“Dogs are supposed to be pets”?

Question

It seems that people have forgotten that dogs where bred for a specific reason/job and those who do use dogs for the very reason they where bred for are "cruel and horrible"

So I would like to know;

What is so bad about a dog working / doing the job it was bred for?

I look forward to hearing from those *against* a dog doing the job it was bred for..

Answer 1

I don't have anything against it, but I'm guessing that these people that are against this conception because they spoil their dog.

Answer 2

So far, nobody has stepped up to the plate to debate that this is cruel. Sorry, I'm not against a dog doing what it was bred to do, either. I have a Lab, but, I'm not a hunter, so, he can't very well retrieve birds. I also read somewhere that Labs were first bred to retriever fishermen's nets. I'm not much of a fisherman, either. So, Eli has to be content with retrieving a soccer ball or a frisbee rather than a duck or a fishing net. He does love water, as retrievers were bred to. I give him plenty of opportunities to go out in the water to retrieve something, be it a tennis ball, training stick, frisbee or whatever toy of the moment he is interested in.

Answer 3

I am so for dogs doing the job they were bred for, it's not even funny. There *are* lapdog breeds, and believe it or not, you *can* have a working dog and have a companion at the same time.

I have *always* dreamed of owning a work-quality Aussie. One specifically bred/trained to herd, herd, herd!

Answer 4

I love seeing a dog do the job it was bred for.

In most circumstances its a chance for the dog to really get into something which i reckon they would enjoy if given the chance.

My dog was bred to pull the cheese and milk carts around the mountains.

Even though i show i do intend to start carting to see what my boy thinks about it. Though i have to wait another 3 months before he can start, too young right now.

Watching a BC bring in the sheep is amazing, such a skill to have by dog and owner.

Though you do have to look at some dogs with were bred to hunt certain animals, many of which are protected, so in actual fact they can't do it.

The Foxhound does still go on hunts but they lay the scent out now which they follow as fox hunting is banned in the UK.

Not sure about other countries but this so called sport (not wanting to get into the politics here) is very deep routed in English tradition and has recently been banned.

What about the other hounds?? Hunting deer and wolf, it wouldn't wash over here.

I know a friend who had hounds and in certain areas they can't be left of the lead for the fear they will chase and kill certain animals.

Answer 5

my papillon was given to me by my parents to keep me company.  i had broke my neck and was just beginning to move around.

her job has been to get me walking and moving around.  so far it's worked in that i can now walk around and hour if i have a walker.

she is in class for obedience and thinking about therapy dog training.  she loves people and her trainer wants her to be a therapy dog.

Answer 6

I agree with you that dogs should do jobs what they are bred for.  Most of time because of owners who have no clue about this and blame on the dogs when problems arise.  I'm looking forward to see other people comment about your question.

Answer 7

Both of mine work.

Brogan, at nine months, is working towards his Junior and Started hunter titles.

Jake has earned his Senior and Seasoned Hunter titles.

And I'll tell you what-THEY LOVE IT.

I've never laid a mean hand on either one of them. I simply taught them that "picking things up with your mouth and bringing them to me is AWESOME!!!" and they did the rest from there (aside from the pains of learning the formal commands like the whistle sit, heel, etc etc).

There is absolutely no reason my boys can't do the job they were bred to do. I don't hunt often, in fact I probably go out maybe once a year, if not once every OTHER year. But we attend hunt-tests and field trials regularly because I know how much THEY love to do the job. The sound of a duck quacking, or a gunshot, or even the word "duck" gets them going. They adore swimming-the smell of water alone is enough to get them jumping around like a bunch of nuts.

I see nothing wrong with letting my boys have some fun =]

Answer 8

I always find it great when people actually let their dogs do the jobs they were bred for. I love watching dogs work.

If I had a herd of sheep, I'd work Bindi on herding, I don't so we find other outlets for her instincts, drive, and energy.

Max, well he's a non-hunting lab. Apparently someone forgot to tell him that labs are supposed be natural retrievers and water dogs. He hates both. He's more content to put his "I'm just a big goofy dog" look on his face and amuse people for attention.

I really wish I understood the mentally that letting the dog do what is was bred for is cruel.  

