Handling Dogs by Breed Group: Why It Matters and How to Do It Right

Why Genetics Changes the Way We Should Handle Dogs

If you’ve ever felt like handling your dog is harder than it should be—whether it’s trimming nails, brushing fur, or walking into the vet’s office—you’re not alone. And more importantly: you’re not doing anything wrong.
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The truth is, handling isn’t just about training—it’s about understanding.
And that understanding starts with your dog’s L.E.G.S.®

What Are L.E.G.S.®, and Why Do They Matter in Handling?

L.E.G.S.® stands for:

• Learning – what your dog has been taught or experienced
• Environment – what’s happening in their world, including stress, chaos, or calm
• Genetics – their hardwired instincts, tendencies, and sensitivities
• Self – their individual personality, preferences, and wellness

We often focus on the first two—what the dog has learned and what’s happening around them—but when it comes to handling, genetics is the game-changer most people overlook.

Handling isn’t neutral. For some dogs, touch and restraint feel comforting. For others, it feels threatening, overwhelming, or unpredictable. And often, those differences don’t come from how they were raised—they come from what they were bred to do.

Was your dog bred to work independently? To guard livestock? To run down prey solo?
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Or were they bred to be a lap companion, always touching, always close?

Understanding these genetic backstories helps you:

• Avoid setting your dog up for failure
• Reduce stress and reactivity during handling
• Advocate clearly with vets, groomers, and care teams
• Build consent and cooperation--not just compliance

Because even with the best training, if we’re working against our dog’s instincts instead of with them, handling becomes a struggle. Not only is that not good for the dog's learning but it becomes very unsafe.

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Handling by Breed Group: 

This blog post breaks down handling tips by breed group, using Family Dog Mediation® principles.

Instead of asking “How do I make my dog tolerate this?” we ask:
“How can I support this dog’s genetic needs so that handling feels safer and more predictable?”

Each section explores common handling challenges, practical tips, and trust-building strategies based on what your dog was designed to do.

Guardian Dogs

Examples:
Great Pyrenees, Mastiffs, Anatolian Shepherds, Kuvasz, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Newfoundlands
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What they were bred to do:
Guardian dogs were bred to independently protect livestock or property, often without direct human supervision. They are calm, confident, and slow to warm up to strangers.

Handling challenges:
Guardian dogs tend to be stoic and tolerant—right up until they’re not. Their discomfort may be subtle until it suddenly isn't. They value autonomy, predictability, and personal space, and they don't easily accept touch from unfamiliar people or environments.

Supportive handling at home:

• Let them observe before engaging physically
• Build trust through daily rituals and consistent touch
• Narrate your movements
• Don’t surprise them with sudden restraint
• Provide an "off-duty" retreat space during stressful times

At the vet or groomer:

• Ask for a slow introduction and allow the dog to approach first
• Advocate for minimal restraint when possible
• Request familiarization with tools before use
• Use calming aids or scent items from home to reduce stress

​⚠️ FDM Pro Tip: Just because they’re calm doesn’t mean they’re comfortable. Stoic dogs are often missed in early stress signals—watch closely for stillness, tucked tails, or turned heads.

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Natural Dogs

Examples:
Huskies, Akitas, Chows, Spitz-type breeds

What they were bred to do:
Natural dogs are closer to their primitive roots—often bred for endurance, environmental awareness, and survival skills. They’re independent thinkers and typically highly sensitive to coercion.
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Handling challenges:
They don’t love being told what to do. Touch or restraint that feels unpredictable or forced may be met with freezing, fleeing, or even growling.

Supportive handling at home:

• Let them opt into sessions with predictable cues
• Keep sessions short and emotionally neutral
• Build trust through repetition, not pressure
• Respect when they say “not right now”

At the vet or groomer:

• Keep restraint to a minimum whenever possible
• Narrate clearly what’s about to happen
• Use low-stress handling approaches
• Consider using a familiar handler or same staff each visit

⚠️ FDM Pro Tip: Respect their boundaries and need for agency. Forcing interactions can lead to avoidance or defensive behaviors.

