08/08/2024
Terriers, Hounds & Husbands
Why did we choose the dog that we have? What was it about that particular breed or cross or mixed breed that attracted us to him?
Often our choice is governed by size, their looks that please us, type of coat, shaggy, smooth, colour.
How many of us choose a breed because we actually like the behaviour that they have been specifically bred for over the generations?
Not the behaviour that we can read about in the breed club description of them:
Border Collie - excellent at herding sheep.
German Shepherd - great guard dog.
Chihuahua - fabulous lap dog.
Beagle - great at following a scent.
Bull Terrier - particularly good with people.
No not those behaviours, these ones:
Border Collie - will herd and nip the children when they are running about, will be sound sensitive and not cope well with traffic and busy households.
German Shepherd - will bark ferociously at all of your visitors.
Chihuahua - will resource guard your lap.
Beagle - will follow a scent to timbuktu and not hear you calling.
Springer Spaniel - will resource guard anything he picks up if there is the slightest chance that you have previously taken items from him as a puppy and especially if that was accompanied by a stern telling off for taking it.
Cocker Spaniel - will resource guard anything he picks up if there is the slightest chance that you have previously taken items from him as a puppy and especially if that was accompanied by a stern telling off for taking it.
Cockapoo - will resource guard anything he picks up if there is the slightest chance that you have previously taken items from him as a puppy and especially if that was accompanied by a stern telling off for taking it.
Golden Retriever - will resource guard anything he picks up if there is the slightest chance that you have previously taken items from him as a puppy and especially if that was accompanied by a stern telling off for taking it.
(No prizes for guessing what we get posts about the most)
Labrador - Should be the same but they are a bit goofy so less likely to.
Sighthounds - Saluki, Borzoi, Greyhound, Lurcher et al - will chase small furries that they spot in the distance. When playing with other dogs will bring them down either by grabbing back legs or the back of the neck or the back.
Terriers - will dig, will go down rabbit holes, badger sets, drain pipes.
And then the breed temperament descriptions and what they really mean ..
"Aloof" won't like strangers
"Wary of strangers" won't like strangers
"Naturally independent" won't be eager to please
"Loyal to his master" won't like strangers
"very protective of owner" won’t like strangers
"particularly good with people" not good with dogs
We can also group dogs into those that work with man and those that work independently.
Gundogs, herding dogs, guard dogs mostly tend to take instructions from us and often hang on our every word.
In contrast the independent breeds, sighthounds that hunt by sight, scent hounds that hunt by following a scent, terriers that go down holes, stock guarding breeds that live with the flock. We just leave them to get on with it because their skills far outweigh ours. They don’t need us.
These are the breeds that are often labeled as stubborn but of course they are not stubborn, they are just not designed to follow instructions and take orders.
The secret to a successful partnership with all dogs but particularly the independent breeds is to always let them think that it was their idea, that they have trained you to give treats for checking in, for lying on their bed when you are busy. And that by pretending to be thinking of going hunting you will produce a toy and play a great game with them. This line of thinking works well with husbands too.
There are always exceptions and we know that with appropriate training and socialising these traits can be channelled effectively but please always do your research before buying a breed that you like the look of.
