Working dogs have served humankind for centuries, on the farm, in the city, on the battlefield, and in the home. From canines that herd to those that rescue the lost, many breeds have been invaluable as working dogs for several centuries.
Working Group or not?
Dogs classified in the Working Group of the world’s numerous kennel clubs were bred to perform a variety of jobs, including pulling sleds, guarding property, hunting predators, and performing rescue operations. Those considered working dog breeds are intelligent, quick to learn, and often of large size and great strength.
The American Kennel Club (AKC) recognizes 28 breeds of dogs in their Working Group category. Many of these breeds are also categorized in other countries’ kennel club grouping of working dogs. However, some countries, such as the United Kingdom and New Zealand, recognize several dog breeds in their Working Group classification that are not part of the AKC’s such classification, but instead, are part of a different AKC group, primarily the Herding Group. For example, the Bouvier des Flandres is part of England’s Kennel Club Working Group but that breed is recognized by the AKC as part of the Herding Group. Dogs that are now part of the AKC’s Herding Group were once part of the organization’s Working Group category; the Herding Group was created in 1983 because the Working Group became too large. Therefore, many breeds in the AKC’s Herding Group remain part of the Working Group in other countries’ kennel clubs. Other such examples include the Bearded Collie and the Australian Cattle Dog; both are classified as Working Dog Breeds by the Australian and New Zealand Kennel Clubs, but these breeds are part of the AKC’s Herding Group category.
These are the dogs currently categorized by the AKC as Working Dog Breeds:
Akita Alaskan Malamute Anatolian Shepherd Dog
Bernese Mountain Dog Black Russian Terrier Boxer
Bullmastiff Cane Corso Doberman
Dogue de Bordeaux German Pinscher Giant Schnauzer
Great Dane Great Pyrenees Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
Komondor Kuvasz Leonberger
Mastiff Neapolitan Mastiff Newfoundland
Portuguese Water Dog Rottweiler Saint Bernard
Samoyed Siberian Husky Standard Schnauzer
Tibetan Mastiff
Type of work
Several of those in the group, such as the Alaskan Malamute, Samoyed and Siberian Husky, are noted for their work pulling sleds, often carrying heavy loads of products. Other breeds, such as the Kuvasz and Great Pyrenees, were used for herding and guarding livestock and others, like the Bernese Mountain Dog and Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, were used for draft and carting work. Akitas originate from Japan and served as hunting and guard dogs. Great Danes, Boxers and Doberman and German Pinschers were all developed as working dogs in Germany, serving as hunters and guardians. Dane dogs may have lineage from ancient times — drawings of dogs similar to Great Danes date back to ancient Egypt.
Mastiffs
Rottweiler
Another powerful, large working dog (weighing up to 130 pounds or 60 kg) is the Rottweiler (“Rottie”). This breed’s intelligence, courage and endurance made him an excellent droving dog during the days of the Roman Empire; those same traits appealed to the Germans who bred the dogs for guarding and police work. The Rottie often fulfills these purposes today; however, the breed is also used as a therapy and service animal due to its loyalty and trainability.
Komondor
The amazing and strangely cord-coated Komondor originated in Hungary about 1,000 years ago to guard large herds of livestock. Its dense, white coat makes this dog look like a giant mop! The coats form naturally as the dog matures and serves to cover vulnerable body parts in case of attack; the coat also helps the breed blend in with its flock as well as protects it from weather extremes.
Anatolian Shepherd Dog
The Anatolian Shepherd Dog is another breed developed to guard livestock. Its origins date back nearly 6,000 years in Turkey. The opposite of a mop, the Anatolian Shepherd Dog possesses a short coat that can be any color; however, brindle and fawn shades are popular.
Black Russian Terrier
The AKC recognized this large, robust black-coated dog in 2004 not as part of the Terrier Group, but instead as part of the organization’s Working Group category. Its ancestry is not well-documented, but is reported to have been developed in the Soviet Union after World War II as a working breed for the armed services to guard and protect.
Portuguese Water Dog and the Newfoundland
Working dog breeds primarily known for helping people in and near waterways include the Portuguese Water Dog. An exceptional swimmer and diver, this breed was created to accompany fishermen on their boats to retrieve broken nets, dive for fish, carry messages between boats and to shore, and guarding its master’s vessel while in foreign ports.
Another working dog breed of the water is the Newfoundland. This dog originated in Newfoundland, Canada, where it was used as a working dog to pull nets for the fishermen and to haul wood from the forest. Newfies also did heavy labor, such as powering a blacksmith’s bellows. They are known for their life-saving skills and ability in the water.
St. Bernard
Another working dog breed with strong life-saving skills is the St. Bernard. Another dog of Switzerland, this breed was used to locate freezing and other helpless travelers during snowstorms. The original Saint Bernard was a short-haired canine that was introduced to the Hospice (a refuge for travelers crossing the perilous passes between Switzerland and Italy) as a guard dog as well as an avalanche dog that rescued people trapped in the snow. The breed was also used as a carting dog.
Leonberger
Another breed recently recognized by the AKC as part of the Working Group is the Leonberger. This working dog breed originated in Leonberg, Germany during the 1800s with the purpose of serving as a draft and farm dog as well as a family companion. The breed caught the attention of many German artists who used these dogs as models; Leonbergers have even been featured on stamps of various European countries. The breed almost became extinct after World War I, but two determined men resurrected the Leonberger of today from a very small number of dogs that survived. The AKC recognized the breed in 2010. Leonbergers are noted for their friendly, willing-to-please demeanor and make excellent therapy dogs.
Schnauzers
Schnauzers are categorized as either Giant or Standard. The Giant variety is really not a giant breed, but simply a larger and more powerful version of the Standard Schnauzer. The former stands 23½ to 27½ inches (60 to 70 cm) tall at the shoulder; its smaller cousin ranges from 17 ½ to 19 ½ inches (44 to 50 cm) at the shoulder.
The Giant Schnauzer came from the Wurttenberg and Bavaria areas of Germany where dogs served as farmers’ helpers. The breed worked as a drover, aiding its shepherd master in driving livestock to market; it was also used as a guard dog by butchers and breweries. During World War I, this intelligent breed was used by the Germans for police work.
The Giant Schnauzer’s coat, including the beard and eyebrows are the Schnauzer trademark, that comes in solid black or salt and pepper color.
The breed’s medium-sized cousin, the Standard Schnauzer, is known for its arched eyebrows and bristly mustache and whiskers. The oldest of the schnauzer breeds, it also originated in Germany and was used for guarding both family and livestock. In addition, it served to rid the farmyard of vermin and protect its owner traveling to market. The breed’s name comes from the beard and moustache on the muzzle, called “schnauze” in German. Today, the Standard Schnauzer continues its role as a working dog breed, serving as a therapy, service and search and rescue dog. The Standard’s harsh, wiry coat is usually salt and pepper or black, just like its Giant cousin.
They work and serve
Working dog breeds originated in the field of service, working as draft and herding animals as well as guard and rescue dogs. Today, many of these breeds fulfill their original purposes, herding, guarding, carting, as well as serving as therapy and search and rescue dogs. Additionally, many of these large, well-muscled and intelligent canines are excellent companions and family pets, fulfilling another important role in their lineage and their lives.