Temperament in Working Dogs
Temperament may be the most important factor for the success of a working dog. Often working dogs are placed in a variety of situations where an adverse reaction could be extremely dangerous or simply unwarranted. Working dogs must possess a quality and well controlled temperament as a basis for their training.
Temperament in dogs is characterized as a blend of both inherited traits and acquired behaviors that influences how a dog will respond to people, animals and events. Temperament is believed to influence a dog’s self defense mechanisms, social interactions, play drive, aggressiveness and confidence levels. It also can help behaviorists and trainers to predict how a specific dog may respond to different stimuli. Experience and training have taught dog handlers to search for specific inherited traits and learned behaviors that will affect their dog’s training and overall success. It can serve as a prediction tool for how a dog may distinguish between and threatening and nonthreatening situations as well.
Working dogs are bred and trained to perform specific tasks that assist humans and require certain physical and mental attributes to be successful. Examples of these types of working dogs include dogs used in police or military work, dogs that perform search and rescue, protection dogs, assistance and guide dogs and detection dogs. In the course of working, these dogs may come into contact with strange people, loud or distressing noises, other animals and possibly dangerous environmental conditions. A proper and positive response to these types of distressing conditions is absolutely essential for a working dog. Distressing situations can both create and magnify behavior problems in improperly trained dogs or dogs with naturally weak temperaments. A weak temperament in a working dog can be a dangerous thing. Characteristics that are considered to be weak in terms of training a working dog are shyness, fear, an unfriendly attitude, stubbornness and low intelligence. Fear in dogs can lead to uncontrolled reactions. These uncontrolled reactions may simply impede a working dog’s ability to perform or they may lead to consequences such as biting. Nervousness, cowering and fear response have no place in the working dog field, whether it be escorting a disabled person through a hospital or attacking a suspect during a police raid.
The temperament qualities that a working dog handler will search for in a prospect include a willingness to please, a desire to perform, intelligence, courage and trainability. These attributes are the foundation of any quality working dog. A working dog must be enthusiastic and willing to please their pack leader. Handlers understand how to encourage these traits and motivate a dog into learning. A working dog must also be smart. Training involves learning blocks of information and being able to build upon these blocks until the dog can perform extremely complicated tasks on command. Intelligence and trainability are vital to teaching a dog to respond to commands promptly under pressure. Strict obedience is important to all types of working dogs, and in order to obey commands in stressful and confusing situations a dog will require his intelligence and training to work together.
Other important attributes of a working dog involve strength of character and courage. Working dog handlers will build a very strong and distinct bond with their working dogs. This type of bond is important for bringing out the dog’s natural protective instincts for his handler. This temperamental feature is what allows working dogs to strive to perform their jobs under dangerous or difficult conditions. Courage is a major trait for most working dogs, especially those in police or military professions.
Overall, a dog’s temperament is his best tool for becoming a quality working dog. It allows him to want to learn, to be able to learn and gives him the ability to respond to certain situations in the most productive and useful way for his human handler.
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