The importance of watchdogs in our daily lives is often overlooked. As we go about our routines, we often take for granted the role these sentinels play in ensuring our safety and stability.  As a spokesdog and shameless promoter of all things canine, I feel the need to take a moment to shine a brief light on the activities of the vigilant animals and humans that spend their days and nights watching the perimeter. Their nature, training and occupation earn for them the  title, Watchdog.  

There are certain requisite qualities that the erstwhile watchdog candidate must possess if he's considering a career in the home security industry.  He needs sharp eyesight, keen hearing and constant alertness. He must have the intelligence and discrimination to discern the nature of any potential interloper, the intuition to sense the intuder's purpose, the ability to restrain his more violent responses until he knows for certain that they are warranted. A loud bark is good enough in some situations, but intimidating presence is needed when the dog is required to threaten physical force to protect person or property.

Certain breeds are especially well known for possessing the skills and the moxie to make good watchdogs.  Schnauzers and Terriers, Dobermans, German Shepherds  and Rottweilers make the grade.  Many of these breeds started as farm dogs, their ancestors were bred for their territorial instincts and for their physical strength and size.  Standard Poodles such as myself are good barkers.  We may not be the largest dogs on the block, but I would warn any unwelcome trespasser, not to test the resolve of Standard Poodle security.

Humans have appropriated the name Watchdog to give credibility to their efforts at oversight and security.  Journalists , when at their best, have kept an eye on excesses of governments and corporations. They should bark out the truth loudly to alert the populace to the truth of things.  Blogs have arisen which sometimes play a role as watchdogs of the watchdogs. Consumer groups have kept a watchful eye on  products that may be harmful.  Government agencies monitor the environment and drug safety, and the military watches the perimeter of land and sea to ensure our safety.  When all of these agencies and individuals go about their tasks with integrity and good will, they exemplify the proud tradition of their namesakes, Watchdogs.  

Watchdog dogs continue to play an important role in society today.  Although there are fewer farms where we can display the full spectrum of our abilities, we play a role in protecting homes, apartments and businesses.  How would junkyards exist if we didn't have "Junkyard Dogs" to protect them?  The next time your dog alerts you to the presence of a visitor, be sure to thank him for his earnestness, for his vigilance, for his discrimination.  Oh yeah, don't forget the positive reinforcement that a milkbone or two might lend.

Buffy
Wind Meadows Watchdog