Dogs Who Work: The Canines We Can't Live Without

by Valeria Aloise, Margot Tissot (Illustrator)

All the real and important jobs dogs do, in one lavishly-illustrated book of more than 50 breeds.  Dogs save lives and protect property. They search for treasures and sniff out criminals. They guide people who cannot see and comfort those who are sick. Dogs Who Work is about all the important jobs that real dogs do every day. Along the way, you’ll meet the breeds that excel in certain skills, from guarding priceless paintings or assisting police or gathering tennis balls! You’ll even meet the mythological dogs who could fly or bring back the dead, and the famous dog who was elected mayor. This lavishly-illustrated book is a great introduction to all the dogs we love—and cannot live without. 

Genres: Dogs, Animals, Nonfiction

104 pages, Hardcover

Published January 10, 2023

About the author

Valeria Aloise is an institutional communication specialist that lives in Lausanne, Switzerland. She shares her home with French Bulldog Arnold, who she named after Arnold Schwarzenegger because of his strong stature. For her entire life she's loved dogs and wishes all of us would return the unconditional love dogs show us!

Reviews

[Lizzie S · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was SO CUTE!! I am obsessed with the subreddit r/dogswithjobs and when I saw this on NetGalley I knew I had to read it. It's definitely aimed at younger readers, but it was still an enjoyable read and I learned some new things. Did you know huskies keep their feet at 32F to avoid melting the snow they run on??

A great 200th book of the year :)

Thanks so much to NetGalley, Valeria Aloise, and Helvetiq for this ARC! Dogs Who Work will be out January 10th, 2023.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
The cover and title of this book intrigued me immediately. And it didn't disappoint!
I like the organization of this book. I even learned a few things as this doesn't just focus on the common knowledge about working dogs. The illustrations we're pretty spot on for the different breeds.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clearly written by someone who has a keen appreciation for dogs and their ability not only to charm humans and become essential parts of their lives but also in acknowledgement of their versatility and ability to perform various jobs. Of course, not all canines are suited for work or for certain jobs, just as is the case for humans. Thus, the author identifies breeds that are, followed by descriptions of dogs engaged in jobs with which readers will be familiar, such as sled dogs, police dogs, guide dogs, and rescue dogs. But they also work as lifeguards, medical response, therapy, and even cancer detectors, all jobs performed by certain dogs and with which readers may not be familiar. There's even a section devoted to unusual jobs dogs can be trained to do, such as retrieving tennis balls during a match or practice, or even as a domestic violence protection or a leak detector. The book also describes some of the jobs dogs once performed but do no longer; for instance, a telegraph messenger, fishing, and in combat as well as mythological dogs. The text is reader-friendly and accessible, written in an engaging tone that invites readers to marvel at the wonderfulness of dogs, and it is supported by colorful artwork, sometimes spot artwork or one-third, one-half or even full-page illustrative features and plentiful white space so as not to overwhelm readers. Anyone who has ever loved a dog knows quite well that it's impossible to live without these animals, but this book offers many reasons that humans owe a debt of gratitude to them for all their labor.

[Elizabeth Mellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and Helvetiq for the ARC of this!

We love anything about pets, dogs or cats especially, when homeschooling, and this was no exception. My daughter loved seeing the different jobs available to dogs, what skills different breeds can have/use, and famous historical dogs (including her all-time favorite Laika). The art style was really cute and the text was well done, not too much for a child to read (or an adult to read aloud) but it was informative and interesting.

[Irene · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a dog lover, I always enjoy reading news stories about working dogs, so this book naturally appealed to me.. This children’s book is nicely organized making it a quick and easy read.

The first part of the book is devoted to defining different types of working dogs that include “Did you know” fun facts. Later in the book, there are descriptions of specific famous working dogs like Balto, Sgt. Stubby, and even some famous fictional dogs like Cerebus. If you’re looking to add more nonfiction to a child’s library, this book would make a good choice.

I didn’t particularly care for the illustrations, but they are colorful.

