Quite similar to the protective breeds, working dog breeds serve the purpose of guarding homes, or other important duties that help humans. These breeds are very large in size and quite strong, making them capable of enduring heavy weights and hard work. Examples of these working dog breeds are St. Bernard’s, whom are a courageous breed with mighty strength used in search and rescue of avalanche incidents. Siberian Husky dogs were developed with incredible endurance and a tolerance for extreme cold when pulling heavy sleds for long distances. The most popular working dog breed in the United States today is the Rottweiler, usually providing guard dog services.

Working dog breeds can make excellent pets in most households; however, proper training and early socialization is necessary to keep these breeds from becoming overly aggressive. It is their tendency to be startled easily and have unpredictable behavior around strangers. Sudden movements or loud noises and voices can trigger some dogs to respond negatively.

Working dog breeds have a long history of providing excellent service to their owners. During times of war, many of these working breeds accompanied soldiers on the battlefield and fought like humans without weapons. When at home, they were left to protect farms and land from thieves and other predators that came to rob and steal livestock.

If you are in the market for a large dog breed, working dog breeds have a good selection to choose from. Keep in mind, however, that these breeds do require proper training and socialization if you plan to raise them from puppies. If purchasing a working dog breed as an adult, be cautious of their previous living conditions and treatment. Neglectful and abusive environments can create unwanted behaviors that are difficult to reverse.