Working Dogs
Working dogs (or guard dogs) are bred to work alone protecting territory or work with law enforcement officers apprehending criminals. Guard dogs (Mastiffs, Dobermans, Beaucerons) are suspicious of anything or anyone unfamiliar to them. These breeds usually form a close bond with one or two people although they can be very trustworthy guardians of children if raised with them. Rescue dogs (Newfoundlands, St. Bernards) are also bred to find lost people. Rescue dogs are much more trusting of strangers than Guard dogs. These dogs are all large and come in all coat types, some with cropped ears and docked tails.
The Northern dogs (Huskies, Samoyed, Spitz) are also working dogs but are not as territorial as guard dogs. They also show very low levels of aggression toward strangers. They can be more predatory toward small animals than other breeds and are comfortable spending time alone. In fact, Northern dogs often take off on their own if allowed to escape. They usually have a double coat with straight hair over a fluffy undercoat that sheds twice each year. Most northern breeds have upright ears and curled fluffy tails.
