Dog Information

Is there a difference between Working Dog, and Pet Dog?

Most dog find their way into regular homes, but what about the working dogs, the ones that are trained for specific purposes to only herd, hunt and be used as an early warning device. For the pet lovers who treat their dogs like kid, dressing them, and making out like yet another family member, what about the other dogs who main purpose is not to be a pet? No hugs or bathes. Just their job, and a meal?

Public Comments

1. Depends on the owner. Some people (and studies show) that dogs with jobs who live with families work better, longer for their people, while kenneled dogs that get no "family time" are more indifferent to their work. Some people think that working/hunting dogs have no business being in the house with family. That is somehow "spoils" the dog for the work. They are kenneled (usually tied to a dog house) given dinner and are left alone, outdoors until morning. I think people are pretty much split on the idea. Just as many think there's a benefit to "family time" as there are people who won't allow their working dog to be "spoiled".
2. some people have working dogs such as assistance dogs who are not pets as they have been specially trained to assist in some way such as guide dogs, the dog is working when guiding and is treated as working when doing so however the dogs get time off when they are treated as a regular pet they get hugs, baths, treats etc however there is a difference in that they have a different purpose a pet is a companion whereas a working dog has a job and this is an important part of the dogs life but dogs can be working and have home comforts.
3. I know that some farm dogs, like sheep herding dogs, border collies, cattle dogs are not permitted in the home, they sleep in the barn. These dogs are happy when they are working. Working dogs can also be good house pets and companions but they need to work too for them to be happy as house pets. There are some people that will take a sheep herder like a border collie and put them in compitition for agility which keeps the dog happy, always using their mind and bodies. I would imagine all dogs would be happy to try agility or flyball. My dog had a bull dog in his agility class and you would never think this breed dog would do this sport. He loves his person and was happy to please her and so he loved agility and was good at it because of it.
4. My relatives live on a ranch and so I've encountered many "working dogs" that are also pets. From what I've seen, this isn't necessarily the rule however. The dogs are expected to go out in the fields and help herd (they still do everything on horseback), but they're welcome at the campfire and welcome in the tiled areas of the house. They don't dress up their dogs, but they love their pets just as much as the next person. My uncle also has a GSP which is a working dog, he has a kennel outside which he spends time in, but he is welcome in the house. He has a job to do, but the kids still love him to death and so he's treated as a pet when he isn't working. Dogs who are just pets have jobs too, we as people just may not notice it. I have a herding dog, and her job is to get me up for walks and jogs. She also helps wake me up when I snooze my alarm (nothing like a big slobbery tongue in the morning). She also is like a security system, she lets us know when people are coming up the walk way (not that she'd do anything if they came in!). There are extremes on both cases, but I think many people who have working dogs also treat them with respect and love as they would the other animals they own.
5. Depending on what the dog is doing, they can have a regular pet life after hours. A herding dog herds the flocks during the day, but may be in the home at night. A service dog (seeing eye dog, assistance dog) is on duty almost all the time. When they have the harness off, they can be a regular dog, but when the harness is on, they are a working dog. These dogs are on-call 24/7, but only work when needed. Some dog like hearing dogs need to be working all the time to alert to the phone, door bell or fire alarm. They are usually a regular dog in the house, but a working dog when they have the vest on. They always have to be alert to sounds. Depending on the program, police dogs may live in a kennel with other police dogs. While other places have the dog live with the handler and the dog is a regular dog at home. Most working dogs are treated like a dog at home. They are probably not dressed up, but do get cuddled, bathed, brushed and loved. Different handlers/owners treat their dogs differently. These dogs are a working dog first and a pet second.