11/09/2025
There’s a lot of advice out there saying that working line breeds aren’t suited to pet or family homes
Unmet needs can lead to behavioural issues (Cocker Spaniels, I’m looking at you! 😅). It’s so important to research breed traits and temperaments before bringing a dog home
But often, we forget about the dogs bred from working lines that aren’t actually suited to working life
Take Lupo, for example. He comes from a long line of working German Shepherds. He was raised and trained in a working dog facility with the intention of becoming a working dog himself
But as it turned out, he wasn’t “fit for purpose” and his previous owners needed rid of him
Rightly or wrongly (a conversation for another post 😅), we brought him home
I can’t express what a good fit this is
Yes, he does light work - we do Scent Detection training, he tags along to work with me sometimes, I put his brain to use!
But more often than not? He’s sprawled on the sofa (usually on top of me), playing with his toys, or making new friends at the dog field
I have my own thoughts about his past and how that might have contributed to his lack of motivation for work
But, Lupo is THRIVING. In just seven months, his cheeky personality has blossomed, and we get to see all of his quirky little traits every day 🧡
He wasn’t made for the working world and that’s okay. He was made for this life
His siblings may be excelling in their working roles, and that’s great too
Also, he’s just a gorgeous shepherd 🥰
