When I am called to a home to help a family with their problem dog, I don’t often see bad dogs, but I do see bad matches.  Not every dog is right for every home…and not every home is right for every dog. 

This impressive German Shepherd has undergone extensive training for protection work, but does that mean his puppies would be good pets for your family? Working titles have little to do with a dog's quality as a pet.

WORKING LINES

By far, the worst matches I see are purebred dogs from “working lines” in pet homes. “Working lines” usually means that the dog’s parents worked or competed in an activity that the breed was created for.  In German Shepherds, that could be K9 work for law enforcement or competition in a protection sport like Schutzhund.  In Labrador Retrievers, the dogs do bird hunting or compete in hunting trials.  In Border Collies, the dogs are used to herd livestock on a ranch (in some cases, up to 40 miles a day) or in herding trials. 

Which of these activities indicates the dog’s quality as a family pet? None. These activities do not indicate how the dog is with small children, strangers, other family pets or how they handle new situations and environments.

QUALITIES OF A FAMILY PET

The average pet owner looks for the following characteristics in a new dog:

1. Friendly toward dogs and people
2. Not too “hyper” (the dog has a low energy level most of the time and is not overly-reactive to new environments and situations)
3. Easy to train (low effort, minimal time commitment to get basic behaviors)

When a dog is bred for a specific activity, like hunting or herding or protection, the breeder chooses dogs they consider “high drive”, which means the dogs have a high level of energy and intensity for a specific activity. Dogs with these qualities typically do not match up with the ideas most people have of a family pet.

If a dog from working lines is purchased as a pet and is not given an equivalent job to do, one that gives the dog an outlet for their physical energy and intelligence, that level of energy is going to be channeled somewhere else - perhaps retrieving the stuffing from inside the sofa or protecting your house and yard by barking frantically at mail carriers, dog walkers, squirrels and blowing leaves, which always makes owners of these dogs very popular with the neighbors.

I recently worked with a family who purchased a German Shepherd puppy from a breeder whose dogs came from "working Police K9 and Schutzhund lines". One of the puppies in the litter was deemed too fearful to participate such activities and was sold to a family that had never owned the breed before and had small children. From the beginning, the puppy exhibited aggressive behaviors toward other dogs on walks. One day, the family's young son tried to stop the dog from barking and lunging at another dog, and was bitten very badly when the puppy redirected his aggression towards the boy. This family just spent five months bonding with their new dog, only to have to face the heartbreak of returning the dog to the breeder. The breeder in this instance failed miserably in their responsibility to the puppy they bred and to the family they sold him to.

This is not to say that every dog from working lines is going to make a horrible family pet. However, potential puppy owners should be aware that "working lines" does not equal "perfect pet". It simply means that the dogs in the puppy's lineage were bred for a specific job. It is up to you to decide if that job (run, retrieve, protect, herd, etc.) fits in with your lifestyle.

AKC REGISTRATION

Young Labrador Retrievers are very mellow dogs....when they are asleep! Retrievers from working lines remain extremely high energy for several years. An evening walk and a puppy obedience class will barely scratch the surface of this breed's training and exercise needs.

A dog that is registered with the AKC is not required to have proven health, temperament, working ability or sound structure.  Dogs do not have to do anything to be registered, other than have two parents who are registered with the AKC. 

AKC registration simply certifies the dog is "purebred" and allows the owner of a registered dog to compete in AKC trials and shows.  It does not mean that they have won, or even competed.

For these reasons, AKC registration is not evidence of the quality of the dog as a pet or working dog.

PUPPIES VS. ADULT DOGS

A common misconception is that one can avoid behavior problems if they get a dog as a young puppy from a breeder and that older dogs in shelters have pre-existing problems. In fact, at least half our behavior clientele has purebred dogs they purchaed from a breeder and raised from a puppy, while many of the dogs who come through our obedience classes are mixed breed older dogs adopted from shelters, and have very few problems not remedied with basic obedience training.

The only way to get a dog without behavior problems is to become educated about dog behavior and training, so as to avoid making the common mistakes most puppy buyers make, starting with the breeder they choose to buy from. There are no guarantees, but one can limit the chances for problems by being educated and not buying the first cute puppy they meet.

CONCLUSION

If you are getting a dog because you want to do extensive training for herding, protection, agility or other sports, then a dog from quality working lines may be just right for you. In these homes, dogs from working lines can be fantastic pets because they are getting the physical and mental stimulation that they need.

However, if you are getting a dog just to be a family pet, to raise with your children, walk around your neighborhood and join you in family outings, you may be in for more work than you anticipated if you purchase a dog from working lines.

Finally, breeders of high-quality working dogs and show dogs do not advertise puppies for sale in the paper or online. They don't need to. Their dogs are highly sought-after by other working and show homes because of their dogs' proven working abilities and excellent conformation. Puppies found in the paper are from breeders who may not have put the time and effort into the quality of their breeding program and are selling dogs with no more guarantees than puppies available in your local shelter...but at a much higher price.

Take your time in choosing a puppy. You are undertaking a 15+ year commitment. Make sure you choose a dog that you can live with for that long.

Below are some links to articles that discuss how to find a quality breeder and choose the right dog or puppy for you and your family.

HOW TO CHOOSE A PUPPY OR ADULT DOG

Choosing a Puppy

Finding the Perfect Dog

How Not to Pick a Rescue Dog

Pet Store Hall of Shame

Consumer Complaints About Internet Puppies

The Pick of the Litter