Do your working dogs show a work ethic?

[Doberluv]

It never ceases to amaze me every single day how I love this Doberboy of mine...his ways, his personality, his alertness and astuteness. He's absolutely the coolest dog I've ever had....even though I love all my dogs, past and present, every bit as much. It's just this breed that has me hog tied. I'll never be able to escape the wonderful Doberman breed.

He shows the most marvelous work ethic. I mean, he is so willing and ready, chomping at the bit for me to ask him what I'd like him to do. He can be so involved in something which he's being entertained with and when I show him that we're going to do some training practice down in my pasture (a great place to do it) he is like all ears. LOL. He stops what he's doing and comes quickly to sit in front to get his collar put on. Then goes bounding off the porch in a single jump, landing on all fours at the same time. (ouch) Then rips down the hill and waits for me to give him further instructions. LOL. He's so into learning. The only problem I have is that in some cases, while he's willing, he also tries to explain to me that he WILL do that which I asked, but that he has a better way to do it. I just have to wait and see what he means. LOL.

 

[Renee750il]

That's something Charley loved about his Dobermans. He's even put it in similar terms, talking about how his Dobermans were always at attention, eager to know what he wanted them to do, looking intently almost as if they were trying to see into his head and anticipate his commands.

Of course, the Filas TOTALLY disconcert him. Especially Kharma, lol! I'm used to - and prefer - the more self-determined breeds, where he just loved that Doberman desire to please. German Shepherds can go either way, and I've always treated mine more as - well, it's hard to describe! We've had a strange relationship; very different from most companion animal relationships. I really do talk to them, and I really am a terrible example of a trainer, lol! Bimmer, with his wild streak, and Bear with his independent Akita side, and now the Filas just meld well.

They have a strong work ethic, but it's vastly different from a Doberman's. They see something that needs to be done and they go do it on their own volition. It just doesn't occur to them that they should wait for someone to tell them what's wanted. They're egotistical critters who are very sure THEY know what needs to be done The one problem I've had is Kharma's compulsion to do her self-appointed job whether it needs to be done or not and her obsessive inability to stop until she's finished. She just can't stand to see the cows scattered out in the pasture - and heaven forbid she sees baby calves out there alone without their mamas! That gets interesting. She doesn't herd the calves, she feints toward them and barks loudly to get the cows' attention, then picks out the cows that start toward the calves and drives the cows to the calves! I couldn't believe it until I'd seen her do it several times . . .

Bimmer is much the same way about seeing what needs to be done and making a decision and following through. Sometimes cows or calves will get out and I won't even know about it until I see him bringing them back up the drive and running them back into the pasture! In the winter, he takes it upon himself to check periodically to make sure they aren't in the hay barn. Buffy used to be as good about it as he is. Shiva is beginning to learn, and Kharma would be good about it, but she can't be allowed out off-lead during the daytime when the cows are down in the pasture. Would you believe it, I've seen her round up over 70 head, scattered out in the pasture and down in the woods, and put them in one place with no corralling fence all by herself? Even when Charley's exasperated to the point of threatening to shoot her he has to admire her being able to do that!

 

[gaddylovesdogs]

Well, Tippy seems to show a bit of herding ability. A few days ago I saw her herding a few doves , and she always herds us up to bed, by giving us the famous stare. I'd love to find a good trainer and get her into herding.

 

[Doberluv]

I love hearing about the different ways dogs work. Gaddy, I think that sounds so cute....the "go to bed stare." LOL. That's amazing that she herds doves and doesn't eat them.

Renee.....those dogs sound so different and so cool. Yes, those herding dogs know what to do and don't need any advice from you, right? After all, what sheep owner could cover the ground that he had his sheep on and keep up with them? He needed a dog, I guess that would get the job done while the rancher did his other chores. Great sounding dogs!

