Dog breed lists
Working Dog Breeds
Working breeds were developed for jobs such as guarding, pulling sleds and rescue. They're strong, intelligent and loyal, and they do best with confident owners and consistent training. Here are the working breeds in our guides, most popular first.
-
1
Working
Rottweiler
A powerhouse with a soft spot for its people.
- 80–135 lbs
- 8–10 yrs
- Active
- 2
-
3
Working
Doberman Pinscher
The Velcro bodyguard.
- 60–100 lbs
- 8–10 yrs
- Athlete
-
4
Working
Cane Corso
Italian mastiff with a bodyguard's poise.
- 90–120+ lbs
- 8–10 yrs
- Active
- 5
-
6
Working
Siberian Husky
Built to run all day, and to tell you about it.
- 35–60 lbs
- 12–14 yrs
- Athlete
-
7
Working
Bernese Mountain Dog
A tri-colored teddy bear with farm-dog roots.
- 70–115 lbs
- 7–10 yrs
- Moderate energy
-
8
Working
English Mastiff
Two hundred pounds of polite.
- 120–230 lbs
- 6–10 yrs
- Easygoing
-
9
Working
Newfoundland
A lifeguard in a bear suit.
- 100–150 lbs
- 9–10 yrs
- Moderate energy
-
10
Working
Portuguese Water Dog
Portugal's net-hauling, curly-coated swimmer.
- 35–60 lbs
- 11–13 yrs
- Athlete
- 11
-
12
Working
Giant Schnauzer
A bodyguard with a beard.
- 55–85 lbs
- 10–12 yrs
- Athlete
-
13
Working
Great Pyrenees
A polar bear on the night shift.
- 85–115+ lbs
- 10–12 yrs
- Moderate energy
-
14
Working
Saint Bernard
The Alpine rescue dog, gentle giant included.
- 120–180 lbs
- 8–10 yrs
- Easygoing
- 15
-
16
Working
Alaskan Malamute
The freight train of the Arctic.
- 75–85+ lbs
- 10–14 yrs
- Athlete
-
17
Working
Leonberger
A lion that thinks it is a lamb.
- 90–170 lbs
- 7–9 yrs
- Moderate energy
-
18
Working
Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
Strong, steady and built to haul a cart.
- 85–140 lbs
- 8–11 yrs
- Active
-
19
Working
Kuvasz
A royal bodyguard in a white coat.
- 70–115 lbs
- 10–12 yrs
- Moderate energy
How we picked
This list shows every breed in the Working group in our guides, ranked by popularity.
Questions people ask
What are working dog breeds?
Working breeds were developed for jobs such as guarding, pulling sleds and rescue. They're strong, intelligent and loyal, and they do best with confident owners and consistent training.
Are working breeds good family dogs?
It depends on the breed. Each guide covers temperament, energy, trainability and grooming so you can judge the fit for your home.