since they could travel on frozen lakes and other water sources.
6. Livestock Protectors
If you used to watch the cartoon Shaun the Sheep, then you’d probably know Bitzer, who protects his master’s sheep. Using their ability to guard, dogs are used as Livestock Protectors, much like Bitzer’s job. Since farmers cannot do everything on their own, they use dogs to scare off big predators and keep their animals safe when they are not around.
5. Fire Dogs
The job of Fire Dogs may be pointed to the Fire Department of New York City, which made dalmatian dogs popular for the job. In the 1800s, dalmatians were used as carriage dogs that ran alongside horse carriages to help clear out the path. Until today, some dalmatians stay in firehouses for companionship purposes and practical work.
4. Therapy
The saying “a dog is a man’s best friend” goes way beyond labor. They’re also good for a man’s soul, which is why they also take jobs for therapy. They’re formally trained to help provide emotional support to patients. Therapy dogs are used to help provide support to patients with depression, anxiety, and autism.
3. Disease Detection
If there are therapy dogs, then there are dogs for disease detection. During the spring of 2020, the Working Dog Center at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine trained eight Labrador Retrievers to sniff COVID-19. Well, dogs sniffing out diseases is far from new, as many dogs used to sniff out diseases like cancer and Clostridium difficile (C.diff), which is a dangerous bacterium transmitted through dog poop.
2. Art Protectors
The Boston Museum of Fine Arts uses dogs to protect artwork and delicate materials from bugs. Meet Riley, a Weimaraner dog trained to sit in front of an object when he detects the smell of bugs. Riley does this to prevent insects from further damaging objects in the museum. They’ve chosen a Weimaraner dog because the breed has a keen sense of smell and stamina to work for hours without becoming bored.
1. Whale Poop Detectors
This seems like an odd job for a dog, but the scientific team members at the Center for Conservation Biology at the University of Washington use dogs. A Labrador Retriever named Tucker and his colleagues go to sea with scientists to study the Orca Whales. Their job is to detect the scent of whale poop. With these, scientists collect the whale’s feces to monitor their movement, health, and diet.