Answer 9

I dont think that will happen. I will check in later to see if anyone answers this question for you.

I wish people would use/get the dog for the specific reason they were bred for.

great question.  

Answer 10

"I look forward to hearing from those *against* a dog doing the job it was bred for.."

Ohh, me too. In fact, I think I'm salivating a little bit. ;)

Great Q!

ADD: graciegirl, I'm sure you know that sport fighting was not/is not the Pit Bull's only job. Despite my personal aversion to hunting, at least a catch dog is a happy working dog, using the agility and strength bred into it. And don't they handle stock, as well? Where's Rachel??

ADD2: Okay, well, this is no fun. Being the giving person that I am, I hereby present several possible arguments against using dogs for jobs:

Sled Dogs: We have snowmachines, now. Mushers tie their dogs out in the cold and feed them once a day, and force them to pull sleds. They whip them if they don't run!

Protection Dogs: That is what guns are for. The protection dog could get hurt -- those dogs are killed all of the time. They use cruel methods to train them and make them vicious.

Hunting Dogs: Killing other animals is bad. We have grocery stores, now! Why do we need to shoot birds?

Herding/Flock Dogs: Don't they have to live with the livestock? I think the herdsmen beat them with sticks if they don't herd the cattle. All livestock are raised on factory farms, and can't walk 3 feet, much less far enough to be herded.

The shepherd should use an ATV to herd the flock himself, and a gun to protect it, and just have the dog to keep him company in the mountains.

General argument: In the "old days", dogs were treated badly, like property. We are an advanced, learned society now, and we don't need to use dogs like tools any more. Why can't they all just be pets. They love us, and that should be enough. Making them do something other than letting us take care of them is cruel, and it isn't fair to exploit their love for us by making them work.

Okay, let me have it. I love the abuse.

Answer 11

Why you shouldn't "work" your dog:

1. Dogs have feelings too!  They shouldn't HAVE to work. (just like humans shouldn't have to or want to work).

2. Dogs are just like toddlers in furry suits.  You wouldn't expect a toddler to work (err, um... yeah, mine were required to pick up their toys).

3. Its easier to buy a POS dog from a backyard greeder or puppymiller than it is to do the research necessary to buy a dog with a working lineage.

4. PETA people may accost you if you work your dog.  (had this happen at a restaurant where my Service Dog was sleeping under the table).

5. Your dog is less likely to "decorate" your house if you give it something mentally/physically challenging to do.  You do want your dog redecorating, right?!

6. If you work your dog, he may pout when he is left home and is not the dog who gets to work that day.  Far better to just not work him.

**************************************...

<end sarcasm>

Answer 12

Sorry Ulva, but I don't think you will hear from those who are against it!  Most people would rather leave random comments in their answers, and not ever have to back up those comments with facts!

There is NOTHING wrong with breeding, buying, training and/or using a dog to do what the breed was intended to do!!!!

Answer 13

I think its up to the person who owns the dog whether they want it to do the job it was "bred for" or if they do not and want to find other constructive outlets to keep their dog happy and healthy I think it perfectly fine. Either way.

But if you think about it there is just not a lot of need for these dogs that were bred for certain jobs in this day and age. Some people still use them for herding, hunting, guarding, etc. But most people any more are just looking for pets, not a dog to do "work" for them.

Just my 2 cents.

Answer 14

dogs should do what they were bred for.  standard poodles are german water dogs and were used to catch what their handler shot.  their jaws are very soft so that they do not puncture the catch.

i have a standard poodle and she is not able to do what she was bred for and i think as a result of that (also not enough excersize) she will now get out her frustration on people

Answer 15

There was once a time were very few people kept dogs as "pets"..  You had the rich and you had peasants..  poor could barely feed themselves, much less an animal.  If they had a dog at all.. it performed some kind of job or function.. such as hunting, herding, etc.

Even the rich still used dogs for their purpose..  taking the dogs and going on a hunt was a favorite pasttime for many royalty.  Even small companion dogs really served a purpose as lap and bed warmers for the ladies.. as the castles were often quite drafty!

The only reason we humans domesticated dogs in the first place was because we saw that there was a useful purpose for them.

