31/05/2026
"IT'S NOT THE DOG IT’S THE OWNER"
One of the most dangerous sayings in the dog training and pet world.
Every dog breed was originally created for a purpose. Whether it's a German Shepherd, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Jack Russell, Doberman, or any other breed, they were selectively bred over generations to perform specific tasks.
Some were bred to guard, some to hunt, some to herd, and some to work alongside humans in demanding environments.
But somewhere along the way, modern society seems to have forgotten this.
Dogs are not blank slates. They come with inherited traits, instincts, drives, and genetic predispositions that make them who they are. While good training, structure, and responsible ownership can shape and manage those traits, we cannot simply train genetics out of a dog.
A Jack Russell will often have prey drive. A Border Collie will often want to herd. A German Shepherd will often be naturally protective. A Labrador will often want to retrieve.
Understanding the dog in front of you means understanding what that breed was designed to do.
Ignoring genetics can be incredibly dangerous. When owners fail to recognise breed traits and natural drives, they often put their dogs into situations they are not prepared for.
This can lead to behavioural issues, frustration, conflict, bites, livestock chasing, dog aggression, reactivity, and in some cases dogs losing their lives because they are labelled as "bad dogs" when they were simply displaying behaviours they were bred to exhibit.
No amount of wishful thinking changes thousands of years of selective breeding.
Good owners don't ignore genetics they work with them.
Training should complement a dog's natural traits, teach control, and provide appropriate outlets for those drives, not pretend they don't exist.
The best trainers and owners don't fight genetics. They understand them, respect them, and build their training around them.
