Man’s Best Friend

Dogs are a common sight in almost every part of the world. Some researchers believe that

“wolves and dogs split into different species around 100,000 years ago” (Animal Freedom, n.d.).

In the past, dogs were probably used for hunting and herding. While this is still true today, dogs are used for a variety of purposes, and dogs benefit human’s lives in many different ways. For example, dogs can be used as service animals, for various types of security roles, and, of course, for pets. In fact, dogs are some of our very best friends.

Dogs have been trained to provide a variety of services. For example, some dogs are specially trained to assist blind people. Dorothy Harrison is credited with beginning the formal training of guide dogs, after visiting a school in Potsdam, Germany that trained German

Shepherds to assist blinded German war veterans (Muhlenberg College, n.d.). It is difficult to know the exact number of guide dogs in service worldwide, but it is estimated that there are about 10,000 dogs assisting blind people in the United States and Canada (Guide Dogs for the

Blind, n.d.). Guide dogs have given many blind people freedom and independence again.

Dogs have also been trained to provide specialized security services. It is not uncommon to see drug-sniffing dogs at the airport screening luggage and cargo for illegal drugs. Depending on the breed, a dog can smell up to 10 million times better than a human because they have as many as 300 million scent glands, compared to about five million in humans (Dog Breed Info

Center, n.d.). In fact, bloodhounds are a particularly useful for search-and-rescue operations and for tracking criminals. According to the Dog Breed Info Center (n.d.), they have been known to foll... ... middle of paper ...

...). Bloodhound. Retrieved May, 29, 2012, from http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/bloodhound.htm Guide Dogs for the Blind. (n.d.). Frequently asked questions. Retrieved May 29, 2012, from http://www.guidedogs.com/site/PageServer?pagename=about_overview_faq Hirst, K. (n.d.). Dog history: how were dogs domesticated? Retrieved May 29, 2012, from http://archaeology.about.com/od/domestications/qt/dogs.htm Muhlenberg College. (n.d.). History of dog guides. Retrieved May 29, 2012 from http://www.muhlenberg.edu/studorgs/companion/ccfaqhistory.html Thangham, C. (2007). Dog faithfully awaits return of his master for past 11 years. Retrieved from http://digitaljournal.com/article/218509/Dog_faithfully_awaits_return_of_his_maste r_for_past_11_years The History Place. (n.d.). George Graham Vest: Tribute to the dog. Retrieved May 29,

2012 from http://www.historyplace.com/speeches/vest.htm