Dogs With Jobs
Dogs. (Wo)man’s best friend. Some of our dearest companions.
Many dogs, however, are wired for more than just companionship. From bird dogs to herd dogs, these canines know how to earn their keep, each filled with purpose, vigor, and apparent contentment at the completion of an expected task. Many begin their training as pups, though some breeds’ instincts set them up to be naturally far more successful at one job than another. Though this sampling only skims the surface of the local working dog scene, I was happy to meet a representative handful of dogs around Teton Valley hard at work.
Trout
Border Collie
[Livestock Herding—6 years old]
Border collies are specifically bred for intelligence and obedience. Trout, a tri-colored border collie, is constantly tuned into his owners Gabby and Jesse Murdock, waiting for the next command. His movements toward livestock push the animals in desired directions, allowing large groups of stock to be moved efficiently. Ranging from “come by” to “that’ll do,” each command directs Trout onto a different task. Like any great stock dog, Trout is quick, attentive, and brave.
Tashi & Hoss
Brittanies
[Gun Dog/Bird Hunting—Both 6 years old]
Tashi and Hoss make quite the duo in the field. Brittanies, known as Brittany Spaniels until the early 1980s, are regarded as great all-purpose hunting dogs, specifically for covering ground, pointing, and retrieving downed birds (Tashi’s favorite task). While both are agile and energetic, Tashi lets Hoss do a lot of the work flushing birds for their owners, Kevin Emery and Kate Koons.
Nayeli
Great Pyrenees
[Livestock Guardian—She declined to reveal her age]
Nayeli is part of the pack of Great Pyrenees tasked with protecting the Siddoway family’s sheep flocks on rangeland surrounding Teton Valley. Guardian dogs work well independently, protecting livestock from predators. With the ability to endure harsh weather, Pyrenees are well suited to living outdoors. Nayeli’s calm energy and patience allow her to fit in effortlessly with the flock.
Bannock
German Shepherd
[Search & Rescue—5 years old]
Bannock is one of Deb and Joe Hurlburt’s (beloved) working German shepherds. Focused and full of life, his list of credentials is impressive. Bannock works with the North American Police Working Dog Association and Idaho Search & Rescue Dogs. Certified in scent-specific human tracking and cadaver tracking on land and water, he works cases for local sheriff departments, the FBI, national parks, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Addie
Doberman Pinscher
[Limited Protection Service Animal—2 years old]
Addie is a service-dog-in-training with local trainer Ronda Bowser. Addie’s limited protection skill set is intended to suit a person living with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These skills are honed to help her companion discern safe situations from alarming ones. Her job is not to show aggression, but to stay alert to the world around her, communicate her observations, and provide constant companionship to someone benefiting from the buddy system. (Addie was successfully matched with an ideal forever home last fall.)
