They're man's best friend, but also play a vital role on farms up and down the country.
Now a new project aims to protect the future of our working dog breeds.
More than 200 dogs from Pāmu farms around the country are the first to provide their DNA to Massey University for the first phase of the research.
Dr Melissa Stephen is Senior Research Officer at Massey University, she speaks to Mark.
A real farm dog. Photo:
