Understanding the breed or breeds your dog is, is so important. Different breeds act and behave differently and working breeds need far more to do than companion breeds. In our Perfect Pet course we find out what your dog was bred to do to work out what rewards your dog is likely to appreciate (and work for) as well as appropriate types and amounts of physical and mental exercise
Watching a collie hang out with a sighthound
I’m writing this in a cacophony of noise – Pepper and Gus are playing with a ball and there’s a mix of Gus’s deeper barks and Pepper’s higher, shrill yaps. All in play and fun.
Pepper’s staying with us for a couple of nights while Daughter no 1 is travelling for work. He and Gus get on very well and are happy playing or lazing about together. Later today younger brother is bringing his two greyhounds so all three sight hounds can charge about in the arena. Gus will watch on as the elder statesman he is – you can almost see him thinking “Why?” as the other three run round in circles.
It’s fascinating seeing how different breeds behave. Gus is a collie and a typical herding dog – always on the alert for, and reacting to, movement and often found lying in doorways. His movement is economical, usually a fast trot or a loping canter. Whereas Pepper is a whippet/greyhound cross and typical sight hound. He’ll move fast – very fast – but only for short periods, then he’ll need a sleep.
Gus loves training and is responsive to many cues. Pepper knows quite a few and to be fair, is generally good, but will often just ignore a request.
Gus adores exploring and working out problems. His favourite game of all is finding something that has been hidden. Pepper will play with a ball, throwing it up in the air and dropping it to chase and catch it again.
Do you understand your dog’s needs?
Understanding the breed or breeds your dog is, is so important. Different breeds act and behave differently. Working breeds need far more to do than companion breeds. Gundogs love to use their mouths, terriers can be single minded about digging, scent hounds will ignore world wars if they are on a scent, and so on.
We ask all our clients on our Perfect Pet course to find out what their dog was bred to do. This knowledge helps when working out what rewards your dog is likely to appreciate (and work for) and allows owners to give their dogs appropriate types and amounts of exercise, physical and mental.
Working breeds won’t be satisfied with plenty of walks no matter how long – they need brain work too. Companion breeds won’t be happy being left alone for long periods. Spaniels and Labradors have to use their noses. Mixed breeds will have characteristics of both parents.
What breed(s) do you have?
How do you meet their needs?
Ask us for help if you are struggling to understand or meet your dog’s needs.
Keep training and stay safe,
Carol
