'Work Like A Dog Day' 🦮 5 August

Simon O'Donovan
Aug 3
2 min read

National Work Like a Dog Day – 5 August

Today is National Work Like a Dog Day, a light-hearted day that celebrates hard work, dedication and doing a job well. The saying "working like a dog" has been around for generations, although many working dogs really do have important jobs helping people every day.

We'll begin by identifying some working dogs and the important roles they carry out, from guide dogs and police dogs to mountain rescue, sheepdogs and therapy dogs.

That then leads us to another kind of work - our own occupations. Jobs are often a rich source of memories and conversation. Many people spent decades in the same profession, while others changed careers several times. Work shaped our daily routines, friendships, family life and sense of achievement.

We'll have the chance to talk about your own working life.

What was your first job?
Which job did you enjoy the most?
What made a good boss?
What skills were you most proud of?
If you could do it all again, would you choose the same career?

We'll then look at 46 different occupations. Some have completely disappeared, some have changed beyond recognition through new technology, while others are still very familiar today. As we go through them, think about:

Which jobs no longer exist?
Which have changed the most?
Which have stayed much the same?
Which would you most like - or least like - to have done?

We'll also enjoy our CST Songs of the Day, each celebrating a different occupation or the world of work:

I've Been Working on the Railroad
When I'm Cleaning Windows – George Formby
Chim Chim Cher-ee – Mary Poppins
Please Mr. Postman – The Marvelettes
The Combine Harvester (Brand New Key) – The Wurzels
9 to 5 – Dolly Parton

So let's celebrate the jobs that built our communities, remember the people who did them, sing along to some familiar favourites, and discover how the world of work has changed over the years.