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| Yes | 48% | 58 votes | Total: 121 votes | |
| No | 52% | 63 votes |
Yes
Created on: September 20, 2010 Last Updated: September 22, 2010
A working breed dog is essentially like any other dog with a few exceptions. The working dog was bred through many generations to perform certain tasks, depending on the breed, many breeds of Shepherds were bred exclusively to produce dogs who excelled at herding other animals, generally on a farm. In order to satisfy a particular breeds innate need to perform its job you have to be willing to provide the dog with a job.
When choosing a dog it is very important to know what you are getting into. A working breed can make an excellent pet but you also need to keep the dog active and give it something to do. When a working dog becomes bored, and they will if they have no job to perform, they begin to misbehave generally by chewing things or just being disobedient. I own 2 working breed dogs an Australian Shepherd / Husky mix and a pure bred Husky. They both have extreme separation anxiety and can become bored very quickly.
The benefit of having two working dogs together is that they keep each other busy. Working breed dogs make excellent and loyal pets, many are also good at acting as a guardian. To choose a working breed is to take on the responsibility of training and providing jobs for your new pet. Once the dog knows its job it will love to perform its job just for the sake of your attention. Working breed dogs love the attention of their family and love to please everyone, this is what makes them such excellent pets. Many people look at a dog as a source of companionship and something that they can enjoy this can lead to a selfish relationship where the owner enjoys the dog but the dog does not enjoy the owner because their needs aren't being fulfilled.
To be a true dog owner you must not be selfish and must be willing to provide for your pet in the way that they provide for you. If you are a selfish dog owner or someone who does not have the time to devote to a dog would be far better off staying away from a working breed. If you can provide what your working breed dog wants then it will make an excellent pet, you need to know ahead of time if you will be a good provider because if you can't be your working breed may turn into a nightmare.
Learn more about this author, Chris Oden.
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No
Created on: February 16, 2010
Should a working dog breed be kept as a pet? The answer to that question is in how you define “pet.” If you mean that the dog will be required to sit by you while you watch television all day, the answer is no. If you mean that the dog will be left alone in a back yard all day, the answer is no. If you mean the dog will be confined to a house while you’re at work all day, the answer is no. And the reason the answer is no is that working breeds by nature are highly energetic and intelligent. If they don’t get their drive to accomplish satisfied with work, they will become destructive.
However, there are many ways to satisfy the drive of a working breed besides using it for its intended job. The American Kennel Club defines the working dog group as those which were bred to do a specific task such as pulling a cart. Thus, we have strong breeds like the St. Bernard, Bernese Mountain Dog, and Alaskan Malamute in the group. Great Danes, Boxers, Mastiffs, and even Portuguese Water Dogs (like the Obamas have) are also in this group. But, there are many other dogs who “work” who are not classified in this group.
Herding dogs like Border collies, Australian shepherds, and Cattle Dogs all put in a solid day’s work. Any dog which has been bred to a job has the personality of a working dog. From the little Schipperke who was bred to keep rats off barges to the magnificent German shepherd, loyal K-9 cop and Seeing Eye dog, each of the working dogs wants to work. So… the answer is – give them a job.
The Border collie who plays flyball; the Golden Retriever who excels at Frisbee; the Rottweiler trained to be an assistant for a disabled person – each of these dogs is kept busy with important tasks. As humans, we should know that idle minds wander. Minds and bodies given work to do tend to be productive. The same is true for dogs. And like humans, dogs glow with a sense of accomplishment when they are praised for a job well done.
If you’re thinking of getting a dog that was bred to work, make sure you’re up to the job yourself. This dog should be part of an active lifestyle. From the moment you get up and send him out to fetch the newspaper to the quiet of evening when he brings your slippers and then lies down beside you to rest, his day should be busy. You should commit to obedience training and possibly agility training. You should think about training your dog as a therapy dog and visiting nursing homes. You should teach your dog tricks and let him show off.
Above all, your working breed should get plenty of exercise. Jogging, walking, playing fetch should be a daily activity. If you don’t have time to keep your dog busy, do him a favor and let him go to a home that does. Working breeds can make wonderful pets if you define “pet” as a strong relationship between owner and dog. By working and playing together, you’ll learn to communicate and understand each other. The zest your dog has for life will add more to yours. And while, he’ll still be a pet, he’ll be a happy one because he has a job. He’ll sleep by your bed or on it as you desire and you won’t need an alarm clock. Working dogs get up early and they expect you to, too.
Learn more about this author, Cynthia Wall.
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