Choosing a Working & Sporting Dog
How to Choose
a “Right” Working Dog?
Knowledge
& Experience Are Required to Find the Best Working Dog
Almost every
amateur dog owner involved in the K9 training process will
notice the difference between work of his ward and of “that
dog”. And he will definitely have a thought: “Why does my dog
perform commands without excitement or doesn’t do them at all,
but “that dog” works persistently, happily and brightly? Maybe I
am out of luck with the dog? Maybe should I buy another dog for
professional training?” But what if you want to make a great
athlete from the first and so beloved dog? How to not mistake in
choosing a right working and sporting dog?
Bite Tug
Training Is a First Step in Protection Work
Step 1
What was the breed developed for? This simple question gives
you a start in choosing a dog. The majority of the dogs were
bred to solve specific practical tasks (hunting, guarding, etc.)
set by a human. People selected dogs with required qualities for
breeding.
Mainly
working skills, physical peculiarities and traits are
predetermined genetically. But a “universal dog” with all required
working features doesn’t exist.
Conclusion 1
To
choose a right breed according to your demands is a key to
success.
What Is Your
Goal - Show or Sport?
Step 2
Training or show? It’s another complicated question. You should
imaging clearly what do you want – go in for sports or take part
in dog shows, as it will be difficult to combine them in most
cases. Many working dogs bred for shows don’t display required
guard traits nowadays. The problem is rooted in the previous
century.
Dividing custom breeding to the working and conformation lines
started gradually in the first half of XX century. There are
several reasons for this. Demand in practical work of many
working and hunting breeds reduced greatly in the majority of
European countries – motherland of selective dog breeding.
General standard of live grew and many families got an
opportunity to own a companion pet, not an assistant and a
guard. Hunting lands and animal farming reduced abruptly, while
dog shows started to develop actively. That’s why dog breeding
for service purposes only began to lose its influence on the
breed in general.
Not All Dogs
Saved Their Initial Working Qualities
Working dogs
saved an absolute priority only where working qualities had
fundamental importance (police, military, hunting, pasturable
spheres, etc.). This process was lasting during the century
and led to inner dividing of custom breeds. Working features
failed to be fundamental for a number of dogs not involved in
service and professional dog sport. They sometimes hamper
dog’s show carrier or living in a society connected with more
and more restrictions in temper and behaviour, that’s why it
is natural to lose them almost totally by working dog breeds.
Conclusion 2
A dog of working
bloodline can succeed in training, sport, guard, retrieve or
hunting work. Required traits are maintained and strengthen in
such animals from generation to generation due to practical work
or sport.
Choose
a Right Dog Bloodline
Step
3
Where
can you find a dog of a working bloodline? Line breeding is a
way of mating a dog to a member of an earlier generation of its
bloodline keeping specific qualities. Line breeding allows to
strengthen and to fix a lot of desirable features, physical and
behavioural as well.
Line
breeding is a leading method of many breeders’ work.
Professional dog trainers choose dogs analysing information of
breeders and their offspring. You must obtain required knowledge
and pretty much experience to choose a dog. Amateur dog trainers
are often lack of them. The most common mistake is to choose a
dog relying on its parents’ titles only. You should know that
excellent parents are not a guarantee of the great offspring,
and, in addition, distinguish working and show titles. The best
way is to see potential breeders during training or
competitions.
Don't Hesitate to Ask Other Trainers
It is useful to
watch the dog training. If someone catches your attention, you
are free to come and ask about the dog. The majority of dog
trainers share info with novices with pleasure. You can also
get a lot of comprehensive first-hand information at the dog
shows and competitions where many four-legged athletes and
their trainers are gathered. There is lots of useful
information on the different web-sites, forums, social
networks. But you should learn to outline the main and don’t
haste.
Conclusion 3
If you
have some theoretical experience and practice at the training
field, you know the handler and trust him, consult him. Especially
is there are dogs that “amaze” you. Professional dog trainers are
often breeders at the same time. But it is not required to take a
dog from his kennel. It’s clear that there is also a positive
point, as the breeder is interested in good training of his dogs.
You Must Be on the Same Wavelength with Your Dog
There is also
one important thing that is often skipped by potential dog
owners. It is a psychological compatibility between a dog and
its owner, their characters, tempers, and physical power.
Further results are connected with it in many ways. Neglecting
of this point can bring to nothing your efforts even with a
good dog.
