How To Train Herding And Working Dog Breeds

Herding and working dogs are actually two different categories in the American Kennel Club but have only been divided into the two groups since 1983. Previously the herding group was included in the working group category since these groups have many of the same traits and attributes. Both groups have been bred to work closely with humans and to be good, solid and dependable companion dogs.

Working Breeds

In generally the working breeds tend to be large dogs that have been bred to pull carts, pull sleds, guard and even perform various rescues. Breeds in the working group include:

· Akitas
· Bernese Mountain Dogs
· Boxers
· Bullmastiffs
· Great Danes
· Doberman Pinchers
· Great Pyrenees
· Newfoundland
· Rottweiler
· St. Bernard
· Siberian Husky

There are also several other breeds including the amazing Komondor, known for its long, ringlet style coat. All of these breeds of dogs are large, usually weighing in excess of 60 pounds, with many of the larger males reaching over 150 pounds when full grown.

When working with these working dogs it is important to note that they are generally very gentle dogs although them may be aggressive or possessive around strangers. Dogs such as the Akita that has been bred to both hunt and protect will need additional socialization and training at an early age to prevent aggressive tendencies as they mature. These dogs need to be very obedient simply because they are so large and could potentially hurt someone even by simply jumping up. Usually very easy to train they require consistent and firm training with lots of positive praise and attention.

Generally these dogs will be natural watchdogs although they are not necessarily effective guard dogs. Some, such as the Doberman Pincher and the Rottweiler are excellent as both watch and guard dogs with the proper training. Professional trainers can be very effective in training and working with guard dogs.

Would You Like To Know More About Dog Breeds?

Each year, more and more new dog breeds are added to the already growing list. Currently, the American Kennel Club, or AKC, recognizes over 150 different breeds and has seven different groups to categorize them. These groups include; sporting, working, toy, terrier, hound, herding, and non-sporting breeds.

The working category of breeds refers to those canines who aren’t merely pets or companions for humans, but rather are working animals that are now or have been trained to perform certain tasks. The working breed category includes: border collie, boxer, german shepherd, great dane, labrador retriever, rottweiler, st. Bernard, siberian husky.

Terriers are a lively group of dogs that were originally bred for hunting small animals such as rabbits and foxes, with most types coming from the British Isles. This category includes some well known dog breeds such as: american pit bull, australian, boston, bull, cairn, fox, jack russell, rat, scottish, welsh, west highland.

Also called teacup or tiny, the Toy category features the smallest of dogs who generally weigh under 20 to 25 pounds and include: Bichon Frise, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Chihuahua, Dachshund, Havanese, Maltese, Papillon, Pekingese, Pomeranian, Pug, Shih Tzu, Toy and Miniature, Poodles, Yorkshire Terrier.

There are also categories that use other criteria to describe dogs, such as those that are considered hypoallergenic or non-shedding. Some of these include: Airedale, Basenji, Cairn, Kerry Blue, Norfolk, Tibetan, and Welsh Terriers; Chinese Crested, Poodle, Schnauzer

A growing number of ‘designer dogs’ that mix certain breeds are becoming popular. These include many dogs that are part Poodle:

- Labradoodle (Labrador and Poodle)

- Cockapoo (Cocker Spaniel and Poodle)

- Goldendoodle (Golden Retriever and Poodle)

- Maltipoo (Maltese and Poodle)

- Schnoodle (Schnauzer and Poodle)

Dog breeds may also be grouped by the size and weight of the dog.

- Toy breeds are 10 pounds or less.

- Small breeds are 10 to 25 pounds.

- Medium breeds are 25 to 50 pounds.

- Large breeds are 50 to 75 pounds.

- Extra large breeds are over 75 pounds.

While any dog can be trained to be good around children and toddlers, there are those who seem to have an extra affinity and tolerance for kids. And of course, any dog who is not trained or poorly socialized will not do well with children. Some of the breeds known for being good for families with children include:

- Basset Hound

- Bulldog

- Collie

- English Setter

- Golden Retriever

- Newfoundland

- Samoyed

- Standard Poodle

How to Choose the Right Dog Breed for You

There are many different variables to consider when trying to decide on the right breed of dog for you and your family. Before trying to pick which type of dog would do best in your home, ask yourself the following questions:

Training: All dogs require some type of obedience training and house training, but some need a bit more work than others. Do you have the time and patience necessary to train certain types of dogs?

Size: Do you have the room in your home and yard to accommodate a dog, and if so, what size?

