What Was Your Dog Bred To Do?

If you are considering getting a dog, and your heart is set on a certain Dog Breed simply because it is pretty, think again. You need to sit back and look at a few things to really consider if this dog is going to do well with your lifestyle.

Research the dog breed and see what it was born to do. If you cannot find something to match that dog instinctive behavior, then you are likely to have a dog whose instincts spiral out of control.

For example, the Bernese Mountain Dog was known in the 1930's as "the poor man's horse." They pulled carts.

Come on, now...It's not like 1930's carts are everywhere now. You have got to be kidding. Just use some common sense and make your own cart. Use a dolly or child's wagon, then put some bricks on it, wood or cement blocks ... nice, heavy things that will avoid as much creeking as possible.

The dog spooks at the sound of the cart once it is on the pavement? Do not try to reassure him with affection. Just keep him moving forward. Otherwise, he will be afraid to let you put the harness on for the cart again.

I also had a client who had two Labrador Retrievers and some sheep. She was going to spend money for field training. Since she was not planning to hunt the dogs, I told her not to waste her money and, instead, to use what she had. We took twenty minutes or so teaching the dogs to herd the sheep. That worked.

Most dog breeds have more than one thing for which they were bred. Pick the option that best suits your lifestyle, or try to find a good imitation of it. Do some good, old fashioned thinking!