Companion dog

Companion dog
The Pomeranian started out as a large, sled-type dog and was downbred to become the small companion dog it is today.

Companion dog usually describes a dog that does not work, providing only companionship as a pet, rather than usefulness by doing specific tasks. Many of the toy dog breeds are used only for the pleasure of their company, not as workers. Any dog can be a companion dog, and many working types such as retrievers are enjoyed primarily for their friendly nature as a family pet, as are mixed breed dogs. The American Kennel Club also offers a Companion dog title for judged dog obedience competitions.

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Working vs. companion

Some people[who?] and breed groups argue that any dog of a working dog type is inherently a working dog, while others[who?] say that only a dog being actively worked, either in a related field such as water trials for retrievers or herding trials for herding dogs, or in some other field that requires training and discipline, such as being assistance dogs or participating in dog agility, can be considered a working dog.

Dogs that have been chosen for traits that make a convenient pet are generally smaller breeds, and the tradition of keeping pretty dogs for no purpose other than to be court decorations stems back thousands of years to Chinese nobility. The Pekingese and the Pug are both examples of canines chosen for their ability to be pets. In the case of the Pekingese, it was for their lion-like demeanor; for the Pugs, it was for their "lucky" wrinkles and their monkey-like .

Other dogs that appear to be strictly a decorative or entertaining toy type of dog originally had jobs, such as the Lhasa Apso's job as a watch dog, or the delicate Yorkshire Terrier's exceptional rat catching abilities.

Competition Obedience Titles

Companion Dog ("CD" added to dogs registered name) - is officially a "Novice obedience Title" in the AKC Competition Obedience Ring, where by a team enters the "ring" with 200 points, and needs to leave with at least 170 points to "qualify". It requires 3 "legs" (trials) under 3 different AKC judges. Any dog can earn a CD title. Levels for obedience are Companion Dog (CD), Companion Dog Excellent (CDX), Utility Dog (UD), Utility Dog Excellent (UDX), Obedience Trial Champion (OTCH), National Obedience Champion (NOC). "Pet dogs" are never "Companion Dogs" without entering a competition ring and creating a document trail. The first AKC licensed obedience trial was held in 1936, where 200 dogs were entered.([1]) People heard and liked the "phrase" "Companion Dog" and have been using it in various incorrect ways... There is even 1 group of park rangers that have their own "Companion Dog Certification", with nothing more than "their own version" of the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test. "CD" is the minimum training level every dog should have.

Companion versus toy dogs

A toy dog, a Chihuahua.

Toy dogs and companion dogs have a large overlap. However companion dogs are not limited by size, whereas all toy dogs are small.

List of companion dogs

References

  1. ^ http://www.akc.org/events/obedience/what_is_obedience.cfm
  2. ^ "Shih Tzu: A Companion Dog". http://shihtzuga.weebly.com. Retrieved 2011-07-23. 

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