Exercise/walking requirements: Do you have the time and energy it takes to see that a dog has the proper amount of exercise they need to stay happy and healthy?

Grooming and shedding: Is anyone in your home allergic to animals? Do you have the resources and time to devote to grooming your dog on a regular basis?

Exercises For Different Dog Breeds

Dogs of different breeds behave differently and have different physical characteristics. It is therefore advised that different breeds of dogs should get different exercise routines so that they do not get over exhausted or obese. Selecting the right exercise regime for your dog depending on the breed is therefore essential.

Breeds and their exercises
Based on the different classes of breeds, a set of exercises can be determined.

1. Terriers- This class of dog includes breeds such as the Jack Russell Terrier, Irish Terrier, Scottish Terrier, Welsh Terrier and the famous American Pit Bull Terrier. They are highly intelligent and full of energy and can thus manage mind and body games such as obstacle courses and Frisbee. Chasing games are also good for this class of dogs.

2. Companion Dogs/ Toy Dogs- These are generally dogs, which are bred for companionship rather than utility such as Chihuahua, Pug, English bulldog and Shih Tzu. They require only minimal exercises such as walking. However, some breeds, which are also for companionship like the Dalmations and the Yorkshire terriers, need walks that are more vigorous.

3. Hounds- The hounds can be sub classified into two more subtypes: the scent hounds (which are bred to search on the basis of scent e.g. Harrier, Coonhound and Dachshund) and the sight hounds (which are bred to search on the basis of sight e.g. Greyhound, Irish wolfhound and Basenji). They have tendency to switch between work and play and therefore are recommended for walks, runs and hikes.

4. Guardian Dogs- These include breeds like the Bullmastiff, Great Dane, Great Pyrenee, Doberman Pinscher and the Rottweiler. These are strong dogs that can be quite active, however behaviorally they tend to start taking the play quite seriously, which could be problematic. It is therefore recommended that these dogs should be given exercise in the form of runs and obstacle courses but within limits.

5. Northern Dogs- This class includes dogs from breeds like the Chinook, Siberian husky, Malamute and Chow Chow. They are highly active and should be exercised a lot with hiking, runs, games (like sledding) to keep them active.

6. Gun/ Sporting Dogs- This class includes breeds like the Irish Settler, Labrador Retriever, English Cocker Spaniel and the Standard Poodle. Being bred for sports and hunting, these dogs have a lot of stamina and require a lot of exercise. Long walks, hiking and running activities are good. In addition, games like fetch can be played to keep the activity up.

7. Herding Dogs- Breeds, which come under this class, include the English Sheepdog, Welsh Corgi, Collie, Border Collie, German Shepherd, and the Schnauzer. These breeds generally have a moderate to high energy level and are therefore suited to a variety of exercises. Almost any games and sports are good for the dogs, especially runs, walks and challenging hikes.

Thus, depending on which class of breed your dog falls into, you should select an appropriate exercise regime for it. You must also determine the personality of your dog to best choose games and activities, which it can do for its wellbeing.

Dog Breeds And Their Characteristics

A lot of people do not take this into account when they adopt or buy a dog as in most people go for a certain breed of dog because of its size, popularity, the dogs appearance etc. When choosing a dog the decision should be based particularly on the breed of the dog because of the characteristics they inherit. Also every dog is different some dogs are more stubborn than others and other dogs more easier to train the others. There are also different types of intelligence such as:

Learning ability – if dogs have a good learning ability they may only need to be exposed to a situation a few times to get a stable response e.g. knowing where their toys are kept and running to the place when playful.

Problem solving – the faster a dog solves a problem with as little errors at the start

Communication intelligence – the dogs understanding of what he needs to do the dogs willingness to take directions and not be distracted

And instinctive intelligence – this intelligence is normally bred in to dogs by combining different qualities from each breed.

Here are a few dogs with good characteristics keeping in mind that all dogs can be good and make great family pets, just some are more suited to it naturally than others.

The wire haired fox terrier – this is a small but very active and lively dog, they have perfect balance, they are alert, are very quick in movement. Wired haired terriers are very friendly dogs who are forthcoming and fearless.

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Basset Griffon Vendeen – this dog is a strong, active and courageous hound with great stamina and great bark to go with it. These dogs are happy and outgoing but they can be a little stubborn and easily agitated however they are willing to please with firm handling.

