Media Stereotypes

While the media often gets a bad reputation for exaggerating truths, when it comes to movies revolving around the topic of working dogs, they are not too far off from the truth. Listed below are just a few movies and television shows in which the media has used as a way to portray working dogs within society.

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Max and Megan Leavey tell a story about military dogs and the relationship they developed with their handler. What most people don't know is that dogs suffer from PTSD just as much as humans do. While the public sees this as a real mental illness with humans, some people think differently when it comes to dogs and are quick to put a dog down when it misbehaves. While in some cases it can be very difficult to train certain dogs, it is important to realize that dogs can become just as traumatized and attached to relationships as humans do. 

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Balto is a wolf-dog hero who goes on a hundred mile journey to retrieve a life saving medication for young children. This movie, based on a true story, identifies the typical sled dog stereotype through the dogs' breeds and travel distance. When most people think of sled dogs, they think of huskies. With Balto being half wolf, half Siberian Husky, he has the ability to travel those hundreds of miles to get medicine to save the sick children.

In one of the four lives in A Dog’s Purpose, we see the main character live his years as a police canine. During those years, the dog goes by Ellie. Ellie is a German Shepherd who is sent out on a mission with her handler to save a girl who was kidnapped. The relationship that Ellie developed with her handler and the tasks she was sent out to do were similar to tracking missions set out for canine handlers in the real world. The tasks are difficult, the relationships are strong, and it is always so hard to say goodbye to the relationships at the end of their lives.

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Paw Patrol is a children's animated television series that illustrates a number of different dogs. Each dog is suited for working different problems based on their vehicles (police car, helicopter, and fire truck). One pup in particular, Marshall, is illustrated as a Dalmation. Dalmations are known for the calming effect they have on horses. Back in the the 1700's, when horses pulled the fire trucks, Dalmatians were used to keep the horses in line. This is how Dalmations came to be associated with firefighters. Many dogs in the workforce are now taking on this “floppy-eared” persona to make them more inviting and friendly looking to the public eye.