Lately I have been confirmed in how important the dog's natural characteristics are. After just 3 training sessions with my wirehaired hen dog, I decided to register for a few trials.
In training he showed such great natural talent that my experience has gradually told me that you should just throw yourself into it, rather than working with perfectionism. And quite rightly, the young dog showed his best side in the first test and we came home with a prize and a lot of new knowledge. Natural qualities, plus a lot of luck on the day, got us through.
The subsequent tests, however, also showed a real YOUNG DOG and a new handler – so luck ran out for even the best. But the good times made me think about how much natural talent for the dog's original characteristics is left? And how many new talents have we added to the individual breeds?
Originally speaking
The dog was previously our working tool in connection with hunting or guarding, all with different characteristics, depending on the need. The hunting dog that was supposed to hunt large and small areas, the guard dog that either looked after animals or property, etc. Later the dog also became a symbol of prosperity and then the breeds also began to become more streamlined. The family dog was supposed to be company for the wives while the men were out, and in addition could also keep the wives warm. To this end, the rich wives began to organize exhibitions, where all the breeds got their 15 minutes of the spotlight. Everyone still got to show their natural characteristics, as the tests also began to show who had the best dog in the field.
When I first saw my terrier unleash his full potential on the hunt and just work effortlessly, I just thought I was lucky. Seeing them unleash their full potential as if the dog had never done anything else in its entire life is an indescribable feeling.
When, after several generations, I could see that the characteristics were so imbued in the dogs, I became proud that the breed could still be traced back to its original purpose in the 19th century.
And again, when in the fall of 2019 I took the young hen dog to trials, without much training, yet I felt how the innate qualities made it all seem easy as pie.
Well, I was all high and so proud to be part of the crowd that stuck to its original purpose.
Is the dog still developing?
One can easily complain about how much exhibition, hunters, dog sports or just prosperity are destroying our breeds, but is this where we should be pointing fingers? Aren't we just continuing to develop the breeds for new needs? After all, few of us are still dependent on the dog working as our work tool.
Whether a dog was a guard dog or a heating pad, it had a role in the family. But what is the role of the dog today?
Why shouldn't the dog's characteristics also keep up with the rest of our society's development? Our purebred dogs are barely 500 years old, but should development stop here? As a breeder, I am aware of how development is pressuring the breed's need to hold on to the characteristics from the 19th century, yet I feel that I owe it to the breed to stay focused.
Behind the scenes of this week's dog owner
My name is Cynthia Jensen and my greatest interest lies in dog sports. I own 3 hunting dogs, who are with me (almost) everywhere, to trials, exhibitions and not least on the hunt. As a hunting dog trainer and breeder, it is a joy to share my thoughts on the dogs as active working dogs.
Besides my daily work, I always have a lot of dog stuff going on, including as a writer for "HUNDEN" and a consultant for Essential Foods.
The natural properties
Lately I have been confirmed in how important the dog's natural characteristics are. After just 3 training sessions with my wirehaired hen dog, I decided to register for a few trials.
In training he showed such great natural talent that my experience has gradually told me that you should just throw yourself into it, rather than working with perfectionism. And quite rightly, the young dog showed his best side in the first test and we came home with a prize and a lot of new knowledge. Natural qualities, plus a lot of luck on the day, got us through.
The subsequent tests, however, also showed a real YOUNG DOG and a new handler – so luck ran out for even the best. But the good times made me think about how much natural talent for the dog's original characteristics is left? And how many new talents have we added to the individual breeds?
Originally speaking
The dog was previously our working tool in connection with hunting or guarding, all with different characteristics, depending on the need. The hunting dog that was supposed to hunt large and small areas, the guard dog that either looked after animals or property, etc. Later the dog also became a symbol of prosperity and then the breeds also began to become more streamlined. The family dog was supposed to be company for the wives while the men were out, and in addition could also keep the wives warm. To this end, the rich wives began to organize exhibitions, where all the breeds got their 15 minutes of the spotlight. Everyone still got to show their natural characteristics, as the tests also began to show who had the best dog in the field.
When I first saw my terrier unleash his full potential on the hunt and just work effortlessly, I just thought I was lucky. Seeing them unleash their full potential as if the dog had never done anything else in its entire life is an indescribable feeling.
When, after several generations, I could see that the characteristics were so imbued in the dogs, I became proud that the breed could still be traced back to its original purpose in the 19th century.
And again, when in the fall of 2019 I took the young hen dog to trials, without much training, yet I felt how the innate qualities made it all seem easy as pie.
Well, I was all high and so proud to be part of the crowd that stuck to its original purpose.
Is the dog still developing?
One can easily complain about how much exhibition, hunters, dog sports or just prosperity are destroying our breeds, but is this where we should be pointing fingers? Aren't we just continuing to develop the breeds for new needs? After all, few of us are still dependent on the dog working as our work tool.
Whether a dog was a guard dog or a heating pad, it had a role in the family. But what is the role of the dog today?
Why shouldn't the dog's characteristics also keep up with the rest of our society's development? Our purebred dogs are barely 500 years old, but should development stop here? As a breeder, I am aware of how development is pressuring the breed's need to hold on to the characteristics from the 19th century, yet I feel that I owe it to the breed to stay focused.
Behind the scenes of this week's dog owner
My name is Cynthia Jensen and my greatest interest lies in dog sports. I own 3 hunting dogs, who are with me (almost) everywhere, to trials, exhibitions and not least on the hunt. As a hunting dog trainer and breeder, it is a joy to share my thoughts on the dogs as active working dogs.
Besides my daily work, I always have a lot of dog stuff going on, including as a writer for "HUNDEN" and a consultant for Essential Foods.