I recently watched a clip of Sean the Sheepman, who is a farmer and shepherd working with border collies in Britain. It was amazing to see him move his flock of sheep, keeping them calm and safe with minimal whistles and prompts to his dogs. The collies absolutely loved it and couldn’t wait to get out in the fields, whatever the weather, to do what they do best. It got me thinking about other breeds and the “jobs” they love to do, and how important it is for owners to fulfil the work needs of their chosen breed.

Retrievers do exactly what it says on the tin, they retrieve. A retriever is never happier than when he is bringing back a toy, preferably from the water after a long walk across a field. Their gentle mouth and tolerance for exercise make them ideal for their job.

Poodles were also originally bred for hunting and retrieving, particularly ducks from the water, so when you combine these two breeds you have offspring that love a lot of exercise and to retrieve. To keep them happy these needs should be fulfilled daily, meaning a nice long walk every day and toy games which involve fetching. They are outdoorsy dogs who like all weather and would rather go for a walk in the rain than not at all, so get your wellies on.

The small terrier breeds such as Jack Russell and Yorkshire are also hunting dogs but their job was to dig out the fox or rat from a burrow. It is why they love to dig holes in your garden and will chase anything that moves. They are also more vocal to alert their handler to prey. When they play with toys, they display a classic head shaking move which is used to stun and kill whatever they are holding. Terriers live to dig and chase, and they are tough little dogs with a sharp mind which you must engage with games that play to their strengths. Work on recall as their prey drive is strong.

Huskies are developed to work in packs, pulling medium loads over long distances in cold weather. They have amazing endurance and work ethic. Pomeranians were bred as smaller, more compact dogs, which could live in the house but could also be used for herding or as sled dogs. When these breeds are mixed you have offspring that love the cold weather, love to work and will likely herd when given the opportunity. Giving them lots of interesting exercise daily is important to prevent unwanted behaviours in the home. These breeds are vocal so keep this in mind when choosing your perfect pet.

Some of the larger breeds such as Dobermann and rottweiler are guarding animals. Dobermann is a protective patrol dog, smart and loyal. Where as a rottweiler is a herding and protective dog, designed to protect the herd. They do not like being on their own and would prefer to be in the heart of the family. These are both powerful breeds and need to be well trained and managed in an urban environment but they are both incredibly loyal if motivated correctly.

So, what happens if we don’t let our dogs do their job?

Well, don’t be surprised if your terrier makes Swiss cheese out of your favourite flower bed, or your rotti rounds up the local kids on the park by nipping at their ankles. You may find your huskie proudly sitting in the middle of a destroyed sofa, or the Pom who has groomed himself bald. They will find things to do if we don’t motivate them so it’s up to us as good owners to find what they love and let them do it every day. A second part of this column will investigate some more breeds and their “jobs” but for now I will leave you with the Rhodesian ridgeback, who was originally bred to hunt and kill lions. Hopefully we can find other ways to entertain them in Bermuda, I’ll get back to you on that one.

• Lucy Richardson graduated from Edinburgh University in 2005. She started CedarTree Vets in August 2012 with her husband, Mark. They live at the practice with their two children, Ray and Stella, and their dog, two cats and two guinea pigs. She is also the FEI national head veterinarian for Bermuda