Have a better understanding of our dog: Being aware of our dog’s breed and breed mixes’ natural traits

Being aware of our dogs’ breed and breed make ups can be helpful in informing our choice of enrichment, how we train with them and how they fit into our lifestyle. It helps to understand your dog better. Scent hounds and mixes can shine at scent and trace work and are easily pleased spending as much time as possible sniffing. While sight hounds, like greyhounds and whippets, are happiest with a quick off leash run once or twice a day.

Sporting dogs like newfoundlands, love working and spending time in water but develop behavioural problems like separation anxiety if left alone a lot since they were primarily bred to be and work around humans. Herders, like collies, are motivated by movement and often excel at using their brain or anything that taps into their athletic abilities, BUT become bored or frustrated if not properly stimulated.

Labrador Retrievers and other large breeds love field sports like retrieving and working with scents. While German shepherds and other high active breeds love a job to do every day. They also love anything that involves using their brain and their strength. Many of these breeds are also motivated by movement and stimulants which can to reactivity training or anxiety or frustrated when their mental needs are not met. Which is why many working breeds are not food motivated and respond better to lots of verbal praise, and tug toys.

Taking into context what your dog’s natural traits are when it comes with their needs and understanding them better.