Choosing The Wrong Dog

  This is a very common problem I am faced with. Many times people get the “wrong breed” for their lifestyle. The reasons for getting the dog people get are as varied as the owners. Very rarely people consult a canine professional BEFORE they get the dog, to see which breed is best for them. I had a case one time of a woman in her late 30’s. She had an aspiring career as a school teacher. She also took some evening classes. On top of that, she needed to “have a life”. She went to the local shelter and adopted a Jack Russell Terrier. She kept it crated all day. She came home, fed it, let it out, then back in the crate. She wondered why the dog had aggression issues. When I first met the dog and had him on the leash, he was so aggressive, and flipping around, I thought I had a blue fish on the line. After about 45 minutes he was my best friend and didn’t want me to leave. We were playing and having allot of fun. Something he never experienced before. The moral of the story here is that this woman should have gotten a gold fish as a pet. When I asked her what inspired her to get a “Jack” she said she wanted a dog like the one in a popular TV show. She couldn’t tell me why, she just wanted one.

  Adopting older dogs is a good alternative, if high energy and time is an issue. Most older dogs “know the game”, are house broken already, and all they do is eat, sleep, go out and love you. This is great for someone “on-the-go” or an older person looking for companionship.

  If you have a young, high energy family with children, you may want to consider one of America’s favorite breeds, the Golden Retriever. They are even tempered, great with kids, love high energy activities, and are easy to train.

  Here is a good one. Some people get “strong breeds’. The reasons here are varied. Some people who acquire these breeds (pit bulls, German Shepherd, Rottweiler, Doberman Pinchers, to name a few) have no idea what they are getting themselves into. They all start out great as puppies, but they grow up. And get big. And can get aggressive. And if you’re not qualified to deal with this or have not hired a qualified trainer, you’re in trouble. Or should I say your both in trouble, you and the dog. Because if the dog bites someone and hurts them, you get sued and he gets euthanized.

  Remember, when you get a dog, you are starting a RELATIONSHIP. A dog is not like a stick of furniture. It is a living thing that has both physical and emotional needs. Dogs are social animals and require interaction with their owners. Don’t forget that.

  Education is the key here. BEFORE you decide to get a dog, consult a canine professional. Someone with good credentials in the dog community. There are allot of good trainers out there (yours truly) and there are allot of bad ones as well. Do your homework. You’ll be glad you did.