Greyhound – these dogs have remarkable stamina and endurance so they require a lot of exercise, they are also very intelligent, gentle, affectionate and even tempered a great family dog and very easy to train..

Siberian Husky – these dogs make very good companions they are friendly and gentle, alert, outgoing, intelligent and very eager. These dogs are good to train as they are willing to learn and work.

In a study showing the breeds of dogs which are smartest, easiest to train and have great willingness to work and obey formed a list from best to worse and in first place was the border collie, the list is as follows:

1. Border collie

2. Poodle

3. German shepherd

4. Golden retriever

5. Doberman

6. Shetland sheepdog

7. Labrador retriever

And the least intelligent were:

1. Afghan hound

2. Basenji

3. Bulldog

4. Chow chow

5. Borzoi

6. Bloodhound

7. Pekingese

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Dog Breeds – Why They Matter, and How They Came About

There is an incredible variety of dog breeds today, with new ones emerging every year. In fact, it’s estimated that there are around 800 breeds of dog, though only 150 of these are really widespread throughout the world.

DNA testing shows that dogs evolved from wolves around 15,000 years ago after humans began selectively breeding them. Today, there is probably no other type of animal on the planet that is so diverse in terms of appearance while still remaining a single species.

One dog breed can look totally different from another dog breed in different parts of the world – just compare a Chihuahua to a Great Dane, for example.

So why should any of this matter to any owner?

Because, besides coming in wildly different shapes and sizes, dogs also have equally diverse skills and temperaments, due to the aforementioned centuries of human-controlled breeding and selection. Their health requirements and vulnerabilities vary from breed to breed as well. These factors should play a significant part when you’re choosing the right dog breed for you.

Generally, each dog breed will fall into one of several functional categories:

1. Companion dog – This type of dog was not bred for work or utility, but to act as a companion. While members of almost any dog breed can act as companions, it is generally accepted that the smaller, toy breeds are the most representative of this category, since they were specifically bred to carry out this particular function.

Popular dogs of this type include the Pomeranian, the Chihuahua, and the Pekingese.

2. Guard dog – A dog breed that falls into this category has been specifically developed to guard against unexpected or unwanted people and animals.

A watch dog barks to alert its owner to an intruder’s presence; a guard dog goes further by attacking or restraining the intruder. Famous exponents of this category include the German Shepherd, the Doberman Pinscher, the American Bulldog, and the Bull Mastiff.

3. Hunting dog – These breeds were created to aid during hunting. The category can be further divided into these subtypes: hounds (sighthounds and scenthounds), terriers (for vermin and small mammals), gun dogs (retrievers, flushing spaniels, pointing breeds) and cur type dogs (for boars and raccoons).

Popular hunting breeds include the English Cocker Spaniel, the Whippet, the Golden Retriever, the Beagle, and the Scottish Terrier.

4. Herding dog – Also known as stock dogs, this category includes some of the most intelligent breeds. A dog breed of this type serves as a pastoral aid, herding sheep, cattle, and other livestock. They are well-known for their ability to be trained to respond to whistles or spoken commands.

Various breeds have been independently developed around the world, through the centuries. Some famous examples include the Border Collie, the Cardigan Welsh Corgi, and the Bouvier des Flandres.

5. Sled dog – These breeds, also known as sledge dogs or sleightman dogs, are used for transportation, capable of pulling sleds over vast expanses of snow or ice. They are renowned for their extreme endurance and speed.

Well-known examples include the Siberian Husky, the Alaskan Malamute, and the Samoyed.

As you can see, there is a huge amount of variety in this single species. When selecting a dog, do some research about the breed’s temperament and overall health outlook.

In general, larger breeds tend to be especially prone to hip dysplasia, while small dogs tend to suffer from knee cap dislocation.

Dog breeds with deep chests, including Basset Hounds, Labrador Retrievers, and Great Danes, tend to be susceptible to bloat. Meanwhile, dogs with “snub” faces (brachycephalic breeds) such as the Pug, the Pekingese, the Shih-Tzu, and the Bulldog, are prone to problems with their breathing and eyelids, susceptibility to heat stress, and dental problems.

Take everything into consideration when choosing your pet, and don’t just go on looks alone. Knowing the unique traits of your dog’s breed will better prepare you for a fulfilling and happy life with your chosen companion.

Alaskan Klee Kai – Dog Breeds – Great Facts Everyone Should Know

In this article we will firstly look at the simple stats of this great breed, then move on to an in-depth look at whether you will be suited to this dog.

