The Hidden Struggle of Working Breeds in Pet Homes

Part 4 - Jobless Dogs Find Their Own Work — and It’s Usually Not the Kind You Want

A working dog without a job will always invent one. Sometimes that means herding the kids, guarding the couch, or chasing shadows for hours. Other times it means tearing up the backyard out of sheer boredom.

It’s easy to label these dogs “bad,” but that misses the point. They’re not misbehaving — they’re under-employed.

Leadership doesn’t mean dominance; it means direction. When we give a dog a clear job through structured play, obedience, and boundaries, we replace chaos with clarity. Purpose isn’t a luxury for these breeds — it’s their peace.

German shepherd laying on his back