Education is Prevention: Why I Support Irish Shelters

Last month, following my workshop on high-drive breeds, I donated €500 and a collection of working-dog quality toys to the DSPCA.

The donation included Liker balls, tugs, and durable gear designed specifically for German Shepherds, Malinois, and Dutch Shepherds.

But this wasn’t just a nice gesture. It highlights a critical mission that every dog owner in Wicklow, Kildare, and South Dublin needs to understand: Education is Prevention.

For every dog we keep out of a shelter through proper training, there is another already in a kennel who desperately needs support.

The Reality: Why Working Breeds End Up in Shelters

High-drive dogs like Malinois and Shepherds are flooding Irish shelters. The reason is rarely aggression; it is usually misunderstanding.

1. Wrong Breed Choice: Owners confusing “high energy” with “high drive.”
2. Lack of Jobs: A walk isn’t enough; these dogs need mental work.
3. No Foundation: Basic obedience doesn’t satisfy genetic needs.

A Malinois in a kennel without a job will deteriorate quickly. The staff at the DSPCA told me about a Malinois returned three times—not because he was “bad,” but because no one understood his drive.

That is why I donated Liker balls and tugs, not just plush toys. For a working breed, 10 minutes of structured play with the right gear can be the difference between maintaining mental sanity and developing kennel stress.

The Solution: The Next Workshop

We can’t just donate our way out of this problem. We have to stop it at the source.

Due to the overwhelming response to the last event, I am currently planning the next 3-hour workshop to take place very soon.

We will cover:

• Breed Selection: How to align genetics with your actual lifestyle.
• Foundations: Preventing behavioral issues in GSDs, Malinois, and Dutch Shepherds.
• The “Why”: Understanding Drive vs. Energy so you don’t become overwhelmed.

This is for you if: You are thinking of getting a working breed, you currently feel overwhelmed by one, or you are a rescue volunteer/professional in the Dublin/Wicklow area.

Join the Mission

I didn’t start Pluto & Co K9 just to sell training packages. I started it because I saw too many incredible dogs ending up in shelters because their owners didn’t have the right information.

If I can help one person choose the right breed, or give one handler the tools to cope, that’s one less dog in the system.

Get on the Priority List Dates for the next workshop are being finalized now. Since the last one sold out, I will be emailing the Priority List first with early-bird pricing before I announce it on social media.

Don’t miss out—sign up to be notified: 👉 Join the Waitlist at k9training.ie

Part of the proceeds will go to a local shelter, matched by me with quality training equipment