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This article focuses on the areas where harnessing the canine’s trainability, mobility, and sociability enables their use for aiding and augmenting humans. This area, which is rapidly expanding, has provided life-changing solutions for persons affected by various impairments and disabilities (eg, visual, hearing, physical, mental).

Individual differences in behavior lead to wide variability in working dog suitability, and are the primary reason for rejection or early release. Behavioral suitability of a working dog is shaped by interactions with its environment during early development and specialized training. Understanding how aspects of development and training affect a working dog’s performance is critical for practitioners to effectively evaluate and treat behavioral concerns in working dogs. This article provides an overview of critical aspects of puppy development that influence future behavior, and reviews important features of training that influence a dog’s ability to learn and perform its designated task.

Our canine companions have learned to aid us in performing tasks and conducting work for decades. Areas where unique capabilities of working dogs are harnessed is growing. This expansion alongside efforts to increase domestic purpose-bred stock and awareness of the important role working dogs play in society is increasing the role veterinarians provide. This chapter provides a brief overview of three key sensory systems in working dogs and highlights considerations for care related to each olfaction, audition and vision.