The Alaskan Malamute was bred by an Inuit tribe known as the Mahlemuts, who worked with this powerful dog. It became the choice of many polar explorers as a sled-pulling and protective companion.
When battling a wildfire in Alaska, dogs assist firefighters in various ways. For example, a variety of roles that are performed by some of these highly trained dogs include the following tasks, but are not limited to:
- Search and rescue
- Arson detection
- Community outreach
- Assist in finding human remains
- Sniff out accelerants at fire scenes
- Serve as beloved companions and mascots
- Providing comfort and stress relief for human firefighters
A little over a year ago, my beloved Phoebe, a Labrador Pitbull mixed breed, passed away from spleen cancer, leaving behind her daughter Lucy, who is now four years old. Lucy seems lonely for a fellow K9 to share space with since her mama has passed on. Furthermore, my sons and I are also ready to open our hearts as well as our home to a new puppy.
While on an annual Girls’ Weekend vacation, we saw a “For Sale” sign on the side of the road for Alaskan Malamute puppies. Being on the hunt for a puppy, naturally, I wanted to investigate. Well, as you might guess, I almost brought home a new puppy because he was so beautiful with one blue eye and one brown eye.
However, he was living in an unhealthy environment. Although I wanted to save him, I had to consider that he might have some diseases or bacterial infections that would harm Lucy’s health. Plus, he is going to be a big boy as he is not only an Alaskan Malamute/Husky mixed breed, but he also has St. Bernard genes!
What firefighter dogs do, according to the dog experts at the American Kennel Club (AKC), is, “When firefighters tackle a wildfire, defeating the flames is only the first part of the job. Any embers or hotspots that aren’t properly extinguished could flare up again in the coming days or weeks, and spark another fire. The trouble is, it can be very hard to find these hotspots.
Therefore, this last stage of firefighting is often a costly and time-consuming process. Unless you’re a dog. We all know by now that dogs’ senses of smell give them superhuman abilities to sniff out disease, drugs, explosives — and, it turns out, embers and hotspots, which they can smell days before they’re likely to start burning again. In Sweden, dog owners can now have their dogs certified to sniff out embers and prevent wildfires before they start up again,”.
AKC went on to note, “For the first of those jobs, they turn to accelerant detection canines (ADCs), which are trained to detect any substance that was used to start a fire. If someone deliberately started a fire, using an ignitable accelerant such as gasoline, ADCs can sniff out even tiny trace amounts of the substance. They can help law enforcement find out how the fire started.
Just when you thought dogs couldn’t get any better, you find out they’re saving lives, healing grief, and fighting crime in all kinds of unexpected ways. Here’s to the firefighting dogs of the world,”.
(Photo Credit: Wag Walking fire dogs)
What kind of dogs do firefighters have in America
When I think about police dogs, of course, I immediately think of German Shepherds. When I think of firefighter dogs, the image of a Dalmatian dog is conjured up. Although historically Dalmatians used to run alongside the horses that pulled the firewagon, and they were the official firehouse dog, many other breeds are now used for specialized tasks or as therapy dogs.
I Heart Dogs reports that these K9s are the best firefighter dogs because, “In the world of emergency services, fire and rescue dogs hold a place of honor and respect. These canine heroes are trained to navigate through the aftermath of disasters, from fires to earthquakes, to find and save lives. The breeds selected for such critical roles must possess a unique set of qualities: bravery, intelligence, physical strength, and an acute sense of smell.
- German Shepherd
- Belgian Malinois
- Labrador Retriever
- Border Collie
- Golden Retriever
- Bloodhound
- Australian Shepherd,”.
Side note, my oldest son’s favorite Disney movie was “101 Dalmatians.” We watched that movie several times a day for a couple of years! My younger cousin especially loved this movie as well. Therefore, it became one of my favorites, too.
Although my son is now twenty years old, he still reminisces about how that movie gave him a special love for dogs. He also enjoyed the insanity of Cruella De Vil (ha-ha). In fact, he said that she made him want to wear a fur coat, smoke long cigarettes, and drive like a crazy person. I digress.
Best dog movies
When I was a little girl, my favorite movies were about animals, specifically dogs. Movies and shows like Lady and the Tramp, Benji, The Peanuts, Clifford the Big Red Dog, Scooby-Doo, Lassie, The Shaggy Dog, Balto, Beethoven, All Dogs go to Heaven, The Fox and the Hound, and the heart-wrenching classic of Old Yeller.
After my sons were born, I got to enjoy Snoopy movies again with the holiday classics and the others from the 1970s, along with Scooby-Doo (old and new episodes), PBS Clifford the Big Red Dog and the newly created Martha Speaks (about a talking dog), more other heart-wrenching films like A Dog’s Purpose and Marley and Me, Secret Life of Pets, Dog Man, Bolt and the hysterical Beverly Hills Chihuahua.
Rotten Tomatoes rates the films below as some of the best dog movies: They actually have a list of 100, but I am sharing only the top ten.
- “101 Dalmatians
- Pick of the Litter
- Heart of a Dog
- Best in Show
- Lassie (2005)
- Lady and the Tramp
- Togo
- Isle of Dogs
- Bolt,”.
I forgot about Best in Show – that one is very funny! Some of the others they mention I have never seen. I will take note and put them on my must-see list of dog movies.
What do firefighter dogs do
In conclusion, firefighter dogs are more than heroic helpers; they’re lifesavers, crime fighters, and loyal companions. From sniffing out embers to comforting crews, their impact is profound, proving once again that dogs truly are remarkable. And, some of my best friends throughout my life – forever and always my favorite companions.
(Photo Credit: Wag Walking fire dogs)