Are you sure you want a dog from working lines?

You are looking for a puppy to complete your family, and your eye has fallen on a certain type of dog. One from working lines. Is that really a good idea? Today a blog to make you think 🙂

Dogs from working lines

Dogs from working lines, be they hunting dogs or herding dogs or other breeds, have a different set of requirements than dogs from breeds that were not bred to work. It is extremely important to think about this in advance, to prevent a lot of grief afterwards. After all, if you can’t offer such a dog what he or she needs, behavioral problems are lurking.

That tough Malinois, or that stately German Shorthaired Pointer, and ‘even’ the Labrador: they were originally bred to work. The breed had a very specific function, which was preceded by years of selection. That function is still, as it were, ‘built-in’. That’s why a retriever likes to carry things, for example. We still see that work ethic very strongly in all specimens of certain breeds, and in other breeds especially in the ‘working lines’ of that breed. And that work ethic is usually accompanied by a good dose of energy and thinking and learning ability. If you cannot comply with this as the owner of such a dog, things often quickly go wrong. Behavioral problems are then lurking, for example repetitive behavior, problems with aggression, or problems with being home alone. So be very aware of this when you decide to get such a dog!

Can you offer the dog what it needs?

Ask yourself, and answer honestly: can you really give this breed what it needs? Fortunately, being able to perform the original function is really not a must for most dogs, and you can suffice with practicing, for example, a dog sport that makes you both happy. Things like agility, retrieving/gundog training, scent detection and canicross are just a few of the possibilities. Investigate this in advance, and consider whether this is something you like. You don’t just do such a dog sport during a certain (short) period of your dog’s life: you often start with this at a relatively young age (for many sports, when the dog is still a puppy you already start to lay a careful foundation , and really start exercising from about 12 months of age), and continue until ‘retirement’.

Do you want this? If your answer is a resounding “Yes!”, then go for it! Is your answer “No”? There’s absolutely no shame in that! The vast majority of people just want a nice buddy to walk and play with, and that’s ok too! Then look for a breed that better suits your specific needs. You will only be doing yourself a favor in the long run, and your dog as well.