Its all in the way you raise them?
Class discussion veered to breed specific behavior yesterday. Its always interesting to me what people think about the differing breeds of dogs. There are certain breeds people think of as ‘smart’ and ‘dumb’. Or ‘can’t be housebroken’ or ‘runners’.
I have my thoughts too – given my druthers when picking a demo dog to show off a new command, I will instinctively go to the lab or golden or pit or yorkie or boxer. They will just Do it for you. I’m not sure how much MY expectation of that influences their behavior.
What about an Aussie? We like to do! Give me a job! LET me!
When I’m in a quirky mood and feel like a challenge, I’ll go to the chihuahua or husky instead. Sometimes I have to pull new tricks from my hat to get them to ‘do it’. “What’s my Motivation for that??” They ask me. “Explain to me why I should want to.” I enjoy that occasionally.
But people will often look me in the eye and say very seriously, “its not the dog, its how you raise the dog.”
And I have to say an emphatic “Sometimes” to that.
Maybe I will and maybe I won't. Depends on my mercurial mood!
Sometimes it IS the dog. I have a golden in class right now that is just nuttso. He has a brother with the ‘golden personality’ laid back, calm, happy. Both from the same litter, both gotten at 8 weeks and raised by the same family in the same way, but one is a wild, destructive thing and the other isn’t.
You Get a boxer because you want that goofy, energetic, intelligent, pawing boxer personality. Right? And a huge majority of my boxers seem to have separation anxiety issues. Something to deal with.
You get a yorkie because you want the smart hyper fun cuddle bug, and you realize many of them WILL be challenging to housebreak. Now some will be calm and housebreak easily. Most won’t be.
Who's so smart? Its me!
You simply Can’t point fingers and say “its all in how you raise them.” Dogs are not robots. They have thoughts and feelings and breed instinct and all kinds of things we can only hope to influence.
Some people can do everything wrong and still have a good dog, despite them. Others can do everything right and have the dog either just not be a good fit for them, or have personality traits we need to deal with.
That’s just a fact.
Dog breeds that aren’t dominant?
Someone yesterday found my blog by that search phrase. They want a quiet, submissive, laid back dog. Which breed would be best?
All righty then.
I’m racking my brain – HEY – you think that’s Easy at 4 in the morning with only one cup of coffee?? Let me go refill and grab my breed book.
Man, now I’m overwhelmed.
I started out laid back, but I came OUT of my shell just fine!
I have a family in class that got 2 goldens – they have 2 boys and wanted one for each. One has the Perfect Golden Personality. Calm, happy, wiggly but controllable. The other is INSANE. He jumps and nips and barks and is just a wild thing. He’s the one in class. “FIX THIS!”
I'm in a foster home - mom is trying to cool my jets before I go to my forever home. Not easy.
I have a chihuahua that starts out every class by attacking everyone – bark and lunge – and then settles down and just glares out everyone from under a stool. Then heaves a big sigh and says “FINE, if everyone else is going to play, I will too!”
What? Just...What?
I have a Jack Russell who….never mind. No one who wants a laid back dog would even Think Jack Russell….
Rotties are often the most laid back dogs I could ask for. Unless they aren’t.
What do you mean?? LOOK - all four of my feet are on the ground at the SAME TIME! (look fast!)
I’ve had dozens of shih-tzu’s come through class whose parents till me they are the Devil Incarnate! But then they mellow. Mostly. Sometimes.
Lady was told she was adopting a six year old lab. SHOULD have been a good fit for her. Quiet household during the week – camping on the weekends. Found out after she fell in love that dog was a two year old Chesapeake Bay retriever. Not a lab and Not laid back. We are struggling.
Looking through my book – I really can’t see any breed that just comes calm and laid back. They all go through wild-child puppy stages and naughty obstinate adolescence before they settle down to laid back. When they are three or four or six. Depending on dog or breed.
What do you think? Any suggestions?
Say what?? Presa Canerio
I saw a dog I don’t usually see the other day. It was a baby – eight week old – Presa Canario. Adorable.
If you’ve not heard of this dog its because they aren’t common. Here’s a link:
http://sfdogmauling.com/HomePageLinks/PresaCanario/Presacanario.html
And a little bit of information about them straight from Wikipedia:
Presas are of strong character and are dominant animals requiring early socialization and obedience training. In some situations, the Presa can be aggressive toward other dogs and suspicious of strangers. Once the dog has been properly socialized and trained, this becomes the exception rather than the rule. Many Presas share their homes with children, other dogs, cats, horses and other farm animals.
Presa are known for being extremely loyal and affectionate with their families and crave attention from their owners. They are extremely tolerant of children due to low body sensitivity or high pain tolerance, a trait which stems from selective breeding as big game hunters.The Presa must be carefully watched around the infirm and small children as they are understood to be as prey animals. Small children are wont to make eye contact with the dog, to stare at him, in effect, challenging him. This can lead to aggressive behavior. Like all dogs of any size or breed, they require obedience training and socialization; no dog should be left unattended with small children. They are protective of what they perceive as their territory and will guard it against any intruder. They get along with other dogs as long as they have been properly socialized, but will usually not tolerate another dog trying to assert dominance over them and might not coexist peacefully with another dominant breed of dog. They can develop an aggressive or dominant temperament if not socialized with other dogs at an early age, particularly with other dogs of the same sex. Dog aggression per se is absolutely not a desirable trait in the Dogo canario, as it is at odds with its intended purpose as a pack hunter. A single “pet” Presa without a working outlet for energy and drive may feel himself to be “king of the mountain” and carry himself accordingly, though the same dog may work perfectly cooperatively with other males while hunting.
Presa are typically strong-tempered animals not suitable for the novice dog owner; they do best with an experienced handler. Presa are recent comers to suburban life. Unlike many breeds classified as “working dogs”, Presa are not “historically” working dogs, but dogs currently and actively selected for working function and temperament. Pet owners interested in the Dogo canario would do well to remember that these are working animals with a serious need for exercise and outlet of hunting drive by way of activities such as tracking, trailing, or sport work.
Dogo canario are accomplished big-game hunters, and are used today in a variety of ways from tracking, search and rescue, general police work including narcotics detection, military and family dogs.They are even occasionally used as guide dogs, or as service animals, though their primary work remains boar hunting. Due to their very great prey drive, physical capabilities and strong temperament, they are not dogs commonly suited to be suburban backyard pets, though they do make excellent companions for exceptionally capable and dedicated dog owners.
Due to its temperament, the Presa Canario can be a challenge to train. They require a firm owner who is willing and able to meet the challenges a young, dominant puppy may pose. The breed is not traditionally suited for protection sports but it is gaining in popularity due to a small group of enthusiasts who have selected dogs based heavily on function. The Perro de Presa Canario is not recommended for the first time dog owner.
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Now – why this lady had this dog, I don’t know. Other than obviously she could afford to, ’cause I’m just betting they aren’t cheap.
But what upset me, I was looking at her fat adorable eight week old puppy while she was jerking him on the leash and saying to the dog “You don’t like people! Stay away from her!”
Can you say “accident waiting to happen”?? Only in this case it won’t be an accident, but what I’d consider a planned hit. Sad but true.
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