Your Working Puppy

Brought to you by Training Your Puppy in 5 Minutes

These breeds were developed for a variety of tasks from guarding, herding and pulling to carrying loads and search-and-rescue. They can adapt to any temperatures and exhibit extreme intelligence and working abilities. Working-breed dogs can make great pets if fully integrated into their family packs. However, if left alone for long periods, chained up or constantly kenneled without any interaction, they can become dangerously aggressive. Some of these breeds were originally bred as fighting dogs, making them dangerous to have around children or small pets due to their high prey drive.

Playing tug-of-war with your working-breed puppy and hearing him growl as he pulls may be lots of fun, but you should refrain from these kinds of games until your pup has a better understanding of the family hierarchy and you are sure he knows his place in the pack. Inadvertently allowing your working-breed pup to "win" at this game can make him more assertive with family members as he grows. While some working-breed dogs do well with children if raised with them, you should only consider owning one of these breeds with children over the age of ten. Many of these dogs grow to be large, and a young child can easily be injured by a big, active dog, albeit accidentally.

Reprinted from Training Your Puppy in 5 Minutes © 2004. Permission granted by Kennel Club Books, an imprint of BowTie Press.