Breed for a Purpose

Domestic Dogs have been specifically bred by humans for a desired set of traits in order to fill a desired purpose. Some purposes we have bred dogs for are Transportation, Herding, Guarding, Waste Consumption, Fighting, Retrieving, Hunting, Body Heating, Food Supply and Companionship.

Dog breeds come in and out of fashion all the time depending on their suitability for the purposes required, of course now their is much less a need for Transportation or Draft  Dogs now then there was leading up to the 20th Century and thanks to the banning of fighting in the western world there has been a dramatic decrease in the number of on dogs that were bred for blood sports. Likewise there has been a massive rise in Poodle infused dogs thanks to their non-shedding coats which make them an easier inside dog.

The risk of a dog attack is extremely low in Australia thanks mostly due to responsible ownership and a tendency for dog owners to be educated, it is also a result of controls on dangerous breeds. Dogs that have been specifically bred for a role in protection or aggression without question have a higher propensity to be involved in an altercation.

I fully understand many peoples point of view when it comes to labeling breeds as Not suitable for suburban living however just as statistics tell us that being a pilot is much more of a deadly occupation then Truck driving, however, just as we know many more truck drivers die than pilots as there are vastly more truck drivers than Pilots. So it is about the rates of fatalities per the number of the actual people in that occupation. Just as when we look at the statistics of dog attacks we need to look at the number of attacks per the amount of that type of dog, to understand if it is actually a factor in the ability of that dog to cause undue harm. It is about looking at the facts and being responsible with those facts when choosing a the right dog to join your household.

Certain Breeds of dogs are much more dangerous than others but due to their low number are not high on the list of most dogs involved in dog attacks. Also what needs to be taken into account is the location of the many dogs on the list, Greyhounds for example are very often in public places due to their role in society where as Maremmas are mostly out Guarding sheep well away from human interaction.

There are always exceptions to every rule and as the figures suggest the overwhelming number of dogs regardless of breed do not pose any problems to members of our society, I have had plenty of Kelpies and border collies that lack the natural inclination to herd livestock and have trained plenty of 'fighting dog breeds' that are gentle as lambs, however I will be emphatic with my position which suggests that when looking at a breed for a family home it is best to avoid dogs which have been selected over hundreds if not thousands of generations to do a certain task and if that task is not suitable for the urban environment I suggest people look at breeds that are and give that dog the joy of sharing their home and leave unsuitable dogs to the homes which they are best suited. As a professional dog trainer I see and hear of people who regret taking on a dog that is unsuitable for their life situation and are forced by their own reckoning or that of the authorities to part with that dog causing great angst to all involved, especially the dog that most often is just exhibiting behaviours which are natural to it.

Below are my thoughts on two types of dogs that in my personal experience are NOT suited to the average suburban family in Australia, without a lot of thought and research.

Livestock Guardian Dogs

Examples of these breeds across the world are: Adidi , Akbash, Anatolian Shepherd, Castro Laboreiro, Cuacasian Ovtcharka, Estrela Mountain, Great Pyrenees, Kangal, Komondor, Kuvasz, Maremma Sheepdog, Middle Asian Ovtcharka, Perrp de Pastor Mallorquin, Polish Tatra Sheepdog, Pyrenean Mastiff, Sarplaninac, South Russian Ovtcharka, Tibetan Kyi-Apso, Tibetan Mastiff, Tornjak. Many of these breeds are unavailiable in Australia.

For centuries farmers and shepherds have used Livestock Guardian Dogs for protection from predators for their flocks. As we all become more aware of nature and safer ways to protect our planet people are looking for better solutions to predator control other than poisons, traps and guns to keep their stock safe.

I am a major advocate of Livestock Guardian Dogs and particularly for the Australian environment, particularly the Maremma Sheepdog as they have completely changed the way we have controlled dingos, foxes and wild dogs which can decimate sheep populations. By eliminating the need for poisoned baits and traps, making our farmland much safer and more humane. Personally in my region we have lost dozens of working dogs and pet dogs to baits, it is an extremely difficult expirince to be with your dog when they die of baiting and as we are over an hour from any vet services I hope never to have to bait again and see the pain that this type of control has on people and their animals.

Livestock Guardian Dogs (LGDs) share some common traits: they are about the same size and color as the livestock they were bred to guard; they exhibit the traits of Responsibility, the tendency to Remain with the livestock and Protection, travel large distances to ensure territorial security, being extremely savage and vigilant towards any predators. This means that in an urban environment you may end up with a dog that looks beautiful, is territorial, extremly savage, can have issues being in small areas, vigilant towards any stranger (which includes any other humans that enter your home or come near your family) sheds a lot of white hair and barks....a lot.

There are many more similarities among the LGD breeds than there are differences between them. Some breeds, like Pyrenees, were developed for tractability around people; others, like Tibetan Mastiffs, were developed for hostility toward those not of their camp - most LGDs fall somewhere in the middle.

