Canine Jobs Program

Anthropomorphic thinking needs to be avoided but their is a baby in the bath water: we too are animals so there is room for some overlap of experience.

"Nana Dog" and her youngest human baby.

That being said as a life-long observer of dogs, I am not surprised to learn that a study has found evidence that dogs derive greater satisfaction from earning their treats rather than just receiving a handout.  It is the difference between earning a million dollars and being given a million dollars.  Sure you'll take it but one is more rewarding than the other, for different reasons.  If Paris Hilton had earned her fortune, she probably would not feel the need to seek validation through conspicuous behavior, but I digress.

Dogs thrive when they have a job and can languor from the same kind of listlessness as humans when they find themselves without purpose.  Set your preconceptions aside, there is a job out there for any dog in any home.  It only takes a little imagination to find it.

Our oldest, Maybelle, is the perfect "Nana" dog.  She loves babies and it matters not the species.  When my wife was pregnant, or any pregnant woman comes to visit, she follows her around the house.  If we sit at the kitchen table, around the fire ring or in the living room, she then takes up a protective stance of the woman.

Up until each child was three years old, she would accompany the oldest child when they went outside to play.  The only time she has been really threatening to a person is when my father was playing pirate with my oldest son and my son's foam sword flew out of his hand.  As soon as grandpa yelled, "Aha, now I've got you Peter Pan!" Maybelle jumped between them, hackles raised, and growled.  When my Dad tells the story he adds, "At that moment, I loved her." 

She adores it when newborn lambs are brought into the house.  She licks them clean and takes up a similar guardian role.  She returns to the house and sulks when the mother ewes, predictably, do not welcome her around their lambs.

A dogs job can include the serious

As the children grew and my wife and I stopped having new ones, she was starting to show signs of anxiety and depression.  I've been surprised at the wag evident since we brought home the puppy.  She isn't an active dog but she spends about ninety-minutes a day playing with that puppy.  Good dog.

My mother's Golden Doodle is a wonderful companion animal and that too is a job.  The neighbor's had a great mutt which protected the chickens from raccoon and every other form of land predator.  Since they lived next to a little creek, that was a full-time job.

and the whimsical.

Musket, our middle dog, is a wonderful companion, hiking buddy and there are many jobs he preforms depending upon the season and circumstances. 

He learned one job by accident.  When the boys were younger anytime they would see a hawk fly over they would yell, "Go away hawk!  The lunch counter is closed."  Musket put together the chain of events and now anytime a soaring bird (hawk, eagle, vulture) flies over the yard he barks and chases it until he reaches the property line.  We haven't lost a chicken to a hawk since.

If we do not, as responsible owners, find jobs for our dogs, they will find jobs for themselves.  They will attempt to protect the house from the mailman.  They will scavenge the food in the trash bin.  They will attempt to beat their high score at "catch the cat."  The more driven your dog is, the more important it is that they have a job to perform on a regular basis. 

Many problem behaviors are little more than a job the dog has learned to do in absence of better guidance.  When a behavior emerges from the the genetics of the animal, they need to be given an outlet for that behavior.  Musket does not molest our chickens, even though he will catch them on command, or the wife's cat but he does attack mice, rats, chipmunks, groundhogs, raccoon and, yes, skunks.  His instinct has an outlet, and that has made all the difference.  

The best time to consider what kind of work your dog is going to do is before you bring one home.  If you think through your life and activities, you can start to judge how the dog will be integrated into your life.  Then you can look for a dog whose instincts and energy level are going to make for the best match.

Forethought, however, is often born from the experience of being caught unprepared.  Fret not.  It might take some imaginative thought or the input of a trained professional, you can still find work for your canine friend. A dog does not differentiate between work and fun.  If you can find games to play with your dog, you can find a way for him to feel he is earning his keep.  And that will make for a happy dog.