Tapping the Brakes on High-Speed Dogs
Troubles With Active Gun Dogs.
“Slow your roll - cool your jets!” These old-time phrases carry the same basic meaning, “SLOW DOWN!” Sometimes, in the wide-wonderful-world of gun dogs, that can be easier said than done. Why is that?
High-Octane Dogs are Born - Not (Generally) Made:
Well, we can start with breeding. Dog breeders are in the business to sell dogs. Like any business that sells a product, gun dog breeders must find ways to market their dogs to prospective buyers and one of those ways is to win competitions. If the purchaser’s goal is to find the most game birds in the field (hunting, testing, or field trials), the seller/breeder will use these championships as proof of their “product”. For some, the number of championships in a dog’s bloodline is a legitimate consideration but, for folks wanting a house pet that hunts, this can be a huge mismatch.
Keep Them Busy!
“Gun dogs are incredibly intelligent and athletic creatures…”
Another issue is that most hunting dogs are born to work with people; dogs that excell when allowed to live and interact with their owners. Given that personality, when left on their own for long periods, dogs will develop ways to alleviate boredom and loneliness that are generally intolerable to humans - barking, digging, pacing, chewing, and so on. Gun dogs are incredibly intelligent and athletic creatures that will require exercise and puzzles to work out - some more than others.
“…most hunting breeds excell when they live and interact with their owners.”
Calming Down Active Dogs:
All hunting dog breeds can produce individuals that exibit tendencies including anxious activity when contained and racing around at high speed, and at distant range, when released. A question I hear quite often is, “How do I get my dog to hunt closer and/or calm down in the house?” By spending time and providing exercise, it is possible to reduce disagreeable activity in some dogs. The honest truth is, like turning a thoroughbred into a plow-horse, the attempt may prove very difficult with the end result being less than satisfactory. Believe me, I’ve tried! It’s like using a knife as a screwdriver, you’re not using the dog the way it was designed.
Look for dogs that can turn it on in the field and turn it off in the house.
They can be found within any breed of gun dog.
Forgive one last analogy; like driving a formula-one dragster as your daily ride, trying to make a house pet out of a dog bred with the stamina required to range far and wide while racing other dogs to a goal shouldn’t seem realistic. Yet, that’s what I’ve witnessed over and over again; a dog and owner unequally yoked! Whether, it’s their first gun dog or the new owner wanted to step-up their game, trying to work against genetics generally falls short of the desired outcome.
Beware of Online Searches:
Relying solely on information found online at a single source can be misleading. As an example, I searched, “Relaxed Breeds of Hunting Dogs” online and one of the top articles uploaded was Field & Stream’s, “Six Hunting Dog Breeds That Make Good House Dogs”. Among the pointing dogs that made the list are breeds that are notorious for their inexhaustible energy - proving my original statement that online information is often suspect. The first pointing breed on the F&S list is a breed that I see here at my training facility most often for behavioral intervention. Not implying that they are bad choices, I’m saying that many breeders of GSP’s and Pointers (just “Pointers”…) produce dogs designed for high-stakes field trials that can have high-octane characteristics. Before you scratch these breeds off your list, know that this is possible of ALL dog breeds - even my beloved Setters.
Use Common Sense and Multiple Sources:
So, what are realistic expectations? Well, it doesn’t seem reasonable to believe that dogs bred to be chased across open fields by folks on horseback, will tend to settle inside a small area quickly. It does seem reasonable to expect these dogs to relieve boredom and pent up energy by pacing around the house or running deep paths through manicured lawns. And, that these activities can cause a rift among the human inhabitants.
If there are multiple people involved, the entire group should be polled before making a decision - especially if the dog is going to share the living space. You say you have talked it over between yourselves and now you’re ready to start researching breeds?! Not so fast! As I mentioned, there are huge differences within breeds that online generalizations cannot take into account; what the breeding program was intended to develop being preeminent. If the dog’s pedigree is filled with all-stakes champions and you’re wanting a house dog that hunts, you’re likely barking up the wrong (family) tree.
Go to the breeder’s facility or ask for a virtual tour of the operation. Get a look at the dogs on hand - especially the parents of the pup you’re considering. If the dogs are in rows of outdoor kennels - barking, pacing, twirling in neurodic activity - then it’s a safe bet that those are the tendencies your dog will display in the house, yard, or outdoor kennel. Find a facility that has the same breed of dog that greets you at the door with wagging tails and a (relatively) calm demeanor. What you’re likely looking at is a breeding program that produces dogs best suited for those of us that choose to live with our hunting companions.
Summary:
So, to sum things up, making a dog behave significantly different from how it was bred is often a disastrous venture. The more reasonable solution is prevention. Make certain you’ve thoughtfully included all significant parties in the decision. Then, honestly consider your living situation; space and mutual tolerance to things like shedding, muddy paws, and that wet dog smell. Remember, the dog will spend the vast majority of the time not hunting, the style of hunting you’ll likely be doing should be included but considered one of the least of your concerns.
List all of the characteristics you can think of that your future dog should have. Then, not only look for the breed(s) that may display a great deal of these attributes, look for breeders that have developed dogs that meet the textbook (online) generalizations most often mentioned.
Coping with the dog’s level of energy is part of owning a dog.
Face it, dogs come in various sizes and temperments and have become very expensive additions to our lives. Human relationships are complex and far too important to over-look this advice. So, work together before purchasing your next canine life-partner - don’t try to make a dog into something it is not - then, you can truly…
- Enjoy Your Dog!