Breed group: Nordic

Weight: Toy: 10 lbs; miniature: 15 lbs; standard: 23 lbs

Height: Toy: 13 inches; miniature: inches; standard: 15-17.5 inches

Overview

The Alaskan Klee Kai have been developed by Linda Spurlin during the early part of the 1970′s in Wasilla, Alaska. After an unintentional mating between an Alaskan Husky and an unknown smaller dog, Linda Spurlin took a liking to this offspring. She ended up breeding a prototype dog that was suppose to act as a companion dog as she was so stunned with the good looks and size of these dogs. In order to reduce the size of these dogs, she developed this breed with Alaskan and Siberian Huskies – and also using American and Schipperke Eskimo Dogs in order to abolish problems with dwarfism. This breed was first known as the Klee Kai, but in 1995 the name changed to the Alaskan Klee Kai. Even today these dogs are fairly rare.

Temperament

The Alaskan Klee Kai seems to be very shy and wary of strangers, but will alert their owners by barking. These dogs are average guard dogs, and they will not attack someone seeing that they were bred to be companion dogs. But they are outstanding watch dogs, and will always alert you of something when necessary. Alaskan Klee Kais are very clever dogs that are very committed to their owners. They love the attention and company of their families. These dogs get along well other pets and children they have been raised with.

Care

This breed is average shedding dogs, and will require a brushing on a regular basis. These dogs should not be bathed too often, only when it is really necessary. Make sure that you use a good shampoo to prevent possible skin irritations. Also check the ears of the dog for too much dirt, hair or too much wax build up. Their nails can also be trimmed to keep their paws in a good condition, and to ensure that they don’t have any discomfort when walking.

Training

It is important to be consistent when training the Alaskan Klee Kai. The training environment should be fair and positive. This breed is very clever, but also very independent. Although they are compliant, they are not always obedient. But you will be glad to know that this gets better as these dogs get older. It is important to get this dogs socialised from a very early age onwards.

Health problems

Although these dogs are very tough, there have been some concerns uttered about an inherited bleeding disorder. Apart from this disorder, the Alaskan Klee Kai is fairly healthy.

THE TOP TEN MOST INTELLIGENT DOGS – How Intelligent are dogs and wolves? What breeds are the smartest dogs today?

1. “Left for the wolves.”

In the late Spring of 1902, Constable Richard Morris, of the North-West Mounted Police, reported an incident dealing with the native Cree Indians and their dogs. Stationed in a community north of Lake Winnipeg, he noticed that a number of dogs had been staked out in the forest. Each one was left alone and fastened to an iron stake by a chain. When he asked the reason for this, the Crees told him that the dogs were “left for the wolves.”

When Constable Morris objected to this treatment, the Crees explained that the dogs wouldn’t be harmed by the wolves. The dogs — Ungava huskies — were females in heat. Male wolves without mates of their own would be attracted to the females and mate with them, resulting in cross-bred puppies with “wolfblood.”

Morris said, “Oh, I see. This is so your sled-dogs will be bigger and stronger.”

“No,” said one Cree. “A wolf can outrace our dogs in a quick dash — but our huskies have much more stamina than wolves and can easily outlast them in a long run. Wolves make poor work dogs.”

“Then,” concluded Morris, “it’s because wolves are healthier.”

“No. They are the same.”

“Then — why?” asked the Mountie.

“Up here,” replied the Indian, tapping his forehead.

Father LeBeaux, an Oblate Missionary, later explained, “The Cree people believe that when an animal becomes domesticated, each generation loses in intelligence. That’s why wolves are more intelligent than dogs. The Indians say, ‘The closer to the wolf, the smarter the dog.’ If it is true of domesticated animals, what does that say of civilized man, eh?”

 

 

2. “How intelligent are they?”

Our ancestors might have asked this 15,000 years ago when they played with their adopted wolf or jackal pups — the first dogs.

Even the ancient Egyptians asked that question, and studied their own dogs to answer it.

The first modern attempt was by Rene Descartes, who only went one step beyond the cloudy thinking of his time, saying all animals were just soulless biological machines. Descartes set up the narrow, human-centered theory of behaviorism that would dominate until well into the 20th Century.

For decades, behaviorists put animals — including dogs — through sterile tests in sterile labs, looking for mechanical results that proved worthless.