Despite looking very cute and fluffy LGD breeds are extremely protective  and display this selectively bred trait by barking, posturing and intimidating as well as actually attacking which usually is not anticipated. They are also bred for the outdoors (my Maremmaslive solely with their sheep flocks in the paddocks and do not enjoy dens or seek shelters) therefor have a very high shedding coating totally unsuitable for a family home.

If a LGD is the dog that you love the look of and think is perfect for your urban home, please think again and consider a Golden Retriever or a Labrador, dogs that are similar looking and much more suitable to the confines of the family home.

Fighting Breeds

Examples of this breed are: Bull Terrier, Dogo Argentino, Shar Pei, Presa Canario, Tosas Inu, Fila Brasiliero, American Pit Bull Terrier, (Many well muscled larger breed dogs are often crossed with these fighting breeds to increase abilities in subduing targets, often these crossbreeds go under many common names such as Bull Arab, Pig Dogs), It also must be noted many breeders of these breeds have selectively breed more docile traits and discourages the many of the tendencies of these breeds, however it is essential that you do as much research as possible of both the breeder and as many offspring in the community from that breeder as possible before considering to purchase one of these dogs. 

An ancient purpose for dogs was as a tribal war attack dog and large predator fighter as it was not that long ago humans had to contend with bears, wild boar, lions and well armed enemies, so large highly muscular and fearless dogs were bred to protect their owners, their belongjngs and roughly domesticated stock and attack others.

Whilst without question a dog can have its aggression kept under check with good management in the crucial first 7 weeks of its life, these breeds of dog non-the-less have been genetically constructed to attack and rip flesh and that can not be denied and must be carefully managed. So much thought is needed when considering these dogs or crossbred which involve a fighting breed dog.

Touch Insensitivity Trait

One of the traits that was selectively bred for in the pit bull in order to make this dog breed into a more efficient fighter is what is known as touch insensitivity. This trait of touch insensitivity is common to dogs bred for fighting so that despite being severely wounded they would continue fighting. A dog high in this trait would be pretty much impervious to a might yank on its chain which goes a long way in explaining why it is so difficult to call off and disengage a pit bull engaged in an attack.

Other traits that were bred into the fighting breeds are excitability, enormous jaw strength, tenacity and extreme resilience.

Having a Tuff Dog dosen't make you look any Tougher

Sadly many traditional working type dogs such as the mentioned fighting dogs and the likes of Rottweillers and Bullmastiffs are crossbred and sought after by macho types who are seeking to enhance their presence by having a muscular dog and do not desex it, which can lead to unplanned pregnacies and a perpetuation of large muscular breed dogs with potential for serious injury. This can be seen right across the world and really does put some dogs in unfortunate positions, especially when they are not properly educated, socialised or treated well. 

Not all fighting Breeds are Fighters....that doesn't mean to be careless when Researching the Right Dog for your Family

Whilst Most Dog Attacks in NSW do not involve fighting breeds as a percentage of their breed they double the next breed most likely to be involved in an attack at 1.5% for Pit Bull Crosses and 1% of Purebreds in comparison other breeds in the top 10 that have attacked humans the Kelpie attackers represent a mere 0.09% of their total and the Labrador, (along with the Maltese and Jack Russel) represent a tiny 0.03%.

These figures do make one thing clear, dogs are highly unlikely to offend. However the likelihood of a fighting dog being involved in an attack is incredibly higher than other types of dog. This does not mean the dog should be banned outright, what it suggests is a much better understanding of the breeds and the choices made when acquiring one of this type, especially if you are to have it in an urban environment which is highly populated.

Look Beyond what you Physically See when choosing the Right Dog

It is my personal belief that whilst LGD's and Fighting Dogs may be impressive to look at, but they are not suitable as family pets with owners who do not have the time and resources to invest in their care and attention and belong in the one place they are suited...the back of Pigging Utes and in the Outback protecting livestock, doing what they are predisposed to do. After all there are so many breeds of dogs to choose from isn't it wise to choose a breed that suits the situation in which you will have the dog over its lifetime?

With over 150 breeds of dog on the earth there is no doubt a perfect breed of dog for your family that has not been purpose bred to Protect Stock and live in the open range or Attack and kill other dogs, please consider one of these many breeds to ensure that you are not resposible for endangering other members of the community or making your own life more difficult.

My tips for finding the best dog for you:

1. think about wher you will be and what you family make might be in 12 years time...most dogs live to this age and as a living breathing animal can not just be dumped in the future when things change

2. Focus on your lifestyle and housing arrangements, do you need a high energy dog, low shedding dog, family dog ? etc etc

3.Find a reputable breeder..one that asks a lot of questions of you and lets you find out and see as much as possible including meeting the parents and contacting other progeny owners

4. Consider adopting a dog from a Welfare group, there are pros and cons..the main benifits are that you can often have a trial period and get to know exactly what you are getting yourself into.

5.Research research research...don't just look for the good things about certain dog types, look for the drawbacks too, so you are more than ready and prepared for what may come.

And finally its very important to set yourself up for success and get you dog to either puppy classes if you decide on a pup or dog classes if you adopt. In the western world we humans spend about 20% of our lives being educated so it makes sense to spend time educating your dog on how to deal with the modern world.