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!
Until next time, be kind to Man’s Best Friends!
comments/questions: info@doggieproject.com
No comments:
Post a Comment