Working Animals

A typical day for the average dog might mean a belly scratch in the morning followed by a stroll around the park. Around noon, it's time to plop on the couch and nap a couple hours away. A little staring out the window, a few minutes of barking at the neighbor's dog—and its been a great day all around.

But for the countless working animals of the world, napping the day away is the last thing on their minds. These inspiring pups take work ethic to a whole new level.

Dogs may be man's best friend, but guide dogs offer much more than just companionship. For men and women who are blind or visually impaired, venturing out into the world can be a challenging and sometimes frightening experience. By helping their owner get to and fro, guide dogs are helping their owner to be more independent and confident.

German shepherds, Labrador retrievers and golden retrievers are commonly bred as guide dogs. Light training begins as a puppy and becomes more intense as the dog ages. Guide dogs must learn obedience, resistance to distraction and agility. A guide dog's main responsibility is to help its owner move about safely by avoiding obstacles like curbs, traffic and people.