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Herding Dogs

Examples:
Border Collies, Australian Shepherds, Corgis, German Shepherds, Shelties, etc

What they were bred to do:
Herding breeds were developed to control the movement of other animals, often through intense focus, fast reactions, and thoughtful pressure.
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Handling challenges:
Herding dogs are often sensitive and controlling, and they thrive on routine. Many are one-trial learners, meaning one negative handling experience can create lasting distrust. Their arousal levels can spike quickly in chaotic environments.

Supportive handling at home:

• Stick to a predictable routine
• Let them opt in to touch
• Use body language and verbal cues clearly
• Structure sessions around their need for control (e.g., let them move into position)

At the vet or groomer:

• Ask for verbal warnings before restraint or touch
• Use patterns like 1-2-3 or familiar rituals
• Consider calming aids or wait in the car to reduce exposure to chaos
• Watch arousal levels—they can tip quickly into fight-or-flight

⚠️ FDM Pro Tip: You’re not calming them down—you’re creating clarity. Predictability gives them the sense of control they crave.

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Gun Dogs

Examples:
Labradors, Goldens, Spaniels, Poodles, Vizslas, etc

What they were bred to do:
Gun dogs were designed to work closely with humans to retrieve and locate game—often running, swimming, or tracking all day. They’re driven by enthusiasm, energy, and human connection.
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Handling challenges:
Gun dogs can be overzealous, mouthy, or impulsive during handling. Their excitement can look like they’re fine, but it’s often masking anxiety or dysregulation.

Supportive handling at home:

• Provide outlets for energy before grooming or restraint
• Use pattern games to prep for touch (like "123")
• Keep touch calm and consistent—avoid rough play before handling

At the vet or groomer:

• Use lick mats, chews, or scatter feeding to redirect energy
• Advocate for low-key greetings to prevent escalation
• Request breaks between procedures to reduce overwhelm

⚠️ FDM Pro Tip: Bouncy doesn’t always mean brave. Some dogs mask fear with overexcitement—watch for subtle signs of stress beneath the wiggles.

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Toy Dogs

Examples:
Cavaliers, Yorkies, Chihuahuas, Pomeranians, Shih Tzus, etc

What they were bred to do:
Toy breeds were bred for companionship, often designed to stay close, alert their people, and bring comfort. But they weren’t necessarily bred for tolerance of restraint or touch by strangers.
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Handling challenges:
Small dogs often experience chronic handling without consent. They get scooped, held, and passed around with little warning. That can lead to startle responses, reactivity, and avoidance.

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Supportive handling at home:

• Let them initiate contact when possible
• Narrate all touch (e.g., "ears," "tail")
• Practice handling games with food reinforcement
• Avoid surprise pick-ups from behind

At the vet or groomer:

• Bring familiar items (towel, blanket, soft toy)
• Advocate for gentle handling and minimal restraint
• Use a carrier as a retreat space
• Ask to stay nearby if your presence is calming

⚠️ FDM Pro Tip: Just because they’re little doesn’t mean they like being touched. Listen to the whispers, not just the barks.

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Terriers

Examples:
Jack Russells, Westies, Cairns, Scotties, etc

What they were bred to do:
Terriers were developed for pest control—small, scrappy, and designed to go after rats, foxes, and anything else that moved. That tenacity shows up loud and clear when they feel cornered or restrained.
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Handling challenges:
Terriers tend to be high-drive, independent, and intense. They often meet handling with resistance if it doesn’t feel purposeful. They’re not trying to be defiant—they’re acting on deep instinct.

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Supportive handling at home:

• Let them burn energy first (digging, shredding, scent games)
• Keep sessions short, focused, and playful
• Narrate handling with a light tone
• Let them "choose" into position when possible

At the vet or groomer:

• Avoid full-body restraint when possible
• Give them time to explore tools or the space first
• Reinforce stillness with high-value treats or sniffing breaks
• Build up to touch through cooperative care games

⚠️ FDM Pro Tip: Help them regulate through shredding or heavy chewing before and after handling. It’s not destruction—it’s stress relief.

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Bull Dog Breeds

Examples:
Pit Bulls, Bulldogs, Boxers, Bull Terriers, etc

What they were bred to do:
Bull breeds were developed for strength-based work, from bull baiting to companionship. They tend to be muscular, tenacious, and emotionally intense—often loving full-body contact.
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Handling challenges:
Bull breeds often meet handling with full energy. That can come across as hyper or pushy, especially in unfamiliar situations. They need structure and regulation to feel successful—not chaos.