There is nothing wrong with using a dog for work.  Many breeds NEED something to do..  they have so much energy and intelligence!  They require exercize and mental stimulation.  A bored unworked dog can quickly become destructive or develop obnoxious behavoirs.

I dont see how its cruel to put a dog to performing a task?   Have you ever seen herding dogs at work?  I saw a small demonstration last year.. they had 2 or 3 dogs there, and took turns with the dogs.  You could see that the other dogs wanted in there to work too, even when it wasnt their turn!

Answer 16

I agree with you, but I have one caveat - what about dogs that were bred for obsolete purposes, like bull baiting? What do they do then?

I agree that every dog should have a job, even the job of "best lap warmer," but that each dog should be trained for the mental stimulation of it and the bonding that happens between dog and handler during training. But if you're talking about people seeing a Berner pull a sled full of joyful kids down the street and complaining about it, I'd just laugh it off.

ETA: While some jobs have become obsolete, others have emerged. Therapy dogs, service dogs, agility, rally, tracking, earthdog, freestyle... all jobs you could look into, even with a companion dog. Papillons do incredibly in agility. Bomb sniffing probably didn't exist back in the days when GSDs were used for herding and as farm dogs, but they've adapted.

Likewise, what is someone to do with a Malamute in an area without snow? Get creative - bikejoring is an awesome example of people working with what they've got to give their dogs what they need. Even if it's not what the dog was bred for, it can be fulfilling, and that's what's important.

Answer 17

Great question!!!

Well, I suppose you aren't looking forward to my answer, since I agree with you!  I think it is a disservice to the dog to get a working breed and NOT allow it to have a job.  

You are hearing from people who have no idea what a real dog is.  Most know *their* dog could not preform any job (even if it was the intended job of the breed), because their dogs are so far from the breed standards.  

It is cruel to have a working dog whose only activity is running around in the backyard by itself and, if they're lucky, a short walk!

Can't wait to see the other answers you get...

Answer 18

All dogs need a purpose.  I am for it !!!

Answer 19

I have no problem whatsoever with anybody using a dog for the purpose he was bred.  In fact, it might be one of my favorite things to watch.  Every day there's a little piece of me that wishes I could afford to buy a farmhouse in the country, get some sheep and teach my dogs how to "do what they're supposed to do"....but.....then.....there's always that d**n thing I like to call reality sneaking up on me!  (someday, someday, I'll live in that day dream world...but not today)

What I DO have a problem with is people jumping down the throats of the people who do NOT work their dogs.  (I am NOT saying you are doing that, btw)  I think it is time for people to stop passing judgment on everybody else as long as a dog is well taken care of.  I agree that any dogs needs a source of fulfillment.  I also agree that NO dog should just "be a statue in the living room to look at", but I find it unnecessary to classify a BC herding cattle as "better than" a BC running an agility course, etc.  

We NEED to live in the present and in my opinion that means we need to realize that every dog that's a member of the herding group may not ever in his lifetime see a flock of sheep....and that just might be OK!

Answer 20

I don't find anything wrong with it. I actually enjoy watching my Catahoula have fun rounding up cattle.

It's not cruel. It's instinct.

I'm all for protecting animals from cruelty, but to stop a breed from doing what they were originally bred for and instinctual crave to do IMHO is what is truly cruel.

take a Husky for instance (or any other sled dog).

I've heard people say that's it's cruel to "make" those dogs pull sleds in the cold weather.

That right there is an ignorant statement. Huskies are amazing dogs. They LOVE to pull sleds. They LOVE to run through snow. They LOVE to play outside.  They were bred for the job of pulling a sled, they were bred to withstand the cold. They have one of the best insulated coats for cold weather that there is....yet to some granola hippy dippy PETA extremists think it's "cruel" because they superimpose their own feelings to the matter. They are judging it as if THEY were the dogs, and are blind to the function they were bred for.

a Husky that doesn't have SOME sort of high energy release is a destructive dog. They need to so something to occupy their mind and their bodies or they become neurotic...now THAT is cruel to me.

Edit:

had to add after reading something.

if people "just want a pet" then there are wonderful companion dogs that were BRED for that very reason.

Pugs

Papillons

Bichon Frise

Havanese

Chihuahua

Chinese Crested (also great ratters)

Pomeranian

Pekingese

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

ETC...

here's a whole list of Companion dogs that would be perfect as "just pets".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Companion_d...

