One advantage of acquiring a pedigreed dog is that you can choose a dog with particular traits that you are keen on. The problem is that far too many people choose according to physical traits i.e. the appearance of the dog. It must be remembered that most of the breeds we have today come from dogs that were bred for a specific purpose or job and are therefore prone to certain behaviors which aided them in that job. It is critical that potential owners are aware of these behavioural traits and learn how to handle or accommodate them.
The following is a brief summary of the main categories of dogs, grouped according to the work they were originally selected for (Please note that the groupings will not be completely consistent with KUSA categories for breed showing):
Herding Dogs
Function: This group was bred to herd sheep, cattle and other livestock
Necessary behavioral/ physical traits:
1. High energy levels
2. Stamina
3. Intelligence
4. Ability to work away from handler
5. A shortened predatory sequence when working animals (i.e. eye, stalk, chase, but no bite or kill)
Popular Breeds Today: Border Collies, Rough Collies, Shelties, Australian Cattle dogs, Australian Shepherds
Requirements:
1. Plenty of exercise
2. Mental stimulation (training/work)
3. Early socializing
4. Experienced/ knowledgeable owners
Ideal owner: The ideal owner of a herding breed is a fit and active person who has plenty of time to devote to training, socializing and exercising their dog. Those interested in dog sports (agility, flyball or obedience) are ideal owners for this type of dog.
A note of caution: Most herding dogs are not suitable for a sedentary lifestyle and become destructive and unmanageable if left to their own devices. Many are also not good with young children whom they may attempt to herd and nip. Owners must be able to out-think these highly intelligent animals in order to train them well.
Working Dogs
Function: These dogs were required to protect people, property and livestock and even to apprehend criminals. They were often also required to herd livestock .
Necessary behavioral/ physical traits:
1. Suspicion of strangers
2. Confidence/courage
3. Intelligence
4. Size/strength/ stamina
5. Strong bond with handler/family.
6. A tendency towards “fight” rather than “flight” behaviors when threatened
Popular Breeds Today: German Shepherds, Rottweilers, Dobermans, Boerboels, Bouvier de Flanders
Requirements:
1. A strong bond with the owner, built on trust
2. Daily exercise
3. Mental stimulation (work/training)
4. Early & continued socializing
5. Knowledgeable/ experienced owners
6. Participation in family life
Ideal owner: Again, the ideal owner in this case should be fit and active with plenty of time to dedicate to training, socializing and exercising the dog. Those keen on obedience, tracking and protection sports should choose a dog from this group. Those who would like their dogs to provide an element of security would also do well to choose one of these breeds. Most guardian type dogs get on well with children in the family if they are raised together and are taught to respect one another.
A note of caution: Too many people acquire this type of dog and simply leave it in the back yard as a means of home security. A working dog that is not allowed to bond with the family and is not included in family life will not understand who to protect and who to keep at bay. These dogs cannot automatically tell who is friend and who is foe. They need lots of positive training, socializing and guidance so that they learn to follow their owner’s lead when dealing with strangers.
Gun Dogs/Sporting dogs
Function: These dogs were bred for various tasks associated with hunting. Some were selected to spot game(sight hounds), others to track it (scent hounds) and still others to retrieve birds once they had been shot down (retrievers).
Necessary behavioral/ physical traits:
1. Sociability with humans
2. Ability to get along and work with other dogs
3. High energy levels
4. Low guarding instinct
5. The “determination” to follow a task to its conclusion
Popular Breeds Today:
Sight Hounds: Salukis, Afghans, Greyhounds, Whippets
Scent Hounds: Beagles, Bassets, Dachshunds
Retrievers: Labradors, Golden Retreivers, Spaniels
Requirements:
1. Plenty of exercise
2. Companionship
3. Recall training!
Ideal owner: These dogs often make good family pets as they are generally tolerant and patient animals, even with children. They usually get along well with other dogs and are particularly suitable to multi-dog households. Hounds do well with people who are happy to allow them to just be dogs and do not expect too much in the obedience department. Labradors, Retrievers and Spaniels can do very well in obedience training and excel as therapy/visiting dogs.
A note of caution: Retrievers may be very boisterous and will often knock over small children or the elderly in their over-friendliness. Their extreme sociability with strange dogs and people can make them difficult to recall when out. These dogs are generally not good watch dogs. Sight hounds can move very quickly and may be difficult to recall if they start chasing wild animals. They may be inclined to follow through and actually kill small animals if they catch them. Scent hounds are difficult to motivate when it comes to training and may wander off wherever their noses lead them.
Terriers
Function : These dogs were bred to kill small animals such as rodents. Some were unfortunately also used to fight each other and larger animals like bulls. Thus some breeds are known as “bull-baiters”.
Necessary behavioral/ physical traits
1. Tenacity/Courage
2. Friendliness to humans
3. High pain threshold
4. Low reactivity threshold
5. Tendency towards fight rather than flight
6. Very fast and effective predatory sequence: eye to kill in a matter of seconds.
Popular Breeds Today:
Bull Baiters: Bull Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, Pit Bull Terriers
Others: Jack Russells, Fox Terriers, Scottish Terriers
Requirements:
1. Daily exercise
2. Early socializing, especially with other dogs
3. Secure, fenced in property
4. Human companionship
Ideal owner: Someone who can spend lots of time playing with, exercising and entertaining these active dogs and who accommodates the dog’s need to be around the family as much as possible.
