NEWS & ARTICLES | Every Breed has a Different Purpose
Every Breed has a Different Purpose
By Leslie Ungar
If You Were a Dog What Kind Would You Be?
Each morning I’m in Tucson I go on a purpose driven walk. I have to wake by 6am if I am to achieve my purpose: to meet as many dogs as possible. My morning walk masquerades as an exercise routine. It is not.
If I jog rather than walk, it is much more difficult to stop to meet each new four legged acquaintance. The purpose of each walk is actually twofold: to pet and meet by name as many dogs as possible before they retire indoors for the day. It dawned on me during one of these walks that each canine breed has been bred and developed for very different purposes. Often we, as the dog owner, are not clear about their genetic purpose. We should not only know the differences, we should celebrate them. Each breed is easily branded with a different purpose. Breeds are often branded in ways that are not always true, but they are truly branded!
The “bagel”, part Beagle and part Basset has a very different purpose than the Rottweiler. A Cocker Spaniel has a different purpose than the adopted Greyhound. We see a Guide Dog and immediately identify its purpose. The better we understand canine purpose the more clear we can be in our own purpose.
I love dogs, but I swore I would never own a Jack Russell. As a Taurus, I thought I was stubborn enough without the obstinate Terrier streak living in the same house. As some human babies are unplanned, my four-legged Schnauzer puppy that I hand carried from Mexico was also unplanned. I had no idea until I flew her 2 000 miles home that a Schnauzer was related to the Terrier family. This is important because a Schnauzer is bred to be a ratter. They are bred to track rodents down holes, up trees, wherever the scent takes them. They are the poster child for Attention Deficit Disorder of the dog world. Their attention is focused on whatever moves. Their attention will never be focused on you like a Golden Retriever focuses on their master.
A Golden is genetically bred to please. They exist to please. A Husky on the other hand is bred to not only pull a sled, but to get the sled to its destination. This means that the Husky has to be able to make independent decisions along the way. The Husky is not bred to please. The Husky is bred to lead and thinks he should lead you the owner also. The problem comes up when we are unclear about what dogs are bred to do and how this impacts their behaviour. This is related to what we are all “bred” to do as individuals and as companies. How many of us are unclear about our own professional purpose?
If we don’t know or can’t articulate what it is we do, how can the marketplace value what we do? How can prospects and clients know our value to them if we don’t know our own purpose? Any of the sight hounds, Russian or Irish Wolfhounds, Whippets, Saluki and Greyhounds, are more cat-like in their behaviour than dog-like. They barely acknowledge your arrival home each day. After all, your domain is their palace. It’s not that this behaviour is good or bad. It just is their behaviour. It is disappointing if you expected your sight hound to act like a Bichon upon your arrival.
Like the different breeds, do you know your own best and highest use? The most amazing, most expensive or most loved dog is not a perfect fit for everyone. And neither are you. Just as some dogs are better suited for some situations than others, you are more suited for some situations than others. Your reward is a really good fit.
And a kiss from any four legged friend is pretty good too.
