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.
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. 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
6. Bloodhound
They may only have one job, but Bloodhounds are superb at it. They are one of nature's best trackers and are so good at finding people and things that in some countries their evidence is admissible in court. Photo: Canva/Getty Images
7. 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
8. 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