Sports versus Work

[QY10]

I saw this debate on a Facebook page.

Do you think sports like rally, agility, dock diving etc... should be classed as "work" for your dog? Or are they simply fun little activities/sports that you participate in with your dog?

The argument I saw was that no, a dog that does sports should not be called a working dog, nor should the sport be viewed as a job. A working dog should be doing some type of job that it was originally bred for such as, cart/weight pulling just to name one example.

I understand that point of view, but I can't help but think that the time, energy and effort that goes in to training and working with dogs in sports should justify it being more than just a "fun little activity".

I'd like to hear other peoples opinions. Are sports merely fun little activities for your dog to do, or do you consider them to be your dog's job and a type of work?

 

[TWW]

I personally look at as:
Sporting more of a activity, if your dog did not do it, would it effect your household? No and in a lot of cases it would save you money.
Working dog, the dogs have a job, and not preforming that job may effect the household.

 

[Smokeycat]

To be classified as work it needs to have a purpose other than a way to bond/have fun with your dog. Examples that I can easily think of are police/military dogs, search and rescue, active farm dogs, service dogs and hunting dogs. But if training is done and only used for trials it's a sport and not work.

 

[JamieHalverson]

To be classified as work it needs to have a purpose other than a way to bond/have fun with your dog. Examples that I can easily think of are police/military dogs, search and rescue, active farm dogs, service dogs and hunting dogs. But if training is done and only used for trials it's a sport and not work.

Maybe people use the terms interchangeably or mistake them because the attributes of the dogs are so similar/the same for either work or sport, at least in achieving a high level of success in sporting.

When I was looking for my BM puppy, I was very surprised when a breeder referred me to someone and advised I was looking for a "working" dog after I told him what I do with my dog and what I was looking for. I currently do K9 Nosework, Rally, Shed hunting, and he's a Therapy dog and I was looking for a pup to do similar activities. But I don't consider us a "working" household. Maybe I could argue that Therapy work and shed hunting are jobs and qualify as work, but that would be stretching it.

 

[Smokeycat]

Maybe people use the terms interchangeably or mistake them because the attributes of the dogs are so similar/the same for either work or sport, at least in achieving a high level of success in sporting.

When I was looking for my BM puppy, I was very surprised when a breeder referred me to someone and advised I was looking for a "working" dog after I told him what I do with my dog and what I was looking for. I currently do K9 Nosework, Rally, Shed hunting, and he's a Therapy dog and I was looking for a pup to do similar activities. But I don't consider us a "working" household. Maybe I could argue that Therapy work and shed hunting are jobs and qualify as work, but that would be stretching it.

I can see how the term can be used interchangeably as a dog has to have the right traits to do the activity in question. As I see it a 'working' dog or line has the natural ability and desire to learn a skill set. But what you do with that dog is what makes it work or sport.
For example: around here there are a couple of farms where you can take your dog out so that they can herd sheep. For the pet dogs it's a sport whereas for the resident dogs it's work. Same skill set but different reasons to do it (humans).

 

[DennasMom]

I'd put it in human terms... do you think football players are engaged in "work" or "sport"?
Sure, they get paid, and it's their "job"... practice may be work to get ready for a game, but... still, I consider it a sport and not a job.

I agree with SmokeyCay - work is something with a higher purpose than just bonding and exercise, no matter how much "work" actually goes into the preparation and execution of the activity.

Work is more something that provides for others... herding is for the farmer - and his customers, search & rescue - for the victims, service & therapy - for the recipients, etc.

"Sport" is more something you do for yourself.

 

[fixitlouie]

If your dog is in competition it a working dog too. But im no body

 

[fixitlouie]

Or is what it does gets payed. ....

 

[QY10]

All very good points.

I think I was most offended by sports being labelled as "fun little activities" when there is much more to it than just that. A lot of hard work and dedication goes into training in sports, even if it's not technically "work". It seemed as though sporting dogs were being minimized and looked down upon for not doing real work.

 

[QY10]

Maybe people use the terms interchangeably or mistake them because the attributes of the dogs are so similar/the same for either work or sport, at least in achieving a high level of success in sporting.

When I was looking for my BM puppy, I was very surprised when a breeder referred me to someone and advised I was looking for a "working" dog after I told him what I do with my dog and what I was looking for. I currently do K9 Nosework, Rally, Shed hunting, and he's a Therapy dog and I was looking for a pup to do similar activities. But I don't consider us a "working" household. Maybe I could argue that Therapy work and shed hunting are jobs and qualify as work, but that would be stretching it.

I personally think that therapy work is a job.

 

[QY10]

Whoops. You said therapy work, not service dog. Sorry, my brain is a little hazy... I worked an overnight shift last night and haven't slept yet. >_<


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[JamieHalverson]

So I brought this question up in another forum regarding breeding. Many people want to see "working" titles on a dog from which they are considering a puppy. But all those titles are actually "sport" titles. Work doesn't produce titles, so if you have a breeding of a service dog and a dog who's actually working a farm daily, all health clearances obtained, the farm dog is a finished champion, but neither have any working titles, is that as good as a breedeing of two dogs with health clearances, etc. but who have sport titles instead of job?