Edit2:

as you can see those that disagree are only going to TD spam everyone's answers.

F'in cowards!!

Answer 21

Dogs  need  exercise, training and fun or they become bored. What annoys me are people who describe their dog as a working dog and they neither train nor exercise it.  

Answer 22

Ok....I am not only salivating, I am drooling!!!

Oh, please people, do explain to the rest of us what kind of jobs your dogs do to earn their living!!!!

Answer 23

I don't know about you but my dogs love to work, they like the excersize.

My girl when we go on vacation really displays her mastiff roots- (They were used as guard dogs for castels back in the day) She sits infront of our camp and survaise the area, if anything comes twards her area, she lets out a warning bark, she looked like a lion sitting there. Was a really neat thing to see- my boy doesn't do that so it's cute:)

Answer 24

I don't know if you've heard from anyone against yet! lol

I think it is foolish and naive to think that working drives in any given working breed can be ignored, and any of those dogs can be transformed into just solely a companion pet.  Those drives need an outlet somewhere--they're hard-wired into the animal.  If a constructive outlet isn't found & exercised, a destructive one will might be.

add:  

This question reminded me of another question from a while back:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

I enjoyed the final responses from the asker (somewhat a case in point to your question)

"i don't want a show dog i want an intellectual and sweet dog."

"I don't think the other answers understand the breed"

The dog is a Malinois.  To be fair, the asker did say they wanted to be involved in agility with the dog but had no experience with the breed.  By the same token they asked if the dog would be considered "cute" by other people.

Answer 25

i agree that certain breeds have a purpose.  as a pit bull owner, i have to say that is not always the case.  it's not good to have it do what it was bred for.  they are better off as pets.  i love to see working dogs, IE the seeing eye dogs.  they just blow my mind how well their trained!

Answer 26

My current Dobermanns Tori and JJ would no doubt make Louis Dobermann turn in his grave because they could not function as protection/guard dogs.

Tori thoroughly enjoyed dog shows and ring craft and still goes to obedience but does not have one guarding bone in her body, so not what the breed standard calls for, function and form. Neither has JJ.

As I would like my next Dobermann to come from strong working lines and have both function and form, you will not get an argument from me against dogs engaging in the activities they were bred for.

Answer 27

I don't see anything wrong with it.

but I don't work dogs...

all my dogs where bred to be a companion.

and that is why i got dogs.

they are my children.

and will stay like that for 15+ years to come.

my dogs don't work cause they where not bred for it,

and i will not get dogs for working.

Answer 28

I don't know.  Some people claim that they were born to do something they love, but a dog that loves to work can't?  It seems more cruel not to work a dog, then to let it work.  Does that make sense?  I'm not myself today.  I'm not saying that all dogs should work, some may not like it (if that's possible, dog's love to please their masters).  And I'm not saying you should work your dog, I think it's more a matter of our opinion (whether right or wrong).  Although I do love dogs that work, especially if they're working with you.

ADD: I own an AmStaff, a dog bred to show.  She does not show but if I were to make her work, it would probably be in pulling.  She is strong and loves tug-o-war.  We are talking about breed as in the kind that has standards.  Not the ones that were bred personally to do a certain job (i.e. fighting).

Answer 29

im never against a dog having a job, dogs were not meant to be a couch ornament, i do have a problem with people working their dogs who have no clue what they are doing, and do not know how to properly train their dogs to do the job. All my dogs are working dogs, they have to earn their food, water,. toys etc...... a working dog is a happy dog, they need that physical and mental workout to keep them happy and healthy, and to preserve what they were bred for.

Answer 30

I can promise you dogs were not put on this earth for a soul purpose of laying in your lap and playing fetch. They all have a history and a job, every single one of them.

Now there are some who cannot do the job they were first intended for, and thats fine. But there are a lot out there who are working breeds and still able to do what they were bred for. There is nothing wrong with putting a dog to work, giving it a sense of purpose.  

Answer 31

Some dogs used to be bred for fighting each other. That is wrong and illegal, ask Michael Vick. Dogs bred for other purposes, in most cases that isn't so bad.