Are Dogs Stealing Our Jobs?

Among those in competition at the Westminster Dog Show this week is Elias, a Beauceron  who spends his time off the runway sniffing out gluten in food to protect people with celiac disease.

And as scientists better understand the power of a dog’s nose—100,000 times more sensitive than a human’s—canines are moving into other professions, too.

Doctors/Medical Techs: Labradors

Labs can detect colorectal and bowel cancer with 98 percent accuracy by examining stool samples, according to a recent study. The current technology is correct only 10 percent of the time.

Military Bomb Specialists: German shepherds

Despite upwards of $20 billion spent on technology to detect roadside bombs, nothing beats a dog’s nose. Accordingly, there’s a major push to equip more soldiers with pups, especially in Afghanistan.

Pest Police: Jack Russell terriers

Dogs can sniff out bedbugs with a 95 percent success rate, three times better than mere sight detection. So terriers, puggles, and other small breeds are increasingly in the employ of busy exterminators.

Deep-Sea Scientists: Rottweilers

Many breeds are used to help scientists track endangered species. One Rottweiler named Fargo worked aboard a boat looking for right whales—his broad chest gave him seaworthy balance.

Reality-TV Stars: Chihuahuas

Real Housewives meets Animal Planet: a new reality show called Doggie Moms follows five women and their pampered pooches. Can dogs out-Snooki the humans? Stay tuned.

Courtesy of Newsweek.  http://www.newsweek.com/2011/02/13/are-dogs-stealing-our-jobs.html