Working Like a Dog: The Story of Working Dogs through History »

Gena K. Gorrell is a book editor and an award-winning writer of non-fiction for young people. Her third book, Heart and Soul: The Story of Florence Nightingale, won the Norma Fleck Award for Non-Fiction. In her spare time she is a first-aid instructor and a volunteer officer in the Toronto Police Marine Unit. She lives in Toronto with her husband and her dog.

Winner of The 2003 ASPCA Henry Bergh Children’s Book Award

Included on VOYA’s ninth annual Nonfiction Honor List


Since the first hungry wolf bravely approached an ancient cooking fire and was rewarded with a scrap of meat, our lives and the lives of dogs have been interwoven. Dogs have worked for us as warriors with ammunition strapped to their bodies. Dogs have gone through snow, icy seas, and into the dangerous rubble of collapsed buildings to rescue us. Dogs, with their spectacular ability to detect odors, keep us safe by finding drugs and explosives. They lead us if we cannot see and react for us when we cannot hear. Most of all, they love us – and we love them.

This fascinating book by Norma Fleck Award-winner, Gena K. Gorrell, describes the dogs of history, the evolution of breeds for different purposes, and the training involved in preparing the modern-day heroes who find lost children, nab criminals, and point out contraband – heroes who just happen to be dogs.

Denise Daley - Children's Literature

For as long as they have been our best friend, dogs have also been working for man. Exactly how long that has been is still debated by many. No one is sure when or even if wolves became today's domesticated dog, but it is certain that in addition to being great companions, dogs are also valuable and dependable workers. This book begins by explaining the evolution of the dog and then moves into exploring the development of various breeds. As dogs eased their way into the lives and homes of humans, people came to rely on them, first for simple tasks like providing protection and companionship. This later evolved into important roles of greater responsibility such as detecting drugs and bombs. The book concludes with a chapter that gives practical advice for the everyday dog owner. Every dog can be perceived as a working dog, we humans just need to acknowledge and appreciate his or her unique and special talents. 2003, Tundra Books, Ages 10 up.