Working Dogs
Many dog breeds were bred specifically for a purpose, whether this is herding, guarding, or hunting, these dogs have a job that they know how to do and are naturally good at. Many common working breeds include German Shepherds, Australian shepherds, Border Collies, Huskies, Terriers, Heelers, and many more.
The average person will often never see any of these dogs in their natural working environment and this is unfortunate because these dogs never get to do what comes naturally for them, or even worse they are punished for these behaviors.
Educating dog owners is one of the most important jobs that a trainer has, including what makes different breeds great for working and what owners can do to make these dogs happier and healthier in normal pet dogs’ homes.
SIBERIAN HUSKY
Unfortunately, it still comes as a surprise to many pet owners that left alone with nothing to do, these dogs become very destructive. Siberian Huskies are medium to large-sized dogs with a height of 20-25 inches and weighing anywhere from 45-60 lbs. Siberian Huskies are born pack dogs and can make great companions, but they are intelligent and very energetic so room to run and chase is a must for these dogs.
In most cases it isn’t possible for one person to own an entire sled dog team and go sledding in the snow all day but walking or even running around the block will NOT suffice for this breed. Remember they are built to run long distances so if you are able to run a couple of miles several times a day, that would be best, teaching your Siberian Husky to run beside you while you ride a bike might be a better option.
Dogs also tire out when they use their brain to work, finding puzzles for your dog to do can tire them out just as quickly if not more so than running them around, stuffing a Kong toy with peanut butter, and freezing it is a great idea to keep your dog satisfied and occupied. Agility and obedience are also great go-to’s for finding outlets for the Siberian Husky’s unlimited energy.
GERMAN SHEPARDS
German Shepherds are one of the most popular dog breeds. These dogs rank at number 2 in the AKC breed popularity. German Shepherds were originally bred to herd and protect livestock but because of their great intelligence, they are commonly used as Military Working dogs and Police dogs as drug detection, bomb detection, and bite dogs.
These large dogs have a height of about 22-26 inches and can weigh anywhere from 50-90 lbs. German Shepherds are very loyal and very confident dogs, and as previously mentioned they are very intelligent. They can make great pets but similar to our other working dogs they will need a lot of exercise and attention, German Shepherds are known to pick one person that they gravitate towards so these dogs may not be suited for family life and maybe better in 1 or 2 person households.
German Shepherds are agile and smart dogs so teaching this breed agility is a great idea. As with all breeds doing basic obedience is also a great thing to teach, and because of their intelligence German Shepherds tend to pick this up very quickly.
BELGIAN MALINOIS
Belgian Malinois (pronounced Mal-in-wah), also referred to in the dog world as the Maligator. This breed originated in, you guessed it, Belgium 
! They have a height of 22-24 inches and can range from 60-80 lbs. There is a new movie out called Dog that stars a beautiful Belgian Malinois, and if history has taught us anything, it is that when movies come out with certain breeds, sales, and adoptions of those breeds skyrocket.
So, I am here to share as much information as I can about this breed! Malinois are NOT for the faint of heart, they are a strong, intelligent breed of dog known for their ability to work. Malinois are often seen as Police K9s working as narcotics detection and bite dogs, or MWDs as explosives detection dogs. They are extremely high-energy dogs not made to sit next to you on the couch all day.
Belgian Malinois can be very friendly dogs but, due to their territorial and protective nature, they can be quite aggressive with strangers as well as other dogs and animals. With the proper training and maintenance Malinois can be very loyal and friendly, they excel at obedience and agility due to their intelligence and overactive nature. A stroll down the street will not suffice for this active breed and I suggest lots of activity for these dogs.
Whether you compete in agility or teach them to do scent work letting this breed work is the best thing for them!
AUSTRALIAN CATTLE DOG
(Commonly known as Blue or Red Heelers)
Australian cattle dogs are our less common dog breed ranking 55 in the AKC breed popularity, but they are still often seen in many pet homes. These dogs were originally bred to herd and drive cattle over long distances. Australian Cattle Dogs are compact, medium size dogs, about 18-20 inches tall and weighing between 35-50 lbs. They have a high prey drive, meaning that they excel at hunting and chasing, and not only are they good at it, but they also enjoy doing it.
Australian Cattle dogs are great runners, their bodies are designed for moving long distances very quickly over rough terrain. A walk around the block is not sufficient exercise for the Australian Cattle Dog, when left alone for long periods of time they often will get bored and become destructive. Playing extensive games of fetch and/or tug-of-war is good for keeping these dogs occupied.
Doing obedience work or even introducing agility are good past times to keep your dog’s mind excited and tire them out. These dogs were also bred to guard and protect livestock so it is not uncommon for them to be suspicious or even aggressive towards strangers, being diligent about socializing your dog as a puppy can be very helpful for preventing this behavior in the future.