06/19/2024
So you want a high drive working dog.
Why? What do you see yourself doing with that high drive working dog? Have you ever done that before? You want a dog from titled parents and proven lines, but are YOU proven?
When you apply to a breeder for a top level prospect, do you truly understand what you’re asking for? A high drive working line dog is a lot to live with. Even with the best and most experienced handlers, they are often management dogs for life. They don’t typically make good service dogs for medical needs, and even the very social ones may not appreciate visitors and strangers being overly friendly. Chances are high that this is not a dog that you’ll be able to leave loose in your house all day while you’re at work, even if they’re amazing loose in the house while you’re home, and overnight. They rarely make good candidates for doggy daycare. They can be tough to manage around small pets, or other dogs, or even kids, depending on the breed, temperament and upbringing.
Did you apply for that high drive puppy because you have interest in a bitesport? If you’ve never titled in that bitesport before, do you understand how much time and money goes into being successful in it? All bitesports require an immense committment of time, money, travel, and focus. They are all challenging and in order to be successful, they often consume a large part of your life.
So many people see working dogs in person or in video and they truly believe they want that and can do it Justice. So many people get exactly what they ask for, and soon find out that they got more than they bargained for and they are in over their heads. There’s more to it than letting someone get in a sleeve/bite suit and take bites from your dog. Few trainers are actually qualified to train a dog for a bitesport.
Doing right by a high drive dog involves a level of self discipline and motivation that most other hobbies do not. Before putting in that application, take some steps to be sure you can live up to what that puppy will need.
Find a local club that offers the bitesport you’re interested in. Are they accepting new members? Are they successful- have they titled dogs themselves? Do they accept the breed you’re interested in, and if it’s an off breed (like a Doberman) that you’re after, do they have a history of success with that breed? If the trainer you go to hasn’t titled dogs in the sport you want, AND hasn’t titled your breed or coached it to titles, look elsewhere. Good clubs can be hard to find and many people end up traveling to club 1-3 hours each way. The closest trainer may not be the BEST option for you.
If you find a good club and they tick all the boxes, show up. Even before you get a puppy, show up every week. Help set up the training field, offer to take videos and photos, pay attention to other people’s sessions , ask questions and take notes. Help clean up. Bring bottled water and chip in where needed. Get an idea of what it takes to be successful and do right by the dog you’re asking for.
When you get your puppy, be open to advice from those who you’ve chosen to learn from. Listen, be teachable. Be motivated, be ready to work and train with that dog every single day. Be ready to give the dog what it needs, rather than try to conform the dog to what YOU need.
Be honest with yourself. Be realistic in your expectations. Be discerning in choosing who works with your puppy. Be ready to make an enormous time and money committment.
But most of all-
Be the high drive handler your dog deserves.
