It’s been a boom time for pets over the last few years – Kennel Club figures show that the number of people looking for puppies has surged to record levels.
There are a huge number of pedigree dogs – 221 to be exact – along with numerous crossbreeds, and some of them have a very particular set of skills that make them very useful to fulfil certain tasks.
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From army and police dogs, to sight and hearing dogs, they help make all our lives better.
And for those looking for a puppy, they can also make wonderful family pets, with a great combination of intelligence and empathy.
Here are the 10 most useful breeds of working dog, according to the American Kennel Club
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5. German Shepherd
It would perhaps be quicker to list the jobs a German Shepherd can't do. They are the ultimate in working dog, used by the army and police, as therapy dogs, in airports to sniff out drugs, as guard dogs, for personal protection, and numerous other tasks. Photo: Canva/Getty Images
6. Siberian Husky
Another dog bred to carry out one particular task very well, Siberian Huskies are still used today by adventurers to pull sleds of supplies for miles over inhospitable frozen tundra. Photo: Canva/Getty Images
7. Border Collie
The Border Collie is a sheep herding machine. In fact, it'll herd pretty much anything, including children, making it a great family dog. Photo: Canva/Getty Images
8. Belgian Malinois
The Belgian Malinois is one of the world's best search and resue dogs. They are also very agile and can turn their paw to the canine sport of flyball. Photo: Canva/Getty Images