 Most of the dogs we see today are pets, companions for the families that own and love them, and although they may assist us, they do not work as such. Within the family our pets provide companionship for all the family but especially play for the children and sometimes a reason to live for the elderly, especially those who live alone. Dogs also make us feel protected as they let us know if a stranger is around by their barking However many dogs have now been trained in specific areas to assist humans in many endeavours, and the following is an illustration of how versatile they are and how adept in their new working lives. 
ASSISTANCE DOGS GUIDE DOGS The most well known job a dog does would be as Guide Dogs for the Blind, most people are well aware of these dogs as we see them in the streets as we go about our business. These dogs are trained to assist the visually impaired. In 1819 Herr Johann Wilhelm Klein began training dogs as guides in Vienna at the Institute for the Blind. 100 years later when a number of blind soldiers returned to Germany after World War 1 a number of schools were dedicated to training Guide Dogs. This training continued moving to America in 1929, Britain 1931 and Australia in the 1950's. Pups are especially chosen to be Guide Dogs and training starts about 14 months of age and takes approximately 6 months. The Breeds used in this training are German Shepherds and Labradors chosen for their placid nature. The person and the dog are carefully assessed to ensure that they are compatible and the Guide Dog works for 8 -10 years when he retires, although he usually able to remain with his owner. 
The Guide dog is on duty when in harness and the User and dog are a Team. The User provides instruction by the use of commands and the dog will obey the command unless there are obstacles or traffic but will proceed once the obstacle has been traversed, or the traffic cleared. Guide dogs are able to judge width to avoid obstacles such as bicycles and can also judge heights to a certain extent to avoid branches . HEARING DOGS Hearing dogs are trained to assist people who are hearing impaired in order to improve the quality of their lives and assist them by alerting them to a variety of sounds, such as crying children, smoke alarms, door bells, telephones, kettles which are necessary for independence and safety. Training takes approximately 8 months and includes obedience, house training, social training and sound awareness, The dogs raise the alert by touching the owner with a paw, and then adopting the “alert posture” of lying down to wait for a response”. Most hearing dogs are mixed breed dogs from rescue centres and in Australia are provided free of charge by the Lions Club. SERVICE DOGS Service dogs are those who assist people who have wheelchairs or physical difficulties, or mobility problems. The dogs are trained to perform tasks that their owners cannot. For example they are taught to retrieve objects, turn on lights, open refrigerators, open and close doors, and propel wheel chairs. FACILITY DOGS Facility dogs are trained for placement into a group situation where they interact with the clients of the special school, aged care, or rehabilitation facility to which they are attached .The dog is handled by a staff member or volunteer to provide assistance with educational, therapeutic or behavioural goals. For example physical therapy may require a patient to throw a ball for the dog to retrieve, whilst developmental disabilities may be assisted by a focus on schedule activities, such as feeding time for the dog or grooming the dog. Having a dog present in these facilities increases co-operation, interaction, self awareness, social stimulation, practice skills, communication and reduces stress and anger. THERAPY DOGS Therapy dogs are trained to allow people to have physical contact with them and enjoy that contact. Their temperament must be friendly, patient, gentle and at ease in all situations. The dogs are used in hospitals, retirement homes, mental institutions, nursing homes, schools and disaster areas. The therapeutic effect of therapy dogs are to relieve stress, lower blood pressure, and raise the spirits of the people they visit.
| 
