18/01/2026
I really hope trainers start being more transparent about how much a dog’s breed and genetic background play a role in what we see in advanced obedience videos.
High-level obedience like this is often far more achievable with specific working-line breeds, especially purebred working dogs such as the Belgian Malinois. These dogs are bred for focus, drive, handler engagement, and repetition tolerance. That doesn’t make the training fake—but it does make it very different from working with the average dog.
Many everyday dog owners look at these videos and think, “Wow, this trainer is amazing”, without realizing how much of that result comes from genetics, selection, and breeding, not just skill alone.
Meanwhile, a lot of people adopt rescue dogs or mixed breeds, and their dream isn’t flashy obedience. Their dream is simple:
a calm dog on walks,
a dog that can pass people and dogs peacefully,
a dog that feels safe and regulated in the real world.
Those goals are just as valuable—and often much harder to achieve—than high-drive obedience routines.
Trainers being honest about this doesn’t take away from their work.
It builds trust, sets realistic expectations, and helps owners feel less discouraged when their dog doesn’t look like a competition-ready working line.