The Doberman will take it upon himself too, to do what's needed...like in the case of someone threatening the master or family or someone trying to break in. They won't wait for instructions in a case like that. But for regular, every day stuff, these dogs were bred to work along side their master and are regular partners. My guy is still young and is very distractable. But for some reason, while we're in a planned, specific training practice session, he's much less distracted. It's when he's not being "worked" with and he needs to be told something, sometimes it's hard to get his attention away from something unless I say, "Lyric....sit." Then he pays attention. He can be doing anything and if I need him to stop, I can just give him something else to do. We are working hard on the "watch me" command. (should have gotten that good a long time ago.) Grrrrrr. There's that example of operant conditioning of humans. I do something wrong and get NO reward. I do something right and he gives me his all. LOL. I guess I need to beef up the reward and practice getting his attention when we're NOT having a "session." LOL.

 

[gaddylovesdogs]

Gaddy, I think that sounds so cute....the "go to bed stare." LOL. That's amazing that she herds doves and doesn't eat them.

LOL, she's a crazy dog. Stands there (in the way, of course) and looks at me like, "You gonna go to bed? You gotta go to bed, NOW."

 

[oriondw]

My dog couldnt care less about what "I" think in the field. He knows that he is better qualified for protection/guard duty then I am. He makes his own choices and decisions without waiting for my command. Dogs that know what to do without any commands rule

Off-leash he goes in roaming mode around a small (50-100m radius) around me. If there is something like an wolf/dog/rabbit/deer he will take it into his own hands to figure if its a threat, and if he thinks it is, he will destroy it without a command.

I love independant dogs.
Thats what makes him so great.

 

[Doberluv]

I love dogs who display both independence and dependence and know when to engage in each of those. That's a Doberman for you....a thinking dog and a dog who watches over the master, staying close by.

My Lab, whom I just had to pts at almost 14 years old was the sweetest natured dog and I miss her so much. BUT, she had this urge to wander off, that hunting instinct, I guess. That one thing about her drove me nuts. LOL.

I love how my Doberman doesn't leave my property and in fact doesn't stray too far from me or the house. He'll go around the property, but never sets foot outside of the propery. I don't even have a fence...don't need one here. He's not too worried about anything that is not on our property or the neighbors, but will alert to anything strange on my next door neighbor's property too. They only come there for a month or two in summer, otherwise there's no one there, not even a house. They come with a 5th wheel. Anyhow, somehow he figures he better keep an eye on that too. He likes my neighbors. LOL.

But that dependence and craving to be near his family makes him a breeze to train for the most part...so incredibly willing, ready and quick to learn new "tricks."

That's something Charley loved about his Dobermans. He's even put it in similar terms, talking about how his Dobermans were always at attention, eager to know what he wanted them to do, looking intently almost as if they were trying to see into his head and anticipate his commands.

I can definitely relate to that trying to see into my head to anticipate his commands. They do look right through your outer being or shell and have a piercing, intelligent look. You can see the wheels turning. He'll cock his head over a lot like he's trying to read your mind. LOL....too cute.

He shows a herding instinct when we're on hikes...either that or his protection thing. But he never goes more than about 100 feet ahead and then comes back often and makes sure the old woman is keeping up. LOL.
I can see how interesting, though, it must be to watch a herding dog who knows his stuff go out and do his job, all on his own. That is very cool.

I've had GSDs too and I love them. They tended to stay close too to protect. My last one herded some piglets that got loose and he just ran off and shouldered them back toward the area that they were suppose to be in. He wasn't trained or told to do anything. It was pretty neat.

So, I guess we all see something in our dogs that we love. I guess I'm so rewarded by my dog being sooooo into me, so terribly in your face, affectionate. I need that. LOL. The Doberman does have a high prey drive, but also a higher pack drive, that intense desire to stay by their owner.

But my Dobe, right now is out on the deck with my girl Chihuahua, basking in the sun. He's OK with that.

My boy Chihuahua is my biggest Mama's boy. He really does want to be near me every second, waits outside the bathroom and I can see his little nose under the door, just waiting. He can be in a deep sleep right here in the den with me and if I get up to get something out of the book shelf, he's awake and off the chair ready to follow me. He's such a sweet little companion.

Gee wiz! Can you tell I love my dogs? LOL.

