California Canines: Dogs with Jobs

Most of us know dogs best as pets and companions, but for thousands of years, dogs have helped people with daily tasks such as herding livestock, hunting for food, or hauling loads.  More recently, dogs have been used to help people with disabilities, to assist in search and rescue missions, and to protect the public in partnership with military and law enforcement units.  Some dogs even do unconventional jobs like helping scientists track endangered species, locating ancient burial grounds, or alerting wine grape growers to insect infestations in the vines. 

California has been a leader in developing specialized dog training, and California dogs have served in many capacities around the nation and the world. Meet a few of them in this exhibit!