A note of caution: Secure fencing is essential as some terriers will dig under fences in pursuit of moles and will happily continue hunting around the neighborhood for hours. Some breeds make excellent companions for older children, provided that they are not teased or treated roughly. Many terriers do not get on well with other dogs, especially other terriers. The “bull baiters” can do a lot of damage in a very short time in fights and must be monitored carefully for warning signs of aggression when meeting strange dogs. The normal mechanisms to switch off aggression when the “opponent” offers appeasement signals is often absent in the fighting breeds and quick human intervention is usually necessary to stop fights and avoid damage being done. Early socializing with other dogs is essential, but even well-socialised dogs of this type must be monitored carefully whenever they are around other dogs. Many terriers cannot be trusted around cats or other small pets. Bored Terriers are likely to dig - a lot! Some Bull Terriers and Staffies are hyperactive and may even engage in compulsive behaviors (e.g. tail chasing).
Northern Breeds / Sledding Dogs
Function: Such dogs were bred to pull sleds over long distances
Necessary behavioral/ physical traits:
1. High energy levels
2. Endurance
3. Independence
4. Ability to work with other dogs
Popular Breeds Today: Alaskan Malamute, Siberian Husky
Requirements
1. Exercise - lots of it!
2. Secure property with high fence
3. Companionship
Ideal owner: The ideal owner is a crafty, stubborn and energetic person who can figure out how to motivate these independent dogs to learn some obedience commands and has the tenacity to stick with it, no matter how tough things get!. They are usually good with children and easy-going with most people and other dogs. They do well in multi-dog households.
A note of caution: Huskies and Malamutes are nice to look at - they are very pretty dogs who look a lot like their ancient wolf relatives. Many people acquire them for this reason. However, like their wolf relatives, these dogs care very little about humans. They are extremely independent and often do not bond well with their families. For this reason they are difficult to control off lead and may not respond to human instructions. They are not good guard dogs. Left home alone too often, they will howl or try to escape.
Toy Breeds
Function: Most toy breeds were bred to be companions and even lap warmers.
Necessary behavioral/ physical traits:
1. Ability to form close bond with owner
2. Enjoy attention
3. Lower energy levels
4. Interesting/pretty looks
Popular Breeds Today: Pugs, Maltese, Poodles, Toy Poms, Pekinese
Requirements:
1. Human companionship
2. Special grooming/care
Ideal owner: These dogs are often suitable for older people who are only capable of taking their dogs for short walks every day.
A note of caution: It must not be forgotten that these animals are also dogs and that they also benefit from training, socializing and exercise. People may go overboard in pampering them, turning them into demanding, fussy and quite unpleasant creatures. It must also be taken into account that many breeds require hair clipping or special grooming to keep their coats in order. Some also have health problems related to their physical appearance i.e. pugs may have respiratory difficulties.
Not all dogs fit neatly into the above categories and of course there will always be variations of temperament within a breed. Some Border Collies never herd small children, some Rottweilers welcome total strangers into their homes and some terriers love other dogs. It must also be remembered that some breeders produce puppies for the show ring or simply as companions, while others breed them for their working ability. Dogs with good working ability usually have what is called “high drive”. This means that the dog gets “turned on” (excited) very quickly and easily and is highly motivated to work for a reward such as a game of tug or fetching a ball. An active and excitable dog like this can be great for a dog trainer who knows how to channel the dog’s natural instincts, but will probably drive an ordinary family crazy.
Questions to ask yourself when choosing a breed:
1. How much time do I have to walk the dog each day?
2. Do I live close to suitable places for walking dogs?
3. Am I prepared to enroll my dog in obedience classes - if so, for how long?
4. How much time do I spend at home?
5. Am I willing to allow the dog into the house and let it be part of the family?
6. What problems have I had with dogs I have owned in the past?
7. Am I interested in a dog sport?
8. Do I expect my dog to protect my family and my property?
9. Do I want a dog that accepts and likes everyone it meets?
10. If I don’t have children already, am I likely to have them in the dog’s lifetime?
11. Do I know anyone who has a dog of the breed I am considering?
12. How do I feel about pet hair and muddy paw-prints in my home?
13. Am I physically fit and strong enough to handle a large dog if I have to restrain it for any reason?
14. Why do I want a dog?
15. What qualities am I looking for in a dog?
This last question is a good one. Most people list the following qualities: well-behaved, calm, obedient, good with children, friendly and protective of the family and home. These are all good qualities, but most of them have to be taught to dogs. Also, some qualities are not necessarily compatible with others i.e. an excellent guard dog who is keen to take on any intruder is unlikely to be friendly to all people as well!
When choosing a breed for yourself or your family it is vital that you think carefully, so that you are prepared to deal with the dog you have in mind. A dog can’t choose you, so you have to make an informed decision and ensure that you can provide the environment and lifestyle for the dog that will best enable it to succeed as your companion and live a full and happy life with you.