 

[bubbatd]

Chip fetches the morning paper and carries in my mail. My old goldens would carry anything we asked them to . Would take things to other family members when asked. I'd put any tools etc in a paper bag and they'd take way across the property . When Tom put in a corral for the horses he about wore Rufus out !

 

[Athe]

My Newfoundland dogs have no work ethic. They cannot swim and have no interest in swimming. My Rottweiler on the other hand has the perfect drive to herd. She will chase and nip at all my dogs to keep them going and eye stalks them. I was very amazed when I got one of my female Newf 's at 7 months, she "learned" to herd and stalk the other dogs right along with my Rottweiler. Although Newf's do not (or should not have eye stalk), she copied my Rottwieler and to this day she still eye stalks and chases the other dogs. Very interesting to observe and to this day she still has this learned behavior.

 

[Doberluv]

My Newfoundland dogs have no work ethic. They cannot swim and have no interest in swimming.

ROFLMAO!!!!! You're kidding! That's the funniest thing I ever heard. (sorry, but I can't help it!) Maybe you'll have to get those little inflatable thingies you put on their arms and get in with them and teach them how. I love the way your Newf copied the stalking the other dogs did. Cute!

 

[BethnSasha]

My dog shows working traits! She loves chasing and trying to round up any moving group of animals including my older dog! She also loves trying to catch the wild rabbits on the field and going under and through small gaps!

 

[bridey_01]

Talk about working drive, my kelpie is at attention even when she is asleep! She'll be sound asleep, snoring on her bed and i only have to whisper "wheres the ball.." and she will spring up and be bringing it to me before i've even finished the sentance. At night she herds the cat into the house on command and talk about that work dog stare! When we are training those yellow eyes are so intense on mine i feel like she's burning a hole through my head. When i give the signal for down she goes so fast that it's an audible thump! Kelpie's have been described as border collies on speed, and i think they are possibly the only breed that beats them intelligence wise.Get this, i taught my kelp to say hello!

 

[Athe]

You're kidding! That's the funniest thing I ever heard. (sorry, but I can't help it!) Maybe you'll have to get those little inflatable thingies you put on their arms and get in with them and teach them how. I love the way your Newf copied the stalking the other dogs did. Cute!

Good idea! LOL water wings for Newf's, I wonder if my local swim instructer will take on the challenge.

 

[siemens716]

Both my dogs are guard dogs, and they work for their food.

 

[Patrick and Lino]

A freind of mine has a bar/restaurant. Her dog is a collie and although it will let people enter, it barks and stands in front of the guest as if they were sheep.

 

[Invisible]

Yup defienetly!! Chief protects me and my family very good! That's not what I originally got him for, but it is a big bonus for where I live! He is always eager to go for runs and learn (although he is a bit stubborn). So yes he definetly shows work ethic!

 

[siemens716]

Yup defienetly!! Chief protects me and my family very good! That's not what I originally got him for, but it is a big bonus for where I live! He is always eager to go for runs and learn (although he is a bit stubborn). So yes he definetly shows work ethic!

lol. Yup they are stubborn, thats because they know a better way!

 

[Invisible]

lol. Yup they are stubborn, thats because they know a better way!

LOL That definetly sounds like Chief

 

[nedim]

I guess Peanut shows some work ethic. She will bark at and try to attack any dog that she sees. She is a such an inpependant dog. The other day, she barked and grunted at her own reflection. She also loves to nip me when we play. She plays rough and he have a blast chasing each other around the house.

 

[planet molosser]

Well in my case the work ethic of my breed means either a coyote is going to die or a person is tresspassing... That is 6 out of 7 days on the 7th day I love to take them to the local middle school and do some demos or to the shows we go to a few times a year and take them out of their reg work ethic .
And after the dogs have proven to be stable i love to do civil agiation with them they love it and makes them better guardians with more control for me.

They on leash defer to me as alpha on property they work as a pack but also will stand down when im there to confront the situtation.

That is why i prefer Central Asian Shepherd over some of the other more tougher guardian breeds they are voice controlable.

But i still miss the red dobe i worked with in School named Cherry she was by far the most intelligent dog I have ever had the pleasure to work with.