In the middle of this muddle came one sane voice: Donald Griffin, professor of biology at Rockefeller University, who said, “Behaviorism should be abandoned not so much because it belittles the value of living animals, but because it leads to a serious incomplete and hence misleading picture of reality.”

In 1953, Konrad Lorenz’s MAN MEETS DOG created an instant classic about canine intelligence. Written with humor, wisdom and great insight, the German Nobel Laureate almost single-handedly recreated our methods of exploring animal behavior.

In his ground-breaking 1994 book THE INTELLIGENCE OF DOGS — CANINE CONSCIOUSNESS AND CAPABILITIES, Canadian Stanley Coren, psychologist, dog trainer, “and avowed dog lover,” presented his controversial Ranking of Dogs for Obedience and Working Intelligence.

Coren ranked 133 breeds, from #1 on… The reaction was predictable: “The Poodle? He ranked a POODLE above my Belgian sheepdog?” “Come on! My Samoyed is smarter than any Australian Cattle Dog!” “No Papillon can out-think my Lassie.” “OK, maybe a Poodle is intelligent –but…”

“Controversial” doesn’t begin to describe the reaction to “Coren’s Ranking.”

But his observations have proven to be pretty accurate. Coren was testing, of course, pure breeds. The “purebred” Siberian husky, for instance, isn’t as quick-witted as the native husky of northern Siberia. This is even more true of the Alaskan malamute. We deliberately breed out some of the “wolfishness” in our pets.

 

 

3. “Never Cry Wolf!”

In 1963, Farley Mowat’s NEVER CRY WOLF appeared on the bookshelves. Described as “an intimate casebook in wolf sociology,” Mowat described how, as a biologist employed by the Canadian Wildlife Service, he had spent a summer on his own, studying a pack of Arctic wolves. The book sparked an avid interest in wolf research that has never dimmed.

IN PRAISE OF WOLVES and SECRET GO THE WOLVES described R D Lawrence’s close experiences with wolves in Canada. DANCE OF THE WOLVES by Roger Peters describes his three winters in the forests of northern Michigan. These and others have shown us the remarkable lives and intelligence of the wolf.

R D Lawrence wrote: “Reality, particularly in the case of wolves, means that these animals have keen intelligence, excellent memory, and demonstrable capacity of conscious thought. When Shawano fed his pack before keeping a piece of chicken for himself, he demonstrated not only that he could profit from experience in a profitable way, but that other wolves could do so as well.

“This demonstration is alone sufficient to discredit the mechanistic theory which contends that evolution, by means of hereditary imprinting, has led to the thoughtless or automatic responses of animals to any one of an enormously wide variety of natural stimuli…

“Memory, by allowing an animal to benefit from experience, plays an important role in the formulation of conscious decisions; the better its memory, the better able will the animal be to adapt to a changing environment.”

It’s the wolf’s intelligence, as well as its loyalty and great heart that caused our ancient Northern ancestors to bring the wolf into their families, or to interbreed their existing dogs (probably of ancient jackal ancestry) with wolves.

Today, we mingle with wolves, in sanctuary and in the wild.

And fictional works, from Jack London’s THE CALL OF THE WILD to the latest movie EIGHT BELOW have celebrated the wild wolf dog in Literature and in Hollywood.

 

 

“THE TOP 10 MOST INTELLIGENT DOGS!”

What, then are the smartest breeds?

Taking in the conclusions of dog trainers, psychologists and researchers, as well as those who work with dogs in life and death situations, such as police, search & rescuers, and wilderness inhabitants — and balancing the Cree wisdom: “the closer to the wolf, the smarter the dog!” with ongoing research into the evolution of dogs (remember, the earliest dogs were probably adopted jackal pups), here are the TEN MOST INTELLIGENT DOGS:

1. Ungava Husky, or Wolf Dog

2. German Shepherd

3. Golden Retriever

4. Labrador Retriever

5. Border Collie

6. Poodle

7. Doberman Pinscher

8. Papillon

9. Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever

10. Alaskan Malamute

 

If your dog is not on this list, you can be sure it’s #11!

 

Brian Alan Burhoe, a chef by trade for three decades, is the author of many dog-related articles and short stories, including THE FREE ONLINE STORY WOLFBLOOD A Northwestern in the Tradition of Jack London. Many of his articles can be found at PUPPY DOGS INFO Dog Breeds Training Care & Literature.

 

 

What other breeds do well with siberian huskies?

I have a pure siberian and want to get a second dog. I’m wondering what other breeds other than siberians go well and get along best with huskies?

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