Thank you to NetGalley and Helvetiq for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[June Price · Rating 4 out of 5]

Publication Jan. 10, 2023

This was a fun, reasonably quick initial read although I found myself going back to re-read sections again here and there. There's no need to read in in order, I might note, so feel free to skip around, backtrack, and enjoy at a leisurely pace. I was surprised not to see actual photos of the various dog breeds discussed but the artwork, in its simplicity, is colorful and works nicely. Now, true, I wouldn't expect a photographer to risk being burnt to a crisp to photograph mythical Cerberus ferociously protecting the gates of the underworld, though did wish they'd included a photo example of how painter Picasso utilized his Dachshund, Lump, in sketches and paintings. Yes, the various jobs discussed are that diverse. 

As an Alaskan, I was delighted to see that sled dogs got a nod within, especially since Balto's kennel mate,Togo, stands mounted at the Iditarod Headquarters. Balto, who is mentioned within, is displayed elsewhere. Cleveland, I believe. Nevertheless, both saved lives and deserve the recognition. Both were heroes and the name Balto seems more widely known, hence will appeal to children more readily.

I won't discuss all the jobs dogs have done past and present, but the comment about dogs who work search and rescue hit home. It called rescue dogs "saints" for the difficult, often dangerous job they do. These dogs range from the wonderful dogs we saw so intensely search after 9-11 to the dogs who search out and help rescue those caught in avalanches or other disasters. Other dogs may be less heroic, true, but, hey, dogs have even been elected as Mayor, so all have their function and duties.

All in all, a fun, easy read with lots of information on not just the jobs dogs may do but breeds and origins, general height and weight, and the qualities that make them ideal for the jobs they do. A great introduction to hard working dogs.

Thanks #NetGalley and #Helvetiq for letting me visit with so many different, wonderful dogs.

[Stace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dogs Who Work: The Canines We Cannot Live Without is a children’s educational book all about as you might have guessed, dogs. The book is large, quite heavy, and contains 104 pages split into fourteen chapters with a list of dog breeds at the back.

The book begins by explaining how dogs can work hand-in-paw with humans to get certain jobs done. We then move on to the history of dogs working alongside humans and the most popular breeds that do.

The book looks at the different jobs that the dogs have from those children will probably have heard of, Police Dogs, Sheep Dogs, etc to some that they won’t have heard of before such as Cancer Detecting Dogs and Life Guard Dogs.

Each double page explains the role of the dog, the breeds that do that job, the qualities needed, their mission, and a ‘Did you know?’ section. On the double page is also a ful- page illustration showing the dog in its role.

Dogs Who Work: The Canines We Cannot Live Without is certainly a book for those children who love dogs or for those wanting to learn more about them. It is filled to the brim with fascinating information and facts. It even has a section on famous dogs, although I hadn’t heard of all of them so I learned something too. My tiny disappointment is that I would have loved to have some real-life pictures in the book not just illustrations, but this is a tiny flaw and many may not agree with me.

Overall, this is a book that educates in a fun way. Children will learn so much about dogs and hopefully, this book will have them appreciating them more than ever. 4.5 stars

[Theediscerning · Rating 5 out of 5]

This will probably serve as the one example of its kind you need for your school collection – it covers a generally great mix of subjects. Here are jobs we've been passing off onto our canine companions for millennia, such as hunting, mixed with the more recent (the guide dog for the sightless, perhaps) and the old yet seldom thought of, such as truffle snuffling. And who knew a Westie could be trained for that latter – the job description each time tells us the qualities and the critters commonly used for each. Humorously, this also goes to the same length when discussing the bonkers American towns that elect dogs as mayor. And for guarding hell.

We end with a select few famous doggies, such as Laika and the sled-dog that inspired the Iditarod, meaning this gets even greater ratings for doing more than you might have expected. It is debatable as to whether photos of the mutts would not have been better, but the artwork is pretty decent here, and when we get to military uses for hairy hounds surely sugar the pill and make the idea more child-friendly. And friendly this is – fascinating for dog-lovers and others alike, and pleasingly hard to imagine bettered.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

Dogs Who Work is a well written nonfiction selection for children by Valeria Aloise. Due out 10th Jan 2023 from Helvetiq, it's 104 pages and will be available in hardcover format.

