Dog Training Working Dogs Evaluation Of Your Dog’s Working Potential 

Dog training working dogs is only possible if you have a dog suited to be a working dog.  You may have all the good intentions in the world before you embark on dog training working dogs, but if you don’t have a potential working dog, you’re likely to fail.

What is a dog with good working dog potential?

It depends on what kind of work you want the dog to do.

For example, here are some qualities you need to look for in a dog you’re planning to train to do specific types of canine work:

A police or guard dog needs to have a certain level of aggression and dominance.  Without this qualities, your working dog training will fail.  Such a dog also needs a strong prey instinct, or the inherited need to chase after and grab moving objects.

A search and rescue dog needs a strong scent ability and instinct.  This type of dog must be curious and intrepid.

A therapy dog must be of very even-keeled temperament.  This dog must be willing to go with the flow.  An excitable dog need not apply to therapy dog work.

A herding dog, on the other hand must have very high energy and a natural desire to take control.

Working Dogs Criteria For All Working Dogs

No matter what kind of work you want your dog to do, your dog must have three important characteristics to be ideal for successful working dogs dog training:

Your dog must be comfortable in its skin.  In other words, your dog must not exhibit fear or nervousness in any situation.  Working dogs must be curious, confident, and courageous dogs.

Your dog must be strong of constitution.  Working dogs are more susceptible to injury and disease than non-working dogs because of the situations they must be in.  A potential working dog must be a hardy dog who is up for a challenge and not easily daunted by setbacks.

Your dog must not be an irritable dog.  Even guard dogs and police dogs who need some aggression instinct to be successful working dogs must not be too quick to anger.  An overly growly dog need not apply for work.

When you set out to try dog training working dogs, you have a lot of options.  Dogs can protect.  They can herd.  They can search.  They can provide comfort.  Dogs can be helpers on the job, carrying objects for their humans.  Dogs can be entertainers and performers. 

But dog training working dogs is only successful if you have a perfect balance of dog contentment and dog ability.  An unhappy dog is not a good working dog. 

Evaluate your dog’s temperament before you consider any kind of dog training working dogs.