Does Your Dog Need A Job?

Dogs Without Jobs

At one point not that long ago, dogs lived with humans because they had a job to do, something that benefited the humans they lived with.  The jobs were as varied and unique as the different breeds of dogs that were selected for their ability to do those jobs well. 

• Pointing out the location of birds
• Flushing birds out of hiding
• Retrieving shot birds
• Following the scent trail of various game animals
• Chasing fleeing animals by sight
• Guarding people/homes
• Guarding livestock (usually involved living with the flock)
• Herding livestock
• Pulling carts
• Killing vermin (i.e. mice/rats)
• Pulling sleds
• Entertainment (i.e. Bull Baiting)
• Companionship (usually reserved for the very rich)

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​If you've ever seen a dog snap into a point due to the presence of a bird, or start baying at the scent of  a fresh animal track, you've caught a glimpse of behaviours that were selected for and became an instinctive part of our dogs.

Today, some dogs still work in some of the same jobs (i.e. livestock guardian dogs, herding dogs), some dogs work in new jobs (i.e. guide dogs, police dogs, airport agriculture dogs) but most dogs are jobless other than being our companions.  For some dogs, the companion role fits them just fine and they are happy to live a life of leisure.  Others, however, may have trouble adapting their workaholic personalities to laying around at your feet.

Part of getting the relaxed, calm dog you want in your house may involve giving your dog a job to do, and fortunately there are many to choose from now!  You don't need to enter competitions if you don't want to, the act of training for their new job and spending quality time with you is where the big benefit lies for these dogs.

Modern Day Jobs

Don't panic - you don't need to go out and get your dog the exact same job their ancestors were bred for.  In some cases, those jobs no longer exist (like bull baiting, which is a good thing) or maybe quite difficult for us to accommodate in our modern lives (not everyone wants a flock of sheep).

Now many jobs have been adapted into sports so you can get an outlet for your dog's instinctive behaviours.

• Barn Hunt (rats are safely enclosed and acclimated to dogs)
• Shed Hunt (searching for shed antlers in the forest)
• Tracking (following a trail left by a human tracklayer)
• Scent Detection (locating the source of a designated odour, usually a drop of essential oil)
• Triebball (following cues to "herd" a group of balls into a goal)
• Disk (frisbee catching)
• Sprinter (chasing a plastic lure on a cable)
• Dock diving (jumping off the end of a dock into water)
• Joring sports (pulling a human on a sled, skis or bike)
• IPO etc. (usually consist of an obedience phase, tracking phase and personal protection phase)
• Water Rescue Tests and more!

There are also many dog sports that have evolved to either showcase the helpfulness and good manners of our canine companions or their athleticism and entertainment.

• Obedience
• Rally Obedience
• Agility
• Trick Training

All 4 of these promote teamwork and communication between you and your dog as well as providing a job for your dog.  Trick training can be particularly fun, and enjoyable to show to others.

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Just the Entertainment Please

What if spending time teaching your dog a skill really doesn't appeal to you?  That's okay too!  There are ways to engage your dog's mind that don't involve you needing to teach lots of new things.

• Store bought food dispensing toys (toys that the dogs need to work at to get their treats/food out of)
• Homemade setups (scattering food in the grass/leaves, hiding it in cardboard boxes/towels)
• Games such as hide and seek (have your dog stay while you go out of the room and hide, then release them to find you)
• Sniffaris - relaxed walks ideally in nature so your dog is able to sniff the interesting smells they encounter along the way.  A favourite with many dogs!
• Toy play - fetch, hide and seek with the toy, tug, etc.
• Personal play - chase games, wrestle games. 

This year I encourage you to try adding some mental enrichment, whether in the form of a new job or different type of entertainment into your dog's life.  It will benefit both of you!