30/08/2022
Humans are pretty impulsive creatures. They often base decisions on emotion, instead of logic and reason. (Or, like dogs...what smells good.)
A perfect example of this is new dog owners getting high drive working dogs because the puppies are “cute”, they saw the breed in a movie, or a dog killed a terrorist. They think “Oh, that dog is awesome. I should totally get one.”
They fail to do even basic research on what that dog will turn into, what the dog’s needs will be, and what that dog will need to thrive.
A perfect example is the Belgian Malinois. Featured in a few movies, and celebrated for killing a wanted terrorist. Malinois puppies are adorable.
Malis are incredibly focused, high drive working dogs. Most exhibit extremely high drives, incredible energy levels, and almost one dimensional focus. They are specifically formulated as working dogs. Think...a United States Marine on a m**h binge.
They need constant stimulation, a very strong (and patient) Alpha personality handler. Most are NOT suitable as house pets. They need hours of exercise and mental stimulation daily...and they love to bite things. Lots of things. Pretty much anything, really. Most are appropriate only for experience dog handlers.
That same is true for Dutch shepherds, higher drive working line German Shepherds. Cute as their puppies are, they quickly grow into large, powerful animals that have been purpose bred for certain tasks...which are not sitting in a couch waiting for someone to come home.
They are purpose bred (think...many have almost a genetic memory. They are pre programmed to do certain things.) to dominate other creatures, think independently, and use their mouths to accomplish tasks...via biting. In order to either harness of suppress those drives, an owner/handler needs to understand both dog training and the drives present within that particular dog. Most dog people who impulse buy a high drive working dog lack a basic understanding of either.
This leads to misery for both owner and dog. The owner ends up with an out of control, (what they think is) crazy, dog that bites. The dog is not happy, because there is conflict with their owner, and their base drives are not being utilized.
Best case, everyone is unhappy. Worst case...destruction of possessions and the very real possibility of an actual dog bite.
What inevitably happens is the owner will get rid of the dog. Best case is a “rehoming” of the dog. To draw a parallel...your parents give you away to someone else because they think you suck. The next possibility is an animal shelter or rescue. This is the equivalent of your parents dropped by you off at a jail. Worst case, the owner abandons the dog. (It happens more often than people realize, and it is as devastating to the dog as one would imagine.)
With extremely rare exception, there are no bad dogs. There are only dogs that are not understood, properly trained, or appropriately utilized. Dogs who were acquired by an irresponsible human who failed to learn how to communicate, train, or care for the dog that they took responsibility for.
For all of you humans thinking about getting a high drive working dog...research that breed. Learn how to actually train a high drive dog. (Hint...”positive only” training will not work.). Understand what that dog will need to be happy and satisfied. Now, if you have the slightest doubt about the fact that you are strong enough, patient enough, have enough time...
Don’t. Just don’t
