Breed Types
Understanding Instinctual Motivation
Now that you’re starting to identify your dog’s mindset, it’s time to layer in another essential piece of the puzzle: breed motivation.
While all dogs share common emotional needs—safety, connection, stimulation—how they express those needs and what drives them is heavily influenced by their breed or breed mix. Dogs were developed over thousands of years to perform very specific jobs for humans. These jobs required strong instincts—herding, guarding, chasing, retrieving, and more.
Even if your dog is now a beloved pet curled up on the couch, those instincts haven’t gone away. They’re still hardwired into your dog’s brain, shaping how they see and react to the world. Understanding your dog’s breed type is like having a roadmap to their behavior.
Primary Breed Groups & Motivations
Here’s a breakdown of the major breed groups and what typically motivates them:
1. Herding Breeds
Examples: Border Collies, Australian Shepherds, Corgis, Shelties
Motivated by:
Control, movement, order
Visual and motion triggers
Mental challenges and tasks
Common behaviors:
Nipping at heels, herding kids or other pets
Hyperfocus on moving objects (bikes, squirrels, runners)
High energy and easily bored
Mindset needs:
Mental stimulation (training games, puzzles)
Structure and jobs to do
Calm confidence from you as a leader
2. Working Breeds
Examples: Rottweilers, Boxers, Dobermans, Mastiffs
Motivated by:
Protection, leadership, purpose
Strong bond with their humans
Clear direction and confidence
Common behaviors:
Guarding behaviors (barking at strangers, alert posture)
Stubbornness when confused or undertrained
Strong physical presence and intensity
Mindset needs:
Early and consistent socialization
Respect-based leadership, not force
Purposeful training that taps into their strength and drive
3. Sporting Dogs
Examples: Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, Spaniels, Setters
Motivated by:
Connection, pleasing people
Fetching, retrieving, water play
Physical affection and positive reinforcement
Common behaviors:
Jumping up for attention
Mouthy play or grabbing objects
Following scent trails or getting distracted outdoors
Mindset needs:
Reward-based training
Daily exercise and fetch or swim time
Emotional engagement with their owner
4. Terriers
Examples: Jack Russell, Westie, Bull Terrier, Airedale
Motivated by:
Independence, hunting instinct
Digging, chasing small prey
Mental stimulation and challenge
Common behaviors:
Digging, barking, escaping
Intense focus when tracking or playing
Difficulty with recall if distracted
Mindset needs:
Firm but fair boundaries
Jobs that satisfy their prey drive (e.g., nose work, flirt pole)
Don’t confuse independence with disobedience—channel it!
5. Hound Breeds
Examples: Beagles, Bassets, Greyhounds, Coonhounds
Motivated by:
Scent or sight pursuit
Long tracking or chasing sessions
Calm environments between bursts of action
Common behaviors:
Selective hearing when on a scent
Howling or baying
Roaming or following trails with no regard for you
Mindset needs:
Scent games and sniff walks
Fenced areas for safe exploration
Patient recall training—don’t rush them
6. Toy & Companion Breeds
Examples: Pugs, Chihuahuas, Shih Tzus, Yorkies
Motivated by:
Companionship and affection
Routine and comfort
Attention and connection with their human
Common behaviors:
Barking for attention or alarm
Velcro behavior (following you everywhere)
Anxiety when left alone
Mindset needs:
Confidence building and boundaries
Quality time and engagement—not just cuddles
Desensitization to separation and novelty
7. Mixed Breeds & Mutts
Your dog may carry traits from multiple groups, so observe their behavior closely. Are they scent-driven? Do they fixate on movement? Do they show strong guarding instincts?
Your dog’s breed is more than a label, it’s a way to better understand what drives them.
Use their instinct to your advantage. A dog rewarded with their motivation is happier, calmer, and far more trainable.
Next lesson introduce basic commands: sit, sit-stay, down-stay, come, leave it. Focus on importance of distance when teaching the stay and come command. The training should focus on positive reinforcement understanding your dogs motivators , consistency and not having to repeat the command for example having a long leash for the down stay come progression with distance such as 15 yards
