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The unique Hearing Dog temperament, most often found in mixed breed dogs, is actually a serendipitous blend of basic traits that long ago were carefully isolated and developed in their purebred ancestors. To successfully select potential Hearing Dogs from shelters, it is helpful to understand these purebred temperament components.
The specific temperament required to fill the three roles Hearing Dogs play is complex, and few dogs possess it. We take for granted the unique temperaments of the hundreds of dog breeds, each finely tuned for one or more specific purposes. Some of these purposes require a very tricky balance of different instincts in one dog. Hearing Dog temperament is just as tricky, but seems perhaps more challenging just because there is no ready-made breed for this function.
Rather than look at specific breeds, I find it more useful to look at the different basic functions that dogs have evolved to perform, such as retrieving or herding. Once we know the temperament required for each function, we can compare each of those temperaments with the ideal Hearing Dog temperament. Once we know the individual temperament traits that make each function possible, we can see how these traits could interact when purebred or mixed breed dogs are produced. A "shopping list" of desirable traits can be made with the aim of searching for, or breeding, the perfect Hearing Dog.
Certain types of mixed breeds are more successful Hearing Dogs than others. Because so many mixed-breed dogs are found suitable for Hearing Dogs suggests that they must get the desirable traits from somewhere in their heritage, and 83% of mixed breeds that I've seen in shelters have some easily identified purebred heritage, it is worthwhile to examine the temperaments of these purebred ancestors. Therefore, we need to understand purebred temperaments in relation to Hearing Dog temperament whether we are seeking to find dogs with Hearing Dog temperament in shelters, to breed them, or to decide whether to use purebreds or mixed breeds.
Evolution of Functional Groups
While most animals have evolved through a process of natural selection, dogs are somewhat unique in that they developed over the last 10,000 years by an unnatural selection method. Most of the selection process has been related to their ability to help humans with basic survival needs. Hunting, herding, guard, alarm functions, and even companionship are all aspects of dog behavior that can be separated out and discarded or intensified to create types of dogs that can be helpful to humans. This creation of many functional types of dogs eventually became specialized into what we now call "breeds." Hearing Dogs can be viewed in the same way as any other functional dog. They help their partners with three basic survival needs:
1. Communicating with other people - by assisting with door and telephone
2, Personal safety issues - by alerting to smoke alarms and other danger signals
3. Social needs - both by canine friendship as well as being a social facilitator for interaction with other people
The Purebred Concept
Our concept of "purebred" is probably less than 200 years old. Prior to this, function as well as appearance defined dogs, and the dog's genetic ancestry was less important.
Modern dog breeds have changed greatly over the last couple of centuries, as they were bred less and less to perform their original functions. Fragile, specialized behaviors were quickly lost through neglect or selection for new functions such as "show dog," leaving sometimes only a "flavoring" of the original temperament. The difference between a dog that can just barely pass a herding instinct test and a dog that can perform complicated herding work with little training is like the difference between a toddler who can sing a song learned from a kiddie show on television and a musically gifted toddler who can sing perfectly every song he has ever heard once.
In looking for Hearing Dogs among the purebreds, one needs to keep an open mind. It would be a tragedy if a dog were overlooked simply because it came from an "unsuitable" breed. Every dog groomer or trainer enjoys telling endless horror stories about "Breed X, those awful biters, they're impossible to groom and handle...see this scar on my arm? Except Mrs. Phillips' tan one, he's so sweet. He would never bite, we can even cut his nails!" On the other hand, we should not be swayed by the illogical thinking that just because "Breed Y" is made up of such gentle companions then this dog will automatically be one too.
Few breeds were designed to perform one function and one function only. Many tasks are not needed constantly, and some are seasonal in nature. For instance, herding needs vary according to time of year or breeding patterns of livestock, and many herding breeds have several secondary functions such as guarding or hunting.
Blueprints for Functional Groups
My definition of a "blueprint" is similar to a breed standard but instead describes the temperament needed to perform a function. Because purebreds have changed so much in the last 200 years, both in appearance and temperament, I find it helpful to forget what they are like now, and focus on what they were like when they were first bred. Examining the original functions that dogs were evolved to fill allows us to design a "blueprint" for the appropriate temperament for each function.
The most basic classifications are: primeval, sled, scenthound/sighthound, guard, setter/pointer, herding, retriever, terrier, alarm, companion, and spaniel. These do not correlate to any one kennel club classification system, but are helpful in understanding dog temperaments in general.
Blueprint for Setters and Pointers
A dog that will range independently and point to birds when it locates them is desired. It should have no aggression towards humans and have an inhibited bite. Many setters and pointers are dual-function dogs, showing some alarm or scenthound functions. Some are specialized for one type of hunting or prey, and others are adapted for more all-around use.
Reactivity: moderate.
