What is your definition of a working dog?
- Thread starter Saeleofu
- Start date
Just to emphasis that that comment wasn't really in reference to the original post, but rather the times previously this topic has come up. It was a pretty hot topic for a while back, complete with its own set of little pictures that people had in their signatures and everything. At that point, I cared a lot more about the definition because there was definitely a clear cut line being made by some members that if a dog wasn't a real working dog (by their definition) the dog was not as valuable.
I do think it is fair for Beanie, myself, or anyone to say "to me this doesn't matter", because that is answering the topic brought up. And really - to me it doesn't matter. Even from a breeding standpoint or a puppy buying standpoint - if someone says to you "I breed working dogs"...nobody is just handing over a check at that, right? I mean, it would be like saying "I health test". You look at the actual tests and results, and if their definition of "health testing" is "well the vet said my dog was healthy", you move on. If they say they have working dogs, and that turns out to be agility titles up the yin-yang, you can declare that you don't consider that work and move on. If I go looking for a puppy in a few years, and the breeder says "we breed successful agility dogs", I'm going to look further to see whether that means that some of their dogs have made it around a level 1 CPE course, or if it means that multiple offspring, as well as the parents, have championships in USDAA or AKC.
I do think it is fair for Beanie, myself, or anyone to say "to me this doesn't matter", because that is answering the topic brought up. And really - to me it doesn't matter. Even from a breeding standpoint or a puppy buying standpoint - if someone says to you "I breed working dogs"...nobody is just handing over a check at that, right? I mean, it would be like saying "I health test". You look at the actual tests and results, and if their definition of "health testing" is "well the vet said my dog was healthy", you move on. If they say they have working dogs, and that turns out to be agility titles up the yin-yang, you can declare that you don't consider that work and move on. If I go looking for a puppy in a few years, and the breeder says "we breed successful agility dogs", I'm going to look further to see whether that means that some of their dogs have made it around a level 1 CPE course, or if it means that multiple offspring, as well as the parents, have championships in USDAA or AKC.
I agree with others have said about the difference between a working dog and working-line dog. The word that I would use to describe my dog that has been bred for weightpull, lure coursing, and other sports, is a 'performance' dog. It's not his job, he's not doing anything other than competing in performance events at my behest, but he loves said activities and loves to 'work'. If that makes sense.
So I would say that I have a performance dog that loves to do work, and work hard. But is he a working dog? No. If that makes sense.
So I would say that I have a performance dog that loves to do work, and work hard. But is he a working dog? No. If that makes sense.
My definition is a dog that does something that assists people with their jobs, because of the special skill set the dog possesses.
SAR dogs help find missing persons, because they have better innate tracking skills than most humans.
Police dogs sniff out drugs and help protect the police officers.
Herding breeds that help herd, dogs that retrieve game, flock guarding, service dogs being the eyes or ears so a person can live more independently, etc.
SAR dogs help find missing persons, because they have better innate tracking skills than most humans.
Police dogs sniff out drugs and help protect the police officers.
Herding breeds that help herd, dogs that retrieve game, flock guarding, service dogs being the eyes or ears so a person can live more independently, etc.
I think working dogs have a job that in someway involve the owner's livelihood.
I think Grumpy cat is a working cat because he has internet fame and makes his own $$, even if it's just through modeling and being himself. He has a job.
Even though plenty of dogs are subjects and get their pictures taken, they aren't working dogs because they aren't getting paid.
Like how we have people who are models and people who are tagged in FB pictures. One is working, the other is not.
So yea lol
I think Grumpy cat is a working cat because he has internet fame and makes his own $$, even if it's just through modeling and being himself. He has a job.
Even though plenty of dogs are subjects and get their pictures taken, they aren't working dogs because they aren't getting paid.
Like how we have people who are models and people who are tagged in FB pictures. One is working, the other is not.
So yea lol
I haven't ever really put too much thought into it. I think the idea of a job is forever evolving. A dog jumping over an obstacle course may not have been a job 100 years ago compared to herding livestock but now? Well, most dogs back then probably wouldn't have professionally been agility dogs versus now they are more likely to do that than herd sheep.
Does that make any sense?
If someone wants to call their dog a working dog I'm not going to argue. Mine are just pets and I think their worth is every bit as valuable.
Does that make any sense?
If someone wants to call their dog a working dog I'm not going to argue. Mine are just pets and I think their worth is every bit as valuable.
imo, a working dog is a dog who is functioning in a non-recreational manner. whether that's Police Dog, SAR, service dog, herding dog, working (not sport) sled dog, livestock guardian.... doesn't matter.
dogs who participate in sports i would call sport or performance dogs.
and yes, there are dogs who do both.
dogs who participate in sports i would call sport or performance dogs.
and yes, there are dogs who do both.