> In the Lassie films and TV series, Lassie was taught by her owners to do many tricks and even rescue people from all the jams they got into. In real life dogs provide many more important functions and services.

> When working with firefighters dogs can be trained to sniff out the origin of a fire when investigating arson as well as searching for and rescuing/recovering people who may still be in the area. When working with the police dogs protect officers, search and rescue for objects, suspects and victims, and sniff out bombs and drugs.

> Services dogs help an individual with physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other types of mental disability. Seeing Eye Dogs are the most common type of service dog and they help their blind owner navigate in and out of the home, while Hearing Dogs do the same for their deaf owners. Mobility Assistance dogs help people with limited mobility by picking things up, pulling a wheelchair, opening doors, and more. Some dogs are born with a natural ability to know when a person's blood sugar is low, or if a person is about to have a seizure. Those special skills cannot be taught to a dog, they must be born with it. Service dogs can also help people with Autism by helping them process sensory signals and focus on the most important event happening at any given moment.

> Therapy dogs have to pass basic obedience training and receive regular veterinary care and grooming. When therapy dogs visit, they bring joy and calm to people in many different types of facilities such as schools, retirement homes and hospitals.