Written By: Zach Miller
"Dogs have been man's best friend for centuries. They are loyal, loving, and protective. However, the way people see dogs and the way dog handlers see dogs can be vastly different. While most people see dogs as pets and companions, dog handlers often view them as tools."
To the average person, dogs are seen as cute and cuddly creatures that provide comfort and companionship. They are often treated as members of the family and are given the same love and attention as any other family member. People often enjoy playing with their dogs, taking them for walks, and cuddling with them on the couch. While this is a fact almost always, there is an entire world that the average dog owner will never see.
On the other hand, dog handlers, professional or amateur, see dogs as tools that can be trained to perform specific tasks in stressful situations. These tasks can range from hunting, agility, search and rescue operations to bomb detection to police work and I’ll even throw credit to the show dog handlers. Dog handlers view their dogs as highly trained professionals that are capable of performing complex tasks that humans simply cannot. When this much time, effort and passion gets put into something, we only wish to refine it. The downside of this is because of the demanding tasks we ask of these beloved creatures, we have to turn the cute and cuddly side of dogs off at times.
Dog handlers often spend countless hours training their dogs to perform these tasks, whatever they choose, respectfully. They use a wide variety of reinforcement techniques to teach their dogs to respond to specific commands and to perform tasks with precision and accuracy when the time truly matters. They also spend time bonding with their dogs to build trust and establish a strong working relationship. While this is true, we have to put up walls with our working dogs. Now I do not speak for everyone with this topic; however, this is a majority of handlers who have this specific mindset. We have to put these walls up with our working dog for the fact that if we view them as a full-fledged member of the family, their training and drive will degrade and fail them in the field.
For example, if I take a gundog who went through years of training, hunting and competing, and then in the middle of all of this, you (as the handler) go and get a new job working only obedience. Then you proceed to bring this dog into the house and let him/her do whatever they want and get cuddles non stop from anyone, this dog will fall victim to the age old trap… if you don’t use it, you lose it. This dog will suffer and will let you down in the field time and time again as you have taught the dog to undervalue work and overvalue laziness and over-praising. You have essentially taken the wild out of this dog and turned him/her into a house pet. Ask me how I know this.
Saying that professional handlers view their dogs as tools may sound harsh and heartless. I challenge anyone that thinks this, to feel what the previous paragraph feels like in real time. I assure you that you too will make a promise to keep pet vs tool very far apart with your future dogs. While professional dog handlers view their dogs as tools, they also have a deep respect and love for them. They understand that their dogs are living creatures with their own personalities and emotions. They take great care to ensure that their dogs are healthy, happy, and well-cared for without compromising what makes them so special when working.
In conclusion, this brief insight into the other side of dogs and how they are viewed is merely scratching the surface. It is one of the biggest reasons handlers can spot other dog handlers in public without any identifying factors. The way people see dogs and the way dog handlers see dogs can be vastly different and it should remain that way. While most people view dogs as pets and companions, dog handlers see them as highly trained professionals that are capable of performing complex tasks in stressful situations. However, both groups share a deep love and respect for these amazing creatures. Whether they are cuddling on the couch or chasing down a fallen bird, dogs will always hold a special place in our hearts.
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