Sound Reactivity: moderate. The dog must also be reactive to olfactory and visual sensory input, which may overshadow any sound reactivity it has. Breeding stock selection for lack of fearfulness of gunshots may actually produce dogs that have little sound reactivity at all. The tendency to freeze (point) when sensing prey is counter to sound alerting suitability, which requires a dog that is activated by stimuli and approaches them in an in an uninhibited way.
Activity: high. This dog must enjoy running for hours. The high desire to be active and somewhat independent may interfere with sound alerting.
InterActivity: moderate. The dog should be interactive enough to follow commands and work in partnership with the hunter, but overly interactive dogs might not range out far enough to be efficient hunters. Since these dogs are sometimes loaned to other hunters, they should also be interactive and friendly with strangers.
Territoriality: low. As with any hunting dog, this dog must be able to leave its home.
Predatory instinct: high. This is coupled with an inhibited bite and low aggression, since this function may include retrieving. Some setters and pointer function dogs have a dual purpose of hound function, and show more predatory aggression. Strong reactions to seeing, hearing, or scenting birds may make this dog difficult to focus in public.
Biting: An inhibited bite is necessary for retrieving, but dual functions may affect this.
Initiative: moderate to high. Dog must have enough initiative to go after game, but still be responsive to commands.
Fearfulness: low. As with retrievers, it should have no fear of strangers, gunshots, or new environments.
Dominance/submission: variable but often submissive. The dog must be submissive enough for the hunter to be able to sometimes inhibit its strong hunting instincts at a distance. The instinct to point is an inhibition of predatory behavior, exaggerated from stalking and preparing to rush forward towards prey. Easily inhibited dogs have problems in sound alerting.
Other-dog aggression: low. Its hunting ability demands that dogs work around other hunting dogs and ignore them.
Hearing Dog suitability:
For sound alerting role: low.
For companion role: moderate.
For public access role: moderate.
Blueprint for a Retriever
A retriever function dog works under human control to retrieve shot game birds. The temperament ideal for this work coincidentally also fits well with the requirements for companion function, with the exception of their high activity level and predatory instinct. Since predatory instinct is incomplete—tailored to select only the behavior of retrieving prey back to a safe place or to its waiting puppies—this strong fragment of instinct is acceptable or even welcome in a family dog. The inhibited bite used for gently retrieving birds lowers its potential to bite people as well. A few retriever breeds have a dual function as guard, which changes their profile.
Reactivity: low to medium. Hunting involves quick response to commands, but the dog does not need the same amount of reactivity as a dog designed to herd stock or kill prey. Moderate reactivity is sufficient to deal with wounded or escaping birds. Long periods of waiting quietly in a boat or blind for birds to approach also favor a less reactive dog.
Sound Reactivity: low to moderate. The dog should be reactive to verbal and whistled commands, but should not overreact to gunshots. Breeding for low reaction to gunshots may produce a dog with low sound reactivity overall.
Activity: high. It should be active enough to do water retrieves for hours. Its activity should be controllable, however, as the dog must wait calmly at times.
InterActivity: high. The dog works closely with its owner, following many commands, and since retrievers must be comfortable around other hunters in the same area and are sometimes loaned to other hunters, it should have a high interactivity with strangers.
Territoriality: low. Since hunting often involves different locales, the dog must be comfortable enough to work away from home. Breeders that select for companion function actively select against territorial aggression. Retrievers often show an excited, non-aggressive territoriality that is sufficient to alert owners, but ceases once visitors are admitted.
Predatory instinct: moderate. Aggression is minimized, since the dog is not expected to kill, but only to gently retrieve dead or wounded birds.
Biting: low. An inhibited bite ("soft mouth") is desired, although when not in retrieving mode, the dog may show a bite hard enough to injure people if it also possesses any form of aggression.
Initiative: low to moderate. The dog must do some problem solving on its own at a great distance from the hunter, but it also must be responsive to commands at a distance.
Fearfulness: low. It should have no fear of strangers, gunshots, or new environments. Lack of fear results in a dog that is easily socialized and remains flexible in its ability to accept the unfamiliar.
Dominance/submission: submissive. It needs to be both easy to control at a distance and "eager to please." This term does not really mean that the dog has some selfless desire to help people; just that it desires to be part of a pack so strongly that it will alter its behavior to get social rewards and prevents painful social exclusion. Retrievers are considered "easy to train" because of this inherent motivation to cooperate with humans. Retrieving also involves more training of non-instinctive behaviors than other hunting function dogs, because they must be taught to follow directional signals and retrieve in specific ways.
Other-dog aggression: low. Retriever function demands that dogs work around other hunting dogs and ignore them. Hunting dogs are often kenneled while training and other-dog aggression is not wanted. Dogs with dual guard function may be exceptions.
