1. Let’s go to Work!!!
The Working Group

2. Working Group History Pullers, guarders, and rescuers!
Originally bred for “hard labor”
Pullers, guarders, and rescuers!
Some only had one job, others had many!
Selected for size, shape, strength, endurance and aggression (for guarders)
Not used (typically) for these purposes for hundreds of years!

3. The Working Groups Guarders (or hunters in some cases) include:
Akitas, Malamutes, Great Danes, Mastiffs, and Kuvazes were all bred to protect and hunt.
Black Russians, Dobermans, and Rottweilers have security and military history.
The Pullers include:
Husky, Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, Samoyeds, Great Pyranees and Saint Bernard were bred to pull (and sometimes rescue as in St. Bernard)
The Rescuers are:
Portuguese Water Dog, Newfoundland, and St. Bernard

4. Working Group Special Requests
Even though bred for different jobs, in modern day, all have similar requests:
MUST, MUST, MUST get enough exercise! Because bred (potentially) for aggression, you must let them “blow off steam”
Carting or pulling activities. (Great way to keep kids occupied too if pulling a wagon!)
Schutzhund exercises (If done properly!)
This is not supposed to be just an attack training, there is a lot of submission/obedience and direction/tracking that needs to be completed first! Dog must be completely focused on handler BEFORE any attack work.

5. Akita

6. Heinz Bodies in Erythrocytes commonly seen with Lymphosarcoma.
Also caused by onion/acetaminophen toxicity. Akitas are often born with an autoimmune dz that may accelerate the formation of these abnormal blood cells.

8. Red

9. Anatolian Shepherd

10. Bernese Mountain Dog

11. Black Russian Terrier

12. Boerboel

13. Boerboel

14. Boxer and BUSTER

15. Ear Cropping: Being done less and less often since it is just cosmetic
Ear Cropping: Being done less and less often since it is just cosmetic. AKC is also allowing more breeds to show even without prick ears. Ie: Boxer

16. Bullmastiff

17. Cane Corso

18. Cane Corso Uncropped ears

19. Chinook

20. Doberman Pinscher: Warlock strain is what was bred for aggression in 70’s 80’s.

21. Dogue de Bordeaux
(Hooch from Marley’s Mutts is a Dogue de Bordeaux. Otherwise known as a French Mastiff)

22. Hooch! Photos courtesy of http://www.marleysmutts.org/hooch/
Hooch was rescued by Marley’s Mutts and had lost a substantial amount of weight. They sedated him for xrays and found that his tongue had been removed at the base. He now eats seated up in a “Bailey Chair” and has modified his underbite to slurp up water.
Photos courtesy of

23. German Pinscher

24. Giant Schnauzer

25. Great Dane

26. Great Pyrenees : Naturally have dbl dewclaw
Great Pyrenees : Naturally have dbl dewclaw. DO NOT REMOVE unless specifically asked for by owner!

29. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog: Derived from ancient Roman Mastiffs
Greater Swiss Mountain Dog: Derived from ancient Roman Mastiffs. Guard, Herd and Draft!
Came to USA in 1968, AKC in 1985 w/ full recognition in 1995.
Basically long-haired Bernese!

30. Komondor
It can take up to two years for the cords to form completely and 5 years to reach the desired length. (8 to 11 inches)

32. Kuvasz

33. Leonberger

34. Mastiff with Randi Barnett
Mastiff with Randi Barnett. Dog was 10 months old and weighed 115 pounds!

35. Neopolitan Mastiff

36. Newfoundland: Could jump into frigid water and rescue drowning man or nets, etc…

37. Portuguese Water Dog

38. Rottweiler

39. Osteosarcoma

40. Saint Bernard

42. Kujo

43. Samoyed

44. Siberian Huskey

45. Alaskan Malamute

46. Standard Schnauzer

47. Tibetan Mastiff