Not all dogs fit all families. Not all families need a dog.

 

 Not all dogs fit all families.   Not all families need a dog.

Don't get me wrong, I think dogs are one of the greatest creatures on the planet.  I think they can bring a lot of joy and companionship to a home.     I, along with many of my friends and peers, work really hard to save dogs from a miserable lonely death in a gas chamber, and try to find them good homes.   We hardly make a dent in the over population of dogs and the number of dogs dying daily.   And yet, breeders (if you can call a backyard breeder than) continue to churn our puppies for profit, and to see the cute factor to the uneducated public.

This is Poppy -- She is NOT the dog in this story.

A few weeks ago, I was contacted by a client who had just brought home an adorable puppy.  The breed won't be named here, but suffice it to say, it was a working breed.   Before that puppy was 4 months old, this family was overwhelmed.  

Potty training takes work.   He pulls on his leash.    He gets into everything.   He drools water on the floor when he drinks.   He chases my "kid".   He chases the cat.   He jumps.  He nips.   He barks at the neighbors. 

He's a puppy.   What did you expect?  He's like a toddler that you have to teach how to live in your home.  You have to teach him life skills and manners.  He's smart and he needs interaction and activity.  He's bored.   

We think he's aggressive.    He nips at us all the time.   He's afraid to be on the sidewalk.    He's afraid to ride in car?  Well, the only time he ever rode in the car was the day we brought him home -- we haven't taken him to ride because he's afraid.  He never sits down.   The only way we can control him is to crate him.    I don't want a crate in my house.    I don't want to have to have him on a leash in the house.   My husband isn't helping much.   And the excuses continued....

After a few weeks of private training and a series of Group Training, the owner was just not satisifed with his progress.   I explained often, they had to participate -- daily, as a way of life.  I finally took the dog in for "free" board and train / observation.   The dog was darn near perfect.  Beautifully trained in his obedience skills.   Playful with other puppies.   Happy go lucky.   Relaxed. 

They never claimed him to come back home.   With him out of the house, they decided they didn't want him.  He was too much work and caused too much stress when he was there  Instead, he was returned to his breeder (per their contract) who will resell him for another profit.  After all, he's well trained, well-balanced and healthy.

WHAT WENT WRONG?

Despite my repeated attempts to coach the owners on being consistent with the dog, practicing his obedience skills, the need to socialize the dog, and the need to demonstrate some consistent leadership with him -- they didn't.   They didn't have time.  They didn't make time. Training lessons were often interrupted to attend to the questions and needs of the child in the home.  Clearly the dog was not a priority.  

We wanted a dog that would just be part of the family.     Why did you get this breed of dog?  This size?   This working breed?  This energy level?   

They simply did not do their research.  They adopted an image of a dog and an adorable factor.  They wanted a perfectd dog from day one.  They did not expect the level of work it takes to teach a dog how to be part ofo othe family -- and this dog was SMART!

They would send him outside  and wonder why he only wanted to come back in the house.   They wondered why he was getting into "papers" on the kids play table instead of chewing his toys.

He was bored.  No one was playing with him.  A short walk everyday was not enough physical exercise and he was getting no mental stimulation.

As a reminder -- this is a working breed dog.  He needed a job.  He needed to be challenged, exercised and to play everyday.   Not for hours on end, but certainly more than a few minutes a day.

THE LESSON:

Don't buy or adopt a dog because it's cute or because your friend has such a great dog.  Don't adopt the breed you had as a kid if you don't understand what it took to create that well-balanced dog.  Do your home work.  Know what the dog was bred to do and how they will fit into your lifestyle and if you can accommodate their developmental needs, training needs, exercise needs, as well as their medical and grooming needs.  

A dog is a commitment for their lifetime.  They are not exchangeable like a pair of pants.  

Adopt/Rescue -- don't support backyard breeders and puppy mills.

Spay/Neuter -- 10,000 dogs a day die due to overpopulation

Foster, Volunteer, Donate, Educate.   Do Something!