working dog

noun

: 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

Examples of working dog in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
State of play: Visitors can explore the Coast Guard Museum Northwest and see exhibits from the Navy League of the United States, Puget Sound Navy Museum and the U.S. Marine Corps, including artillery displays, military working dog demonstrations, pugil stick simulators and Humvee displays. Christine Clarridge, Axios, 31 July 2024 The report — which addresses the working conditions of working dogs — somehow escaped our noticed until we were scooped by our friends at USA Facts, a data evangelism and dissemination outfit founded by former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. Andrew Van Dam, Washington Post, 15 Mar. 2024 Advertisement Young saw the devastation to wildlife firsthand while doing research in Mongolia, where companion and working dogs often roam free. Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 4 Jan. 2024 But for search and rescue dogs and military working dogs that may operate beyond line of sight, or for people with some kinds of disabilities, neither of those communication options might be available. IEEE Spectrum, 22 July 2019 See all Example Sentences for working dog 

Word History

First Known Use

1885, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of working dog was in 1885

Dictionary Entries Near working dog

Cite this Entry

“Working dog.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/working%20dog. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on working dog

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!