Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Matchmaking!: part 2

Nicole's German Shepherd Dog

Nicole lives with a German Shepherd in a small Manhattan apartment. Every time someone passes through the hallway or the elevator goes back and forth, her German shepherd barks fiercely.  Since the dog also barks viciously and shows his teeth whenever delivery people come to the door, they started refusing service.  Her neighbors also started complaining... Nicole feels nervous when she leaves the dog alone in the apartment.  So, she goes out less and less.  Her friends stopped visiting  which makes her feel very isolated.  However, the dog is extremely loyal to her and trying his best to protect what he loves most.  She also thinks she is the only one who can protect him.  Nicole started becoming neurotic because of this intense situation.

Do you think I am exaggerating?  Though the situation or breed of dog might be different, I’ve heard similar stories over and over when I talk to the dog owners who come to the shelter to surrender their dog or when I receive a phone call for training consultation.   

Guard Dogs

Dogs like German Shepherds, Rottweilers, Mastiffs, Dobermans, Chow Chows, etc. are bred to guard and protect.  If their owners don’t demonstrate strong leadership, these breeds will go overboard to protect their family or property from outsiders.  In other words, they will try their best to fulfill their mission.  They have no idea they are only giving their owners trouble.  So, if you live with a breed that is considered to be a guard dog, you are required to have considerable energy and firm leadership skills as a dog owner of such a powerful breed.


Dog-to-Dog Aggression
 
Pitbulls are generally very friendly to humans and enjoy interactions with them.  They can be friendly instantly even with a stranger.  However, many pitbulls tend to show dog-to-dog aggression.  This is because pitbulls were created for dog fighting sport by people in England centuries ago and some of them were purposely bred to be aggressive towards their own kind.


Howlers and Pokers

Beagles and Basset hounds howl excessively when they get excited.  This is a typical characteristic of hunting breeds.  They warn their owners by howling very loudly and proudly.  They won’t stop until the owner reacts to it.  Their loud and deep voice that comes from the depths of their soul can irritate anyone rather easily.  You might get a considerable number of complaints from your neighbors if you live in a tight-knit community.  And in such close quarters, beagles seem to be an ideal size for apartment living, but I often advise people who live in an apartment to think again about adopting a beagle due to their howling habit.

Australian Shepherds, Border Collies and Corgis often poke heels of people with their snout.  They may nip lightly as well.  This can frighten small children in the household, or neighbor kids who come to play.  Yet for these breeds, this is their ‘herding activity.’  They are working hard to gather ‘livestock’ by poking or nipping its back or heel. 

Man-Made Creations

What the examples above tell us about certain types of dogs is that they are man-made creations.  Over the years, people have created many different breeds in order to utilize their particular behavior for every aspect of our lives.  Therefore, it is very important for us to study the breed before we choose our new dog.  We should be aware of the origin of the breed and special characteristics to see if it matches our lifestyle.  Many well-organized animal shelters are equipped with adoption counselors who can help lead you to the right dog.  So, please ask for expert’s guidance when it comes to selecting the right breed for you.  Moreover, you might be able to figure out some peculiar behavior your dog displays if you study his/her breed in depth.  You might be able to take advantage of those traits for something very useful!

Well, I would like to talk about pros and cons of spaying and neutering dogs in the next issue.  Please look forward to the discussion.

Until next time, be kind to Man’s Best Friends!


comments/questions: info@doggieproject.com


Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Matchmaking!: part 1

Why Did You Choose That Breed?

I have a question for dog owners.  Did you choose your dog because of the breed?  Or, did your dog come to you by chance?  I work as an adoption counselor at a local animal shelter to help new dog owners to select the right dog.  What I’ve noticed over the years is that many people tend to select their dog by ‘first impression’ or ‘appearance.’  I always tell them, “There aren’t such major differences amongst cat breeds.  Most of the requirements for caring should be fairly similar (i.e. American short hair vs. Maine coon, etc.), but there are very significant differences among the many breeds of dogs.  We need to know the breed characteristics as well as the requirements to care for the breed you are  choosing before you adopt.  You really need to make sure if the breed you are getting will fit well into your lifestyle.”

When I adopted my dog Juliette ten and a half years ago, to be honest, I didn’t know much about American Pit Bull Terriers.  Since I was pretty sure that I would be okay with almost any dog, the staff at the shelter “tricked” me into adopting the most unadoptable dog.’  So the day I brought Juliette home, I spent a lot of time studying her breed.  Luckily, I soon realized that typical pit bull traits fit rather well to my personality.  They have a high desire to please and are extremely loyal to their owner.  Their LOVE  and affection for people is endless and they show it visibly by wiggling their entire body and 'kissing' all over you.  They also have an incredible amount of physical stamina to enjoy a variety of activities.  Moreover, they are very low-maintenance and very comical, too.  Pitbulls are easy to care and FUN to live with!  Yet, best of all might be the fact that they are the world most misunderstood breed in the world.  Why is this best?  My new found love of Juliette made me become an advocator for the breed and I have been promoting a better image of pitbulls every chance I can. Though it was mere chance that I adopted her, I still believe we somehow attracted each other without really knowing it. 

It's Like a Marriage... and Divorce???

Although I was a lucky one, I am sure there are many people out there who are having a miserable life because the dog they got doesn’t fit into their lifestyle or their personality.  If you selected your dog because you saw the same breed on TV or you like how it looks, chances are you are having some difficulties with your newly acquired dog.  When I talk to people during the adoption counseling, I often tell them, "This is like a marriage.  We are looking at the next 10-15 years.  You should weigh heavily on comfort level.  Think who can make you feel comfortable, happy, and with whom you can enjoy life.  The key is to know who you are.  The dog’s appearance or its popularity should come as a lower priority." 

The Jack Russell Terrier is a good example.  This breed became very popular because of its appearance in movies and television.  They are very smart and learn things very quickly.  But they can be very stubborn, too.  JRTs are real hunters.  They have guts and stamina to work through things once they go into the mode.  They don’t give up anything easily.  They are also quite reactive to their surroundings and move around restlessly.  Since they are small in size and also their expressions are so cute, I am sure that many people thought, ‘this is the breed I want!’  But, if you are a couch potato type of person who likes to have a very quiet and relaxed home environment, your life with your Jack can become a nightmare… You both will start piling up frustrations and it might lead to ‘divorce’ if things go very badly.

The 'One-Step-Farther' Choice

It’s not just the behavior of the dog we need to consider.  For example, there are many high-maintenance breeds like the Cocker spaniel, Poodle, Yorkshire terrier, Collie, Bichon Frise, etc. that need to have frequent visits to ‘the beauty spa.’  They also require regular grooming at home.  Dogs like Cocker spaniels and Basset hounds who have droopy ears need regular cleanings in order to prevent ear infections.  If you are not very keen about doing this task, it could become a burden.  

Some owners simply abandon their dogs when the requirements become too much of a burden.  Others continue to work hard because they know their dog is a part of the family and they will do anything to make it work.  Of course, you might be able to overcome these  problems by dedication and commitment.  But, don’t you think it’s wiser to go ‘one-step-farther in your choice when you are ready to adopt? 

Finally, factors like the family situation (such as children's age), environment (weather, living conditions, etc.) should be considered when it comes to matchmaking you with your new best friend.

Next time, I want to talk about several specific breeds to show why it’s important to know their characteristics.

Until next time, be kind to Man’s Best Friends! 

comments/questions: info@doggieproject.com