Step, do you know anything about training stockdogs? How about a working dog in general? They are not isolated from other animals. They are not allowed to run loose unsupervised with other dogs. A dog loose with another dog will learn to work for that dog and not for the handler- this doesn't translate well to working stock. I put rules on stock work (must send when told, must stop when told, must hold a group together, must bring them to the handler unless directed otherwise, are some basics) whereas another dog has no requirements for what it's buddy should do, just have at 'em, start when you want, quit when you want. A dog that doesn't look to the handler for directions won't be useful when working on it's own, it won't want to work within your rules or is reliant on the other dog to want to work in the first place or have courage to work. I want a dog to be able to think independently, which means training them on their own to respect the handler as #1 and understand how to control their stock, not relying on the other dog. They are not robots, if they are they wouldn't be useful because I'd have to be telling them every little move to make, the dog needs to be able to understand it's job and what is expected of it. It's instinct, it's bred into them for generations and generations of special selection- yes I expect them to cater to my needs, my needs are why I have dogs in the first place. The particular needs of people are why we have different breeds and why we even have dogs. Dogs are a man made creature, if not for humans and human needs, they would not exist.
