Can you appreciate a dog performing the duties it was bred for?

Question

In a recent post I made, I believe I received a thumbs down because I mentioned our Anatolian spends most of her time outdoors... There is nothing more beautiful to me than a dog that can and does perform the job it was bred for. We raise horses and it always amazes me how gentle this 120lb girl is with new foals. When they are sleeping on the ground she is nearby watching and protecting. She enjoys her job and our horses trust her.
We believe that a dog should be able to do what it was bred for.. We compete in Schutzhund with our German Shepherds and our Ibizans we show in conformation as well as run out in the field as often as possible....coursing it our next activity we hope to join in.

My question is...what are your feelings when it comes to a flock guardian living with the flock... or a working dog being trained in Schutzhund... or a cart dog being taught to pull....
do you think a dog should be able to perform the task it was bred for? Do you think they enjoy it?

I do

We invite out Anatolian into the house often..she comes in and gets her people fix and is ready to go back outside...
this time of year her coat is sooooo thick that she cannot hardly tolerate being in the house. The breed is left to take care of itself in Turkey...they have babies out with their flock. they are an amazing and self sufficient breed. She requires far less food to keep a healthy weight...she thrives in the elements. We have a dogloo out there for her to sleep in but sometimes even when it is raining or snowing she is out in the weather. One tough dog! She is our only Anatolian but she has amazed us so much we hope to add another to our farm within the next year.

Ibiza~~~ What is your Ibizans name..just curious who you are. never know from a YA id

Nandina~~~ to see a sighthound course is an amazing thing.. We have yet to actually participate in an event but that is our goal this Spring. I agree about the Afghans..they are aloof and just do not seem like alot of fun but let them loose on the field and you see a total transformation

Susie~~~~ I think you could participate in earthdog competitions... another great activity for pet owners is Rally

Peachpie~~~~~ I have seen some people use their pullers when they are on roller blades. You could also consider teaching your baby to pull a cart.

Wow...great response..how do you pick a favorite answer on a question like this one? A matter of opinion and I think everyones opinion is great!

I love a good working dog.. when I was a child my parents had Brittanys and Springers and they used them as hunting dogs... it was fun watching them hunt.

regardless of other peoples thoughts on a working dog having to live out in the elements..she is happy and it is what an Anatolian does best.

Thumbs up to all those true working dogs out there!! Hounds, Sporting, Working, Non-Sporting, Terrier, Herding and even some of those cute tiny little toys have a job!

Answer 1

Most dogs are happiest when working. Just like people they need a purpose.

Answer 2

ABSOLUTELY A DOG SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO WHAT IT WAS BRED TO DO!!!! AMEN!!!
It sickens me that some "breeders" have bred down most of the working/herding breeds, just to satisfy John Q Public! In other words, breeding inferior specimens just to be able to sell dogs that will appeal to the pet owning public. When in fact, most of these people don't NEED a Rottie, or Anatolian, or Cattle Dog, or whathaveyou...especially when they have no clue what these dogs were bred to do, much less how to channel that instinct...thus, most of the dogs end up dumped because the owner's simply can't understand that these dogs NEED a JOB to do!

My Rottweilers herd. They are also protectors of their home and me. They are acclimated to living in the house but will also do fine in the kennel. IMO, they would not be able to take it physically on the herding field if they were nothing but couch potatoes...Same with a flock guardian.

For those that have never watched a dog truly do what it was bred to do, you are missing out on an amazing experience.
To watch that instinct take over, and see the dogs...just...WOW! Whether it's a herding/working dog, or a hound lure course, or a retriever or pointer, it's amazing and enlightening at the same time. To watch my Rotties in action on stock, to see them doing what many centuries of their ancestors did come thru in them....it gives you a whole new perspective.

I want to mention that at a herding trial I attended last year, which was a REAL farm, there was a Kuvasz that lived there...those sheep were his! He was put away during the trials, but as soon as the dogs had cleared for the day, and the sheep were returned to the pasture, there he was...guarding his flock for the night. He was fine with people, but you didn't dare bring another dog around "his" sheep.

Sorry to be so long, but I feel VERY strongly about this subject!

Answer 3

I think all of the working breeds are most happy when doing what they were bred for. I have a minpin who will not come in the house even when it's raining because she is too busy hunting shrew and mice in the backyard. She even goes out in the middle of the night to do so.
I have an ACD who I am strongly considering cattle herding training for, as she is her most happy when she is herding the basketball at full throttle around the backyard.

Most of the negativism about dogs being outside is when the dog is seen chained to a house on a short leash and getting no socialization with his/her family. Or when they are short haired dogs who are forced to live outside without proper shelter.

Answer 4

I entirely appreciate a breed doing what it was bred originally to do. Personally, I wish the US were more like other countries that require a dog to be titled to prove it can do what it was bred to do before the breeder can even think about putting that dog in the conformation ring.

I have a Border Collie that I have begun herding training with. I would not want it any other way. I can't imagine not working her for herding cuz it's what she was bred to do. I've even suggested to the person who owns the sheep I use that she might have to consider getting a guarding dog eventually, as they have seen coyotes in the area before.

In Border Collies, there is a huge debate over if they should be conformation shown. I have met and know of many BC breeders who do conformation, maybe obedience, but don't bother with herding at all. I find this very disappointing. It is these breeders, who will not honor what the breed was meant to do and at least prove their "show dogs" can do the job. I am very disappointed that they are doing breeding for looks and not much more.