Supportive handling at home:

• Use handling games with clear structure
• Avoid restraint-based play (like wrestling)
• Channel their intensity into tug, nose work, or long-lasting chews
• Give them a chance to move before asking for stillness

At the vet or groomer:

• ​Use cooperative care skills like chin rests or stationing
• Avoid triggering handling styles that involve force or restraint
• Offer breaks for movement and decompression

⚠️ FDM Pro Tip: Bull breeds are full-body athletes—handling can feel like a contact sport. Lean into their intensity with structure, not chaos.

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Sight Hounds

Examples:
Greyhounds, Whippets, Salukis, Afghans, etc

What they were bred to do:
Sight hounds were developed to visually track and chase prey over long distances. They are fast, elegant, and sensitive—both physically and emotionally.

Handling challenges:
These dogs tend to freeze or shut down when overwhelmed. Their tolerance for pressure is low, and they may not vocalize distress, making it easy to miss.

Supportive handling at home:

• Use soft touch and a quiet voice
• Keep touch sessions brief and predictable
• Let them retreat to familiar spaces if needed
• Avoid handling on slick surfaces—they often hate it

At the vet or groomer:

• Give them time to investigate the space
• Use a gentle approach and minimize restraint
• Watch for freezing or glazed-over eyes—this can signal shutdown
• Ask for slow, deliberate movements from staff

⚠️ FDM Pro Tip: Just because they’re quiet doesn’t mean they’re okay. Sight hounds often freeze when stressed—read the stillness.

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Scent Hounds

Examples:
Beagles, Bloodhounds, Bassets, Foxhounds, etc

What they were bred to do:
Scent hounds were designed to follow their noses—trailing scents over long distances, often independently. They’re driven by odor and incredibly persistent once on a trail.

Handling challenges:
They may appear distracted or stubborn, but it’s often because their brain is locked onto a scent. Add in their tendency to vocalize and their low sensitivity to touch, and you’ve got a dog who needs handling to feel worth noticing.

Supportive handling at home:

• Give them a chance to sniff or forage before sessions
• Incorporate scent-based enrichment into their routine
• Use verbal cues consistently during touch
• Keep sessions short, with lots of positive reinforcement

At the vet or groomer:

• Scatter high-value treats or use a snuffle mat to redirect attention
• Narrate each step—predictability helps ground them
• Let them sniff tools and the room before handling begins
• Allow breaks to decompress if vocalizing escalates

⚠️ FDM Pro Tip: Scent hounds wear their hearts—and voices—on their sleeves. The drama isn’t defiance—it’s expression of their feelings.

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World Dog

Examples:
Dogs without 30% or more of any one breed group

What they were bred to do:
World Dogs, or landrace mixes, have diverse backgrounds and instincts. They often carry pieces of several breed group tendencies—but without the human interference of heavy selective breeding.
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Handling challenges:
Their behavior may shift day-to-day depending on what instinct is activated. They’re often alert, curious, cautious, and incredibly adaptable—but they need us to meet them where they are.

Supportive handling at home:

• Stay curious about what they’re communicating
• Give options, not just commands
• Narrate gently and keep pressure low
• Reinforce any voluntary participation in handling

At the vet or groomer:

• Ask staff to move slowly and explain each step aloud
• Watch for shifting sensitivities (touch, sound, proximity)
• Give them time to process transitions between steps

⚠️ FDM Pro Tip: Mixed doesn’t mean mellow—these pups are often expert problem-solvers with big opinions. Handle with curiosity, not assumptions.

Handle the Dog in Front of You

Understanding your dog’s genetic backstory can transform how you support them through touch, care, and cooperation. But don’t stop there.

Every dog—regardless of breed—deserves to feel safe, respected, and heard.
When we pair thoughtful observation with compassion and consent, we create handling moments that build connection instead of conflict.

📌 Want to see these handling tips in visual form? Check out the full Handling Tips by Breed Group series on Instagram and Facebook @MissBehaviorTraining.

Ready for more support? Let’s work together to help your dog feel safe, secure, and supported in every part of life.