Sighthounds can't be trained to come back, because they compulsively follow everything that moves, being sighthounds. Beagles and other hounds are the same with regards to scents. Alaskan Malamutes (the most wolf like of all the dogs) must be dominated, relegated to the absolute bottom of the pack, otherwise they will try to lead the pack. Collies are great with kids. Pitbulls are bred to be aggressive and must be ruled by a firm hand.
These and other breed stereotypes have condemned a great many dogs to miserable lives. Owners of whippets and greyhounds never even try to train a recall, forcing their dogs to forever walk at human pace, depriving them of the exercise they were bred for, and of any social interaction.
Alaskan Malamutes, presumably because they are so wolf-like, are "trained" by using plenty of aversives to ensure they don't consider themselves the leaders. Some of the Malamutes treated in this fashion end up so stunted in their ability to offer any behaviour, for fear of the ensuing punishment, that even the most positive training approach may not be able to undo the damage, at least in the short term, see here for an example.
Collies and other dogs supposedly "naturally" good with kids may therefore not get exposed to kids enough during their critical socialisation period early in life, and may end up fearful of children, or even aggressive. Any dog requires thorough socialisation, ie exposure to plenty of different things in their environment, including children, in a way that ensures a positive experience for them, in order to set them up to be truly "good with kids" and other things in the world.
Breeds do come with certain characteristics of course, but these revolve around what they were bred for in the first place. It is true that sighthounds will be more attracted to chasing that bird or rabbit than a beagle, who is more likely to use his nose to follow a scent, being a scent hound. However, all this means is that you need to structure your training to work with these breed traits.
Read more about specific training tips for some of the most maligned breeds!
These and other breed stereotypes have condemned a great many dogs to miserable lives. Owners of whippets and greyhounds never even try to train a recall, forcing their dogs to forever walk at human pace, depriving them of the exercise they were bred for, and of any social interaction.
Alaskan Malamutes, presumably because they are so wolf-like, are "trained" by using plenty of aversives to ensure they don't consider themselves the leaders. Some of the Malamutes treated in this fashion end up so stunted in their ability to offer any behaviour, for fear of the ensuing punishment, that even the most positive training approach may not be able to undo the damage, at least in the short term, see here for an example.
Collies and other dogs supposedly "naturally" good with kids may therefore not get exposed to kids enough during their critical socialisation period early in life, and may end up fearful of children, or even aggressive. Any dog requires thorough socialisation, ie exposure to plenty of different things in their environment, including children, in a way that ensures a positive experience for them, in order to set them up to be truly "good with kids" and other things in the world.
Breeds do come with certain characteristics of course, but these revolve around what they were bred for in the first place. It is true that sighthounds will be more attracted to chasing that bird or rabbit than a beagle, who is more likely to use his nose to follow a scent, being a scent hound. However, all this means is that you need to structure your training to work with these breed traits.
Read more about specific training tips for some of the most maligned breeds!
RSS Feed