Editing Working dog (section)

{{Short description|Dog trained to perform practical tasks}}
{{About||the comedy group|Working Dog Productions|the winery in New Jersey|Working Dog Winery}}
[[File:London Police Dogs.jpg|thumb|[[Detection dog]] of the [[Metropolitan Police]] patrolling in London]]
[[File:Caoguia2006.jpg|thumb|[[Guide dog]] in Brazil]]
[[File:Murgjo_Sharr_Mountain_Dog_Nedi_Limani.jpg|thumb|[[Šarplaninac]] [[livestock guarding dog]]s at work in the [[Šar Mountains]]]]
A '''working dog''' is a dog [[Human uses of animals|used]] to perform practical tasks, as opposed to pet or [[companion dog]]s.

Definitions vary on what a working dog is, they are sometimes described as any dog [[Dog training|trained]] for and employed in meaningful work; other times as any dog whose breed heritage or physical characteristics lend itself to working irrespective of an individual animal's training or employment; and other times again it is used as a synonym for [[herding dog]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/working-dog |title=working dog |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=2020 |website=Collins Dictionary |publisher=HarperCollins Publishers L.L.C. |access-date=21 January 2020 |quote=a dog of suitable breed or training kept for its practical use, such as herding sheep, rather than as a pet or for showing}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/working%20dog |title=working dog|author=<!--Not stated--> |date=2019 |website=Merriam-Webster |access-date=21 January 2020 |quote=a dog suitable by size, breeding, or training for useful work (such as draft or herding) especially as distinguished from one suitable primarily for pet, show, or sporting use}}</ref><ref name=Oxford>{{cite web |url=https://www.lexico.com/definition/working_dog |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200126055509/https://www.lexico.com/definition/working_dog |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 26, 2020 |title=working dog|author=<!--Not stated--> |date=2019 |website=Lexico |publisher=Oxford University Press |access-date=21 January 2020 |quote=A dog trained to work with livestock.}}</ref>