Answer 5

I agree with you that working dogs should do the job that they are bred for. They are happiest when they do that. And protective herding breeds are often happiest with their flocks. Border collies need herding jobs or need to participate in sports, sled dogs love to pull and so on.

I do remember the question though, and the asker was talking about a pet dog and whether you can have a pet dog as an outside dog. I consider Anatolian shepherds that guard the flocks, not so much as family pets primarily, but working dogs that consider their flock as their family. If the dog is part of a human household and its purpose is to be a pet, I think it should be with its people as much as possible, and that means inside.

Answer 6

Seriously? It takes my breath away! Moves me to the point of tears at times.

I've had Samoyeds most of my life (grandparents bred them). I've done more than a bit of sledding with them... one clever girl would attempt to put ALL the harnesses on. What took my breath away was going to an AHBA herding seminar and letting the instructor give my 4 year old Sam a go at the sheep. Simply AMAZING! He'd never seen sheep in his life, but he dang well knew what he was supposed to do with them... Every male I ever bred had both HIT and HIC certificates. The breed should be able to do the job it was bred for.

I haven't yet tried the Bernese at drafting. I will get to it when the pups (10 mos) are a bit older. That being said, their mother is an incredible working dog and is more than a bit put out when I decide some other dog will be working as my Service Dog for the day.

For what its worth.. I don't think a whole lot of training a dog to do what it was bred to do should be necessary. The instinct should be inbred and then what we as handlers do is shape it.

Answer 7

Training a 'working dog' in schutzhund isn't having it do what it was bred for -- it is a sport that judges training of a dog. So putting that in the same catagory as dogs that are actually doing what they were bred for doesn't equate... If you are talking GSDs, they were bred a shepherding dogs/guardians not blind searching sleeve bitters :) It is a fun sport that I enjoy with my Dobermans but it isn't their 'work' either -- theirs is that of a companion (as in stay with their owners in their home) protection (as in keep the bad guy at bay or bite the heck out of them if they don't listen) dogs :) Mine have always done that and even the ones that couldn't have walked on a schutzhund field have been capable of going after intrudors without hesitation and protecting me in my home (or wherever we have gone). There is nothing wrong with a flock guardian being a flock guardian or a bird dog being a bird dog or a herding dog being a herder. Of course if they are adept at it and brought up to it they will enjoy it -- if they are reared as strictly companion animals they might not appreciate it so much though :)

Answer 8

I agree 100%!!!

Dogs love to have a purpose. Being a lap dog might please some, but it doesn't please them all.

I have a APBT (American Pitbull Terrier). Regardless of what SOME people think....APBT were not bred to fight. They were originally bred to herd.

She (Kadee) will herd anything.....including me. (She likes to nudge me in the back of the knees if I'm not moving fast enough for her).

She also will herd bunnies. (She lives on 27 acres of fenced land where she can run and enjoy life). She will herd skunks, gophers and any other critter that she finds....Unfortunately, she learned that a porcupine will NOT allow her to herd it. (We live trapped the porcupine and had the fish and game people move it to a safe area where it can live peacefully and I don't have to worry about my dog being in pain)
Kadee can also climb trees. (Even though so many people believe that they can't, I've seen it more than once)

Anyways, I agree that dogs are happiest when they are doing the job they were bred for. IF you have ever watched a dog performing the duties they were bred for, you can SEE the happiness, content and joy they have by doing so.

Unfortunately, there are so many ignorant people that will feed off the media to fuel their ignorance, instead of doing their own homework and learning about a certain breed.


I'm glad you asked this question....it really puts the mind to work.

Answer 9

I do, yes. But the ASPCA and PETA freaks that believe dogs have the same rights and needs as humans are going to frown on a dog being a "dog". Those circles believe dogs are like human babies with 4 legs and fur. Don't get me wrong, I spoil the crap outta mine, but they too are working dogs, and enjoy their outdoor tasks. Wonder what the PETA people would think of a sheep herd piled dead in the corner of a pasture??? Sheep and cattle dogs are there to protect the herd, and thats why they have double coats. They were bred & developed by man to be utilized for a purpose.

Answer 10

I think a happy, healthy working dog is a joy to behold.

I have a terrier, and I often wish I had the opportunity to take her hunting, which is what she was technically bred for. She has to get her hunting needs satisfied by catching flies and other insects, chasing mice that live in the compost bin and going after pest birds in the yard. She always looks so happy doing that, that I know she would just love to hunt some rabbits.

Answer 11

If it's a working dog that comes from a working background (in the case of LGDs) and has the instinct then yes, a working dog doing his job is a beautiful thing.

Not all LGDs are suitable working dogs, though, and taking a non-work-temperamented LGD and putting him out with a flock is bad for the dog and potentially dangerous for the livestock.

I think dogs doing what they were meant to do - and encouraged and supported by their owners who understand WHAT the dogs were meant to do - is a beautiful thing. I'm hoping to go to a three-day lure coursing event next weekend to watch the Borzois, Greyhounds, Whippets, Afghans, Rhodesians, Salukis, and others in full flight. I can't wait. I never had a lot of respect for Afghans before - the pet Afghans I've known have basically been "all fur no brain" - but seeing one of them do what they were bred to do... that's something else.

If our Mini Schnauzer wasn't almost 14 years old, I'd be tempted to try her in Earthdog. We *do* hide treats in a container of plastic balls that she can nose through and dig into, so she can "scent out" and "catch" her "quarry"...

Peach Pie - have you considered looking into "weight pulling" for your Husky? He'd probably be good at it, and enjoy it! It would also help tire him out, and you know a tired Husky is a happy Husky...