This week’s post is all about working group dogs. We’ll look at what the working group dogs were bred for, their typical behaviour and whether they make good pets. We’ll also discuss the potential downsides of living with a working group dog. You can read more about different types of dogs on our breed posts here- herding breeds, terriers, gundogs and sighthounds. 

Working Group Dogs

Working group dogs refers to a variety of breeds, all bred with the purpose of helping humans to perform a job. These jobs ranged from guarding livestock animals from predators, like the Anatolian Shepherd Dog, to rescuing trapped people on the Western Alps, like the St Bernard. Whilst the coats of the working group dogs can vary depending on the environment from which they hail, they are typically large to giant in size. This group includes the Alaskan Malamute, Siberian Husky, Boxer, Boerboel, Great Dane, Leonberger and Newfoundland. 

Working Group Dogs – typical behaviours 

The breeds that make up the working group are typically intelligent, alert, independent and very hard workers. Many were bred for guarding either the home or livestock so whilst they are happy to work alone, they form strong bonds with their family and are incredibly loyal. Whilst energetic and driven, working group dogs are typically quite happy to relax after a good run or training session. For many of the giant breeds, like the Mastiff, their stature means they can be surprisingly lazy. That’s not the case for all though, as anyone with a Doberman, Husky or Boxer will tell you! These energetic and intelligent breeds thrive on work and will soon go ‘self-employed’ without one. 

Do working group dogs make good pets?

More so than any other type of dog, whether a working group dog is going to make a good pet depends on the genetics, early experiences and personality of the individual dog. A well socialised and trained Rottweiler for example, is loyal, loving, great fun and can make a wonderful family pet. But, you’ll need to be extra careful bringing a working group dog into a home with children. Despite their generally tolerant and gentle nature, their huge size means they can easily knock over or trample little ones without meaning to. A Neopolitan Mastiff can weigh up to 70kg! 

Given their history of independent working, few dogs from this group are prone to issues like separation anxiety which is a definite bonus. However, as many of these dogs were bred for independent work, they are not always as ‘eager to please’ as the gundogs and herding breeds, who were bred to work alongside people. This can be interpreted as stubborn and aloof by some. I’d say it’s more to do with the fact they find human company less reinforcing than those breeds! As such, they can be seen to be harder to train, particularly on skills like recall. Early and consistent reward based training is key to enjoying off lead adventures with these dogs.

The down sides

Given that many of the working group dogs were bred with the purpose of guarding their people and homes, they can be prone to reactivity towards strangers and other dogs. This means that positive early socialisation is particularly crucial with these dogs. Of course, any dog can be prone to behavioural issues. However, managing a reactive Dobermann is much harder than managing a reactive Daschund. A giant breed is obviously a lot stronger, more powerful and easier to keep hold of if they do have a big reaction to something. The general public do tend to have more negative views of some of the working group dogs, especially Rottweilers and Dobermanns. Sadly you are more likely to be judged if your large, strong dog becomes stressed out then if you had a smaller breed. 

Lastly, you’ll want to consider the practical side of living with a working group dog. Due to their size, working group dogs are unlikely to do well living in apartments. Those huge jaws are often very drooly and you will likely find puddles of saliva all over your home. Breeds like the Great Pyrenees and the Bernese Mountain Dog will also require extensive grooming and coat maintenance. You’ll need to commit to regular, potentially expensive, trips to the groomers or daily brushing at home.

What next?

• Looking for help with your dog? Contact us to arrange in person or online training.
• Read more blog posts here.
• Perfect Recall: Teaching your dog to come back when called every time. Our guide is free to download when you join our email list- sign up here.