dog
What was your dog bred to do?

What was your dog bred to do?

by | Nov 30, 2023 | Puppy Training

Did you know that every dog breed was originally developed for a specific purpose?

From herding livestock to guarding property or retrieving game, dogs weren’t bred randomly—they were designed to perform specific jobs. And those instincts don’t just disappear because a dog becomes a pet.

One of the biggest mistakes dog owners make is choosing a dog based on looks or a limited experience with the breed, without understanding what that dog was bred to do.

The result? Frustration—when the dog starts displaying completely natural behaviors that the owner wasn’t prepared for.

Why Breed Purpose Matters

Many of the behavior issues people struggle with are not “bad behavior”—they are simply natural instincts.

For example:

  • A dog that pulls on leash may be bred to cover long distances
  • A dog that chases everything may have strong prey drive
  • A dog that is wary of strangers may be a natural guardian

These behaviors are not random—they are deeply rooted in genetics.

It is not the dog’s responsibility to suppress those instincts. It is the owner’s responsibility to understand them and provide proper guidance, structure, and outlets.

It’s Not Too Late to Learn

If you already have a dog and didn’t research the breed beforehand, don’t worry—you’re not alone.

We see owners learn, adapt, and completely transform their relationship with their dog all the time.

The key question is: Are you willing to understand your dog and meet their needs?

 

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Common Dog Breeds and What They Were Bred For

Here are some of the most common breeds (and breed groups) we see in pet homes, along with the behaviors they were bred for:

1. German Shepherds

Bred for herding and guarding sheep. Highly athletic and intelligent, with natural protective instincts. Often wary of strangers.

2. Retrievers (Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, Poodles)

Bred to retrieve game for hunters. Love water, enjoy carrying objects, and have a strong desire to work.

3. Hounds (Beagles, Dachshunds, Coonhounds)

Bred to follow scent trails. Their nose often overrides commands. Independent and driven to track.

4. Mastiffs (Cane Corso, Bullmastiff, Dogo Argentino)

Bred to guard property and protect against large threats. Strong protective instincts and territorial behavior.

5. Rottweilers

Bred to guard livestock and property. Naturally confident and often reserved with strangers.

6. Dobermans

Bred specifically for protection work. Loyal, alert, and naturally suspicious of unfamiliar people.

7. Terriers (Jack Russell, Yorkshire, Wheaten)

Bred to hunt and kill small animals. High prey drive, intense energy, and persistent behavior.

8. Boxers

Bred for guarding and hunting. Energetic, playful, and protective.

9. Pointers (Weimaraner, Vizsla, German Shorthaired Pointer)

Bred to locate and point game. High energy, strong hunting drive, and need for activity.

10. Border Collies & Australian Shepherds

Bred for herding livestock. Strong instinct to control movement—often seen as chasing, nipping, or herding people.

11. Bernese Mountain Dogs

Bred for pulling carts and working livestock. Strong, steady, and capable working dogs.

12. Doodles

A mix of retriever and another breed. Behavior can vary widely—sometimes combining traits from both parents.

13. Spaniels (Cocker, Springer, Brittany)

Bred to flush out game. Energetic, social, and often love water and retrieving.

14. Schnauzers

Bred to hunt vermin and guard property. Alert, energetic, and protective.

15. Huskies & Malamutes

Bred to pull sleds over long distances. Extremely energetic, independent, and driven to run.

16. Understanding Your Dog Changes Everything

When you understand what your dog was bred to do, their behavior starts to make sense.

Instead of trying to “stop” natural instincts, you can redirect them in a healthy and productive way.

This leads to:

  • Less frustration
  • Better communication
  • A calmer, more balanced dog

Need Help With Your Dog’s Behavior?

If you’re struggling with your dog’s behavior, professional guidance can make all the difference.

We offer dog training in Hamilton and puppy training in Hamilton to help you better understand and manage your dog.

 

Book a Consultation

Puppy Socialization – What does it really mean?

by | Jan 15, 2016 | Puppy Training

Puppy Socialization

What is puppy socialization? Recently I shared an article explaining my hate for dog parks. OK, hate might be a strong word…more like my strong dislike for dog parks. If you read the article you will understand why I dislike them so much (if you did not read it here it is http://www.kdmathews.com/-bark-blog/just-say-noto-dogparks).puppy socialization

When people get a new puppy or dog, everyone says “oh you have to socialize them right away”. Somehow, somewhere the definition of socialization turned into taking your dog to the dog park to be around as many dogs as possible regardless of their temperament or disposition.  Don’t get me wrong, I love the IDEA of the dog park. Dogs, off leash, enjoying the company of other dogs and people. Sounds lovely doesn’t it? Unfortunately too many dogs who shouldn’t be at the dog park frequent on a daily basis. Unfortunately, most dog owners have no idea what to look for in a dog who should or should not be freely socializing with other dogs. Unfortunately, not enough people are advocating for their dogs (and maybe they just don’t know how or that they should). Unfortunately, this leads to dogs being bullied, dog fights, and dogs who were once confident around other dogs leaving fearful and insecure. Just last week we were training our dogs outside of the Grimsby Dog Park and saw a dog fight break out within 10 seconds of one dog entering the park…not to mention the over adrenalized dogs running around in pure chaos, the humping (ohhhh the humping…non stop humping), and owners off in their own little world chatting or on their phones.

So now that we’ve cleared up with a brief overview as to why I do not like dog parks and why they should not be your “go to” for socializing your puppy or dog…you’re probably still wondering what the heck you CAN do to socialize your dog! Socialization needs to be productive and positive. Yes, getting your puppy around other dogs is important but it needs to be around the right dogs. One bad experience can affect your puppy for the rest of their lives. Most dogs who are reactive or dog aggressive were not born that way. More often than not, there was at least one bad experience that caused the behaviour and many owners can pin point that experience. The risk of taking your puppy or dog to the dog park is far too great and is not worth the potential consequences.  Take your puppy or dog to group training, find a trainer who holds socialization classes, or find some friends or family with a nice balanced dog. However, getting your puppy or dog around other dogs is not the only component to socialization. Most behavioural issues come from fear, lack of confidence, lack of trust in handler, and not learning to follow. More important than letting your dog play with other dogs, is to expose them to as many positive experiences as possible in a variety of different ways. If you want to ensure you have a confident and happy dog who can go places with you then you need to take your dog to different places, let them explore different sounds and smells, touch and feel all kinds of surfaces. Here are some examples of what you can do:

  • Take your dog to different dog friendly stores (most banks, Lowes, TSC, Rona, and many more).
  • Using a long line (or off leash if your dog has a solid recall), allow your dog explore parks, trails, fields etc.
  • Find any unique surface and encourage your dog to explore it (bridges, jungle gyms, tarps etc).

The benefits of giving your dog plenty of exposure to these different situations will in turn produce a confident dog who can handle most of what life throws it’s way. If you only take your dog to the dog park for socialization, you can expect the one time you decide to bring your dog into a new situation he will be anxious, misbehaved, and it will not be enjoyable for either of you.Puppy socialization

If you need help socializing your puppy or dog please contact us for a FREE evaluation at 905-869-1170!

Happy Training
Katherine Vooys
Canines In Balance
Hamilton, Ontario

puppy socialization

Puppy socialization