Dogs with Jobs: Working Dogs Around the World

Steve Pitt is a Toronto-based freelance writer and an award-winning journalist. He has written many young adult and children's books, including Day of the Flying Fox: The True Story of World War II Pilot Charley Fox.

Mas is a Newfoundland dog. As a member of the Italian Coast Guard, she
jumps from helicopters into the sea to rescue people who are in danger
of drowning. Yanka and King are German shepherds. Together with Chris,
their South African human handler, they sniff out land mines and booby
traps in wartorn countries like Bosnia. Snooper is a beagle. Her
supersensitive nose enables her to find termite nests that human pest
control officers often miss. Cayenne is a mutt. Her natural instincts
for loyalty and protection, however, make her an ideal companion for
disabled people. These are just a few of the working dogs listed in this
companion volume to the television series of the same name.

Written by veterinarian Kim Kachanoff and award-winning multimedia
writer Merrily Weisbord, this book takes the reader around the world to
see the extremely diverse ways in which a canine can earn a living. For
background, the authors first give the reader a quick overview of the
common dog characteristics that make them such wonderful companions and
workers. Then individual breeds are examined and rated according to
their particular breed’s traits such as “pack drive,” “prey
drive,” “defensive drive,” and “the flight drive.” The text is
divided into six chapters that group working dogs together by job
category. The chapters include “Search and Rescue and Detection
Dogs,” “Herding Dogs,” “Performance Dogs” (show dogs, racers,
and movie stars), “Sled Dogs,” “Service Dogs” (dogs who help
disabled people), and “Eco Dogs” (canines who protect the
environment). In each chapter, the special relationship between the
working dog and its owner is examined in detail. Lots of black-and-white
and full-color photos support the text.

From the tone of the prose, it is easy to tell that Weisbord and
Kachanoff are true dog lovers. Their expertise and love of subject shine
through on every page. But you do not have to be a devoted dog
enthusiast to enjoy this book. With the variety of subjects covered,
anyone who likes well-written, informative nonfiction will likely find
this book fascinating.