Dogs on the Job Read

Name Dogs Nonfiction passage Dogs on the Job Read.

No one knows for sure how it happened, but between 14,000 and 33,000 years ago humans and dogs first became friends. However, dogs didn’t come into human settlements just to get scratched behind the ear or to play Jack, a German fetch. They probably came looking for food. Humans, in shepherd dog in Massachusetts, has turn, realized they could put these dogs to work. Dogs on a special vest could help humans hunt, guard property, and pull sleds purchased by IFAW to or carts. help keep police dogs like him safe. Plenty of dog breeds exist today largely for working. We still have guard dogs, such as German shepherds and Doberman pinschers, and herding dogs, such as border collies and Australian cattle dogs. Yet we have also found ways to put all kinds of dogs to work to help people.

Thanks to their keen senses of smell, sight, and hearing, dogs have become very useful workers Some working dogs in modern society. Plus, no other animal seems help herd farm to want to please humans quite like dogs do, animals, such as which makes them easy to train for important and sheep and cattle. demanding jobs. Scientists think dogs get their cooperative spirit from their ancestors, wolves. Wolf pack members have a clear leader, and each member has a clearly defined role within the group. Wolves must cooperate to hunt successfully, share food, and guard territory.

A dog’s sense of smell makes it ideal in search and rescue work. The best search and rescue dogs are also agile and capable of working long hours in difficult environments. They must be able to stay calm and remain focused, even in situations full of distractions, such as in disaster areas.

Dogs that work with law enforcement and military units put their sense of smell to work also. Some are trained to “sniff out” illegal drugs, weapons, bombs and bomb parts, and other types of illegal or dangerous substances. Dogs that work with police officers in K-9 units use their keen sight and hearing to detect even This search dog was part of a rescue the slightest movements of criminal suspects who are hiding. And team looking for survivors after a big at the end of the day, a police officer and a police dog go home earthquake in China, where IFAW together. They are both work partners and family members! teams helped to rescue hundreds of cats and dogs.

1. Scientists are still debating exactly when humans and dogs first became companions. According to the text, when did this relationship probably start? ______

2. Which of the five senses—sight, hearing, smell, touch, German shepherds and shepherd or taste—makes dogs ideal assistants in search and mixes are often trained in the line of rescue situations? Use information from the passage to police work. Perhaps this young pup has what it takes to work in a K-9 explain your answer. police unit one day. ______

3. True or false? According to the passage, dogs have a seemingly natural desire to please humans. Highlight this information in the passage. ______

4. In your own words, briefly describe the dog trait that scientists think comes from wolves, and why it is important. ______

5. Which of these dog breeds is not a working breed mentioned in this selection? a. Doberman pinscher b. Jack Russell terrier c. border collie d. Australian cattle dog

© 2013 International Fund for Animal Welfare. Text and design by The Education Center, LLC Grades 3–5 • www.ifaw.org Answers 1. Between 14,000 and 33,000 years ago 2. Smell 3. True 4. Answers may vary but should generally cite this section of the third paragraph: Scientists think dogs get their cooperative spirit from their ancestors, wolves. Wolf pack members have a clear leader, and each member has a clearly defined role within the group. Wolves must cooperate to hunt successfully, share food, and guard territory. 5. b