Dogs are not only the best friends of humans but also irreplaceable helpers in many areas. They serve in the police, in the army, and work as rescuers and guides. Let’s overview the top-15 most successful and productive service dog breeds!
German Shepherd
The representatives of this breed have historically been the main assistants of the police. These are versatile dogs. They are equally good at finding explosives and drugs. Also, they are ideal for capturing and escorting criminals. Besides, they are great for the army as they stay productive in almost all weather conditions. These dogs can boast of such qualities as endurance, a high level of performance, the talent to be trained quickly, and the ability to make fast decisions.
Malinois (Belgian Shepherd Dog)
This breed is becoming more and more popular as police and army dogs. The representatives of it are very active and productive. They are characterized by a high desire to work and excellent endurance. Dogs of this breed are most often used in the army, at customs, and at airports. Thanks to their incredible sense of smell, they are excellent at finding drugs and explosives.
East European Shepherd
These are close relatives of the German Shepherd. They are just as smart and endurable. But they are distinguished by a more slender constitution and less dense coat. Thanks to their short, sparse fur, they are more suitable for working in hot weather.
Dutch Shepherd
This is a breed, whose progenitors were the Belgian Shepherd Dogs. They inherited only the best features from their ancestors. These are incredibly strong and intelligent dogs that can be trained in anything in no time. All this makes them the best assistants and true friends for police officers and militarists.
Rottweiler
These dogs are ideal for arresting and escorting criminals. They are a bit capricious and require long and hard work from the dog handler. But the effort is worth it! A well-trained dog of this breed is an indispensable assistant for the police!
Labrador Retriever
Labrador Retrievers, along with German Shepherds, have the most powerful sense of smell among all dogs. That is why they can most often be found in search services and at customs. They are great at finding explosives and drugs.
However, dogs of this breed are hardly used by the police, because they are not very good at protecting. Aggression is a breed-disqualifying factor. Therefore, they are unable to apprehend offenders or confront armed criminals. But as search dogs, they are definitely very effective.
In addition, they are very often used as guide dogs. Pets of this breed learn this difficult craft very quickly, thanks to such character traits as friendliness, patience, and high empathy.
Doberman
Even at the stage of breeding, it was clear that these dogs would ideally perform as police officers, bodyguards, and rescuers. They’ve got all the necessary characteristics for this: a compact, strong body, poise, courage, instant reaction, and aggression.
Since representatives of this breed are naturally aggressive, they need tougher upbringing and training. Subject to good and correct training, Dobermans grow up to be adequate, responsible, and prompt service dogs.
Giant schnauzer
These are one of the best service dogs: strong, muscular, and intelligent. They professionally serve and guard. They can often be seen in the police, at customs, and at airports. Thanks to their awesome sense of smell, these dogs quickly identify drugs and explosives.
Border Collie
This breed has long earned the reputation of a versatile human companion. For a long time, these dogs have been used as helpers for shepherds. However, their skills are not limited to protecting sheep and cattle. The Border Collie is one of the smartest dogs in the world. Their analytical thinking, physical stamina, and excellent sense of smell make them superb police officers, search dogs, and rescuers. The police particularly appreciate the ability of these dogs to detect drugs and explosives.
Boxer
The representatives of this breed are actively used as bodyguard dogs in the police. They have inherited the best features of their ancestors, mastiffs and bulldogs, intended for hunting large animals. In the course of breeding work, experts have bred the dogs that possess the fearlessness and confidence of their ancestors, but devoid of their hard-to-control aggression.
These active and strong dogs are distinguished by their loyalty, sensitivity, and high intelligence, which makes them capable of quick training. Such features of these dogs as poise and an uncompromising attitude towards violators are highly valued by the police. At the same time, the representatives of this breed are considered the most playful and gentle among service dogs.
St. Bernard
These dogs are often used as rescuers. They lend themselves well to training and education subject to the right approach. Rigor doesn’t work with the representatives of this breed. They need respect for themselves, not tolerating harshness and injustice. These phlegmatic dogs think out in advance how to accomplish the task better and don’t like to be rushed.
German shorthaired pointer
These dogs were created in the 19th century as hunters. And, thanks to the characteristics that they have been given, in the modern world, they are great for serving in the police. These dogs are obedient, intelligent, active, and energetic.
Cocker Spaniel
Despite their cute appearance and small size, they are excellent service dogs. They have a great sense of smell. Therefore, they are good at finding explosives and drugs. Mostly, they work in the customs service, where there are a lot of things, and a dog must be able to get through them. They are also easier to transport and work indoors than larger breeds. However, a significant disadvantage is that they are unable to protect their owners if it’s needed.
Beagle
These are hunting dogs famous for their superior sense of smell, especially when compared to other service breeds. As natural explorers, the representatives of this breed treat running, hunting, and the study of smells as a game. So it’s quite easy for them to become interested in work related to the search for explosives or drugs. And the small size allows them to work comfortably indoors.
Bloodhound
This is another hunting hound breed. Its representatives are distinguished by a very calm and balanced disposition. They are not prone to aggression and show it only in the most critical cases. These dogs are practically not used as guards because of their good nature and friendliness. However, they follow the trail very well. That’s why they are often used as tracking dogs.