A Second Thought — Column by Teresa Balanesi
I was recently asked what my favorite and least favorite dog breeds are. While some dogs and their types came immediately to mind, I was stringently disciplined in answering that question—for a few good reasons.
First, as a professional dog handler I cannot single breeds out for preference. This practice and resulting attitude would negate the honesty and unbiasedness required for my success with each dog and their human counterpart. My skill absolutely requires unbiasedness, a pure and honest assessment of each dog based upon that dog’s own merit—regardless of breed.
Unless I were a designated handler for a specific breed or sport which requires certain breed attributes, I cannot do my job honestly if I come in with prejudice.
Second, many times dogs of certain breeds, which I might have had preconceived notions about in the past, revealed their own unique attributes and personality that effectively broke the mold on any preconceived notion I may have held.
I have been charmed and graced by some aspect of every dog I have encountered. Granted, some dogs came more easily and some I have had to truly dig down for—not just inside of the dog, but inside of myself—to unveil the gem that was overlooked at first glance.
Third, understanding that the breeds are designed for specific purposes gives key insights as to what is driving them and why. The dog did not ask to be a Doberman Pincher, a Chihuahua, or a Springer Spaniel.
The dog is a dog, in its own being, wearing the coat or armour of its breed.
The key for me—and maybe for all of us—is understanding and unlocking this truth which helps get to the core of the dog while also navigating the breed attributes. We cannot “unwire” a dog from his DNA, but we can help route the wires, so to speak.
I remember the first time I watched a baby heeler (Australian Cattle Dog), heeling her Staffordshire friend in the yard one day. I was amazed at the fact that this dog had never been exposed to herding, had never met a cow, nor had ever been trained to drive another creature at the heels. It was all DNA (or cellular memory, for those who are familiar with the topic). This had a powerful impact on me as I realized the power of the drivers that are inherent to breeds.
At the same time, the heeler was just as universal in her need to feel loved, protected, nourished, and secure in her “person” and relationship. My job became to delineate the personality of that dog from the breed attributes and effectively manage both.
Dogs are dogs—each breed, or compilation of breed, being driven by a preset or wiring. They have some characteristics inherited from their canine ancestors that drive latent factors into some breeds more than others. That, in and of itself, is worth much consideration.
Another important subject to be addressed is how smart a dog is based upon breed.
A dog’s design has an intended purpose. Not all dogs are designed to “Come. Sit. Stay.” Dogs designed to warm the emperor’s feet or tree a raccoon could literally not care any less about what command (demand) that you have for them. This is not a measure of intelligence. I have found that any dog can be trained for almost anything. The caveats are how long it takes, the dog’s ability for proficiency due to physical and mental capacity, and how interested the dog is in your request. None of this is a measure of “smart,” especially when humans use their own proficiencies to measure by. As an example, a cat is extremely smart, but does the cat care about your request?
The bottom line to all of this is understanding things in context. Considering that dogs (and their people) have each been designed and created for their own purpose, each having a “signature” and “fingerprint,” implies to me that each dog should be regarded as unique, regardless of any personal preferences towards a breed.