There is a huge dichotomy between hunting-bred retrievers, particularly those suitable for field trials, and those bred for companion or show qualities and intended as pets. Those bred for field trials usually have the initiative and activity level needed in a Hearing Dog, but tend to be powerful, intense dogs that do not fit the lifestyle of most people. Conversely, the companion type excels in public, but may be impossible to motivate in sound alerting. Those retriever individuals that do possess talent in sound alerting can make excellent Hearing Dogs. Purebred retrievers graduated at a 33% rate from the HDP.
Retriever breeds are recognized for their high percentage of individuals that show suitability for service dog functions. Service dog trainers search or selectively breed for extremely submissive, interactive dogs with as little initiative as possible that will wait for commands. Low activity and reactivity levels are essential. The dog should always be easily controllable, even when the dog knows there will be no physical correction if it does not obey. Dogs that can perform dual functions as service and Hearing Dogs are obviously hard to find, due to the conflicting nature of the desired temperaments.
Hearing Dog suitability:
• For sound alerting role: low to moderate
• For public access role: high
• For companion role: high
Blueprint for a Spaniel
This dog locates hidden birds by scent or sound, indicates their position, can be inhibited from flushing them until the hunter is ready to shoot, and then retrieves them without damaging their edibility. It often has a dual function as a companion dog, probably a coincidental role that the spaniel temperament fulfills.
Reactivity: high. Quick response to commands and bird movements is necessary. While actively searching for birds, high reactivity enables the dog to indicate birds instantly.
Sound Reactivity: moderate. A spaniel function dog listens for bird sounds when it cannot scent them, and must also respond to whistled or verbal commands from the hunter. It should not react fearfully to sounds, since it will be exposed to gunfire. Perhaps because of this effort to breed a dog that ignores gunfire, some spaniels show very low sound reactivity.
Activity: high. Spaniels must be able to hunt for hours in varied terrain. Their quartering behavior while searching requires constant activity.
InterActivity: high. This dog works closely with its owner, following many commands as well as its own instinctive behaviors. Since hunters often hunt with other people or loan dogs to friends for hunting, high sociability with strangers is desirable.
Territoriality: low. Territoriality is not relevant to hunting birds. Spaniels need to confidently range out in new areas, and do not need to protect or remain at their home base.
Predatory instinct: high. Spaniels need strong predatory instinct that ends after the chasing and catching part of the sequence. Lack of killing behavior helps lead to an inhibited bite.
Biting: low. To gently retrieve birds, this dog needs a bite with inhibited pressure.
Initiative: moderate. A balance is needed between control by the hunter and independent decision-making to search for birds.
Fearfulness: low to moderate. The dog should show enough caution for self-preservation while out hunting. It should not be fearful of strange environments because hunting involves traveling to new places and freely exploring them. Poor breeding of the more popular spaniel breeds produces many individuals with very high fearfulness, so most spaniels show higher fear than would be expected from this profile. Spaniels bred specifically for hunting and field trials or for companion temperament show less fearfulness.
Dominance/submission: variable, often submissive. Its hunting behavior involves rapid quartering of an area, directed by the hunter, so it must be submissive and responsive to commands. To balance the strength of the powerful hunting instincts that motivate it, it must be submissive from a distance. As a result, overly submissive spaniels can often be seen. In particular, the dog that is so perfectly controllable at a distance may be overwhelmed by dominant human body language or voice when up close, and show submissive urination problems. On the other hand, a dog hunting for long hours under hard conditions needs resiliency and determination. Such dogs may be difficult to control by non-trainers. Different breeding programs designed to produce pets, hobby hunting dogs, or field trial competition dogs result in widely differing temperaments both between and within breeds.
Other-dog aggression: low. Hunting dogs need to coexist and ignore other dogs when hunting.
The spaniel group shows high potential for all three Hearing Dog roles. Some individual dogs show sound reactivity, submissiveness, interactivity, inhibited bite, sociability with strangers, and high activity levels. An intriguing breed, which I've never personally seen, is the field trial version of the English Cocker Spaniel, which looks nothing like an English Cocker. It resembles a small Cocker mix, and is reputed to preserve the classic spaniel temperament.
The most often seen spaniels in shelters are the Cocker Spaniel and the Springer Spaniel. Due to their health problems and temperament anomalies, it's hard to find a suitable one. I sometimes see what appear to be throwbacks to the old type of Cocker; short body coat with long feathering and curly ears, a happy, outgoing, non-biting nature, and normal-appearing eyes and ear canals. A few of these have turned out to be good Hearing Dogs. But it is cocker mixes that interest me more. Some sort of alchemy happens, and a dog appears that bears some physical resemblance to a Cocker Spaniel, yet has the gentle, energetic temperament most people think a Cocker Spaniel has. At the HDP, Spaniel mixes graduated at a very high 39% rate compared to 17% of purebred Spaniels.
Hearing Dog suitability:
• For sound alerting role: high.
• For public access role: high.
• For companion role: high.
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