Originally published in French, this English language translation is well written and beautifully illustrated. The text is easy to understand and is written at a middle-grade reader level. The book is full of working dogs doing their jobs which are explained clearly in words and pictures. The art, by Margot Tissot, is well rendered and full of charm and whimsy. The translation work is done by Jeffrey K. Butt and is seamless and unobtrusive and doesn't read as though it's been translated (which is of course the intention). 

Four stars. This would be a wonderful selection for public or school library acquisition, home use, or gift giving. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a cool concept for a book! Well organized into sections (jobs you know, jobs you might not know, unusual jobs, forgotten jobs, mythical jobs, and famous working dogs), this book provides a lot of information about the role of working dogs in societies present, past, and mythical. The pages are nicely laid out, with plenty of illustrations and a few paragraphs of information and some bulleted lists to describe the various dog occupations.

My kids' curiosity was indulged by this book. It was especially cool to learn about firefighter dogs, mayor dogs, and even art curator dogs. The book is lovingly crafted and shows a love for dogs, beginning on the first page where the creators eschew the terms "master" and "owner" in favor of the more egalitarian "human." I recommend this book for anyone who loves dogs and is curious about their different roles in the world.

Thank you to Helvetiq and NetGalley for providing an advance reader copy for us to review! We enjoyed it.

[Carlee Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited to get access to this book! I would have loved this book as a kid. I loved the illustrations and felt it was educational and age-appropriate for kids. I loved the quote "humans and dogs work "hand-in-paw"". The book highlights specific breeds and specific jobs that dogs have. As the book breaks down specific jobs that dogs have, it includes different fun facts about those jobs or the breeds most likely to do those jobs. As a lifelong dog lover who grew up learning about dogs for fun, I learned new things. This is great for kids and families, but really for anyone who loves dogs and wants to learn more. It is a very approachable read! Thank you to NetGalley for providing me a digital advanced copy of this book!

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This interesting book covers all sorts of dogs with jobs, from the familiar service dogs, and rescue dogs to those with more unusual occupations like truffle hunting, and detecting both cancer in humans, AND insects bent on destroying fine art collections.

Our canine pals are truly amazing!

You'll meet some famous doggos of the past, like Balto, Laika, and Sergeant Stubby. There are also sections on jobs dogs have held throughout history, and mythological pooches.

Though aimed at middle-grade readers, this one's a treat for dog lovers of all ages, and would make a fine addition to any library.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the read.

[Felicia Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great informative little book. I loved that it had several categories and it didn't only talk about the well known jobs that dogs can do. I also thought the breed suggestions was a really cool idea. While I don't necessarily believe on certain dogs can do certain jobs i think its cool to see the dogs that historically filled those rolls.
The art was also really cute. The art work was realistic while still having that eye catching cartoon color and style. This is a book thats great for kids and adults.

[Dione Hanke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dogs Who Work is a book dedicated to dogs that work for humans all over the world. Dogs are great at teamwork and will learn just about anything to help us out. Most dog breeds were developed to perform something that would benefit humans.
The illustrations in the book are well done, fun and give you an idea of what that breed looks like. Some of the jobs the dogs do described in the book served men long ago. And other jobs are new for dogs like detecting cancer. This is a great book for adults and children to learn about all the great things that dogs can learn to do.

[Tiana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was everything I hoped for and more. I enjoyed reading about dogs. I love dogs so I am sure I would have enjoyed it anyways. However, this book gave great details that are age appropriate for most every age group that can understand the words. The information about the dogs' jobs is very well done. The pictures were beautiful and a great touch.

Read if you love...
Dogs
Dog pictures
Dogs with jobs
Small chapter books

[Lisa Gisèle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you netgalley for this ARC. I am leaving an 100% honest review.

I rather enjoyed Dogs who Work quite a bit. The fact that is was broken down by sections was genius. I never knew dogs could look for truffles instead of pigs. The mythical jobs were really interesting and fun to learn. I felt like the font was a tad small, but that could be my tablet so I won't rate on that .

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 4 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus