Work Ethic?

For those of you who are avid fans of working dogs whether it be: Obedience, Working Trials, Schutzhund or Field Trials. I, like all of you, have learnt over time to spot and appreciate a dogs work ethic (or lack of it as the case may unfortunately be). But has one ever sat down and thought, quite simply.

What is work ethic? That 'little something extra' that we cannot describe but we know that its what makes the difference between a dog trained to work and a 'working dog'.

This division is not purely down to our ability to admire a dogs work ethic, in fact, it runs much deeper than that. A 'working dog' is a dog that has descended from generations of dogs that were also admired for their strong work ethic and were bred from because of this particular quality. In contrast to the show dog which is bred, most of the time, for its top quality construction. The working dog is bred for its top quality work ethic.

So, going back to the original question. What is work ethic? Is it just one thing that makes up the entirety of a dogs working ability or is it a string of components that when combined correctly produce that illusive working quality. Allow me to make a list of various qualities that are generally seen in dogs we perceive as having a good work ethic that apply to different breeds and sports across the board:

• Speed
• Bravery
• Enquisitivenss 
• Detirmination
• Intelligence
• A refined sense of independence
• A 'level head'
• Motivated by food reward
• Motivated by toy reward
• Motivated by verbal/physical praise
• Biddability 
• Sensitivity to their handler
• Strong natural ability to tug, chase, retrieve and protect
• The ability to handle pressure & discipline if given deservedly

Regardless of what sport you are involved with or which breed you work, can you say there is one of those qualities you notice outright and is consistently produced or is it a well balanced mixture of many, if not all of, the qualities listed? 

A good working dog must have a good natural work ethic to be a promising candidate to train but it is also down to the handler and how he encourages and nurtures this ethic for it to grow and blossom into our idea of the perfect working dog. Issuing poorly timed, unjustified and too much discipline will cause this ethic to self destruct rather than be constructed into something useful. 

Does this mean that a  good work ethic relies equally on both a sound genetic base as well as a nurturing handler?

Food for thought eh?

Until next time...