this post was submitted on 27 Apr 2025
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Dogs

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[โ€“] Viking_Hippie@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 1 week ago (1 children)

A Shetland Sheepdog doesn't need to go to doggie college to learn to herd sheep. It is in their nature to chase and get everything together

That's 100% wrong. Except for the "doggie college" part. A working sheepdog ABSOLUTELY needs to be trained. Before, I thought that you might be under the illusion that dogs are machines that just instinctively knows exactly how to do a job without any training. Now I KNOW you're that stupid.

You put my sheltie in a field of sheep, and he'll make sure no sheep wanders off.

Not if he's not trained to do it right, no. Genetic disposition isn't a cheat code that teaches animals skills automatically. It's still learned behavior regardless of breed.

There is very little training you have to do to get a beagle to hunt rabbits

Hunting them in the right way rather than just randomly haring after them, pun intended, is another story..

Try training a St. Bernard to hunt rabbits...

Successfully? Sure. Unsuccessfully chasing after wildlife is something all breeds need to be trained out of, even gentle giants like St Bernards or tiny lapdogs.

Dogs aren't machines with certain behaviors hard coded

Since you said it, it must be true

And since every single expert in canine training and behavior says so.

Some might have generational trauma

So you are saying that past generational experiences can shape a breed?

Not to anywhere near the extent that you're implying, no.

Set up: Pit Bull and Shetland Sheepdog. Both in separate large pits. Gold bars in middle. Food and water is given to both, but no human contact ever.

Which pit would you want to retrieve the gold bar from?

In your mind, it shouldn't make a difference which pit

Speaking of minds, judging by that insanely contrived scenario, you've CLEARLY lost yours. We're done here.