You've made the decision, you're ready to take the plunge. You're going to get that athletic, highly trainable dog that is always ready to go. You've read the books, you've seen the pictures. You're pretty confident that you're up to the challenge.

At this point STOP!!! Adding a working breed of dog to your family is a major life decision. One that is going to be affecting what you do for the next 10-12 years. Before you make the next step, answer these questions-

Have you ever trained a dog? To what level?

Have you spent a good amount of time around the breed that you're interested in? Do you understand the upsides and downsides of the breed? What are they?

Do you enjoy throwing on you snow gear/rain gear for that 2 hours+ of outdoor exercise/training time/work that your dog will need on a daily basis?

Are you involved with a club or training group? Who is going to mentor you through this process? How are you going to ensure that your new dogs needs get met?

Are you ready for a dog that is going to be the energizer rabbit for the next 10 years? The keep going and going and going type? Please note, they really do keep going and going and going - when it's raining, when it's snowing, when you're sick, when you're tired, when the kids are sick. You get the picture.

Are you ready to spend 2-4 years shaping and training behavior before you have a dog that looks/acts like the ones you admire?

Are you ready to get up earlier and go to bed later for the next 8 or so years to ensure your dog is getting it's needs met?

These are all questions that you need to have answered before you bring dog home. If you can't answer them then you really need to reconsider. there are many other options out there that would probably be a much better fit for you.


And please add to this thread if you feel there are other important questions to ask before adding a working breed of dog to your life

Do you have the family support?
The support that isn't going to roll it's eyes or make snide remarks as you leave for yet another Saturday at the club, when the kid has a ball game, or the spouse would rather you be doing yard work?

Do you have the kind of spouse that understands that the dog is the first priority after the kids? The priority that comes before seeing that new movie, or going out to dinner, or having a BBQ with the neighbors?

The kind of spouse that can be okay with skipping Hawaii and going to the Six Flags a few hours away, because you don't trust the local boarding facilities to keep your dog separated from the other dogs?

The kind of spouse who will consider it the child's fault for breaking the "no running when the puppy is in the yard" rule, instead of the puppy for pouncing on said running child?

The kind of spouse who isn't going to say "Why do we even have a dog if the kids can't play with it" after the ten millionth time you have to remind the kids to stay away from the dog's crate? To leave the dog alone when it's sleeping? To quit petting the dog, it's had enough?

Great post Mara. I'd like to add that consistency and follow through each and every time is paramount. Also, someone has to be in charge so if you're not good at enforcing rules or waffle when faced with confrontation do not get a working breed unless someone else in the house is able to step up as the leader.

 Quote: Mara Jessup

Are you ready to spend 2-4 years shaping and training behavior before you have a dog that looks/acts like the ones you admire?

Please say this is the time frame for an experienced owner because as a novice it took me 6 years to get Thor to that point. Seriously!

Do you understand that you may be the only one who can handle the dog? That having a friend or family member pop over to take the dog for a quick walk might not ever be an option?

Do you understand that the dog is not only an athlete and a genius, but an adrenaline junky?

I expect at least 3 years if the dog is any good.

Don't forget that those dogs about those dogs you admire. They were likely raised by ONE person. Only fed my ONE person. Only exercised by ONE person. Trained by ONE person.

Are you willing to commit to that, day in and day out? We have bad days, dogs have bad days. We are willing to forgo exercise on a bad day, in favor of a movie and a beer. Dogs- well, are not.
Those dogs you admire were raised by that one person providing the commitment, and not allowing anyone else to pet that cute little puppy. That means no playtime at the park, and saying for the 400th time today alone, that 'No, you cannot pet my dog, he's in training'

Are any children going to do negatively impacted from not seeing the "training parent" as often as they should/need to?

Do you have the financial resources to join a club / purchase items / trave to and from clubs, etc... on an on-going basis without negatively impacting family finances?

If you found out you or your spouse was pregnant right now and child care was not an option - would you freak out? (Because bringing home a pup is very much as demanding as having a newborn and you are the one doing the potty training, etc...)

And that having multiples of these crazy energizer bunnies is TRUELY INSANE!!! And NOT for most people.

 Quote: Sheila Buckley

 Quote: Mara Jessup

Are you ready to spend 2-4 years shaping and training behavior before you have a dog that looks/acts like the ones you admire?

Please say this is the time frame for an experienced owner because as a novice it took me 6 years to get Thor to that point. Seriously!

Very true. It's generally taken me close to 4 years to get a dog where I want it training wise. But you never really quit training/working a working dog.

Maybe a better way to put it would be -

Do you realize that your dog will always be a work in progress to a certain extent? That your dog will always need training time and always need a job to do?

My 12 y/o is slowing down, but she still needs me to give her jobs to do to keep her happy. She still begs to train, too.

We're going on 3 years old, without even a BH.