Feb
How do I prepare if a dog is going to move in with me? Do I think about the breed? Male or female? Puppy or adult dog? How much time do I have for the dog? Breeder or animal shelter? Who will take care of it if I am absent? Where do I go with the dog on vacation? Do I have the time and energy to exercise the dog as it needs to?
I would like future dog owners to get honest advice from experts beforehand. With a realistic assessment of what needs the new family member will have.
When I think about it, I have been called exactly twice in the last 3 years and asked for an assessment before buying a dog. And…both times the decision to get the dog was made completely independently of my recommendation.
That is completely fine. I would like future dog owners to at least make the decision with their eyes open and know what they can expect.
Man-dog teams often come to my training and I see two individuals whose respective needs are very different.
Sometimes it is the human’s activity level that overwhelms the dog, sometimes it is the dog’s character that doesn’t suit its owner.
If the breeder describes the puppy as the “best of the litter”, then as an owner you can of course be very proud. However, I should also be aware that this puppy certainly best represents the breed’s typical characteristics. This means that the little Jack Russell will be very lively and ambitious when it comes to hunting. In addition, such a dog is tough. I mean, he will persistently defend his point of view and his owner will have to be much more stubborn than the little one 🙂 that doesn’t make him the ideal family dog. The breeder sees his puppies differently than the human who is looking for a loving, obedient, affectionate and cute puppy.
What I mean by that is, make sure you are well informed about the breed-specific characteristics of your dogs, because they often behave accordingly. However, there is always the exception, the dog that has not read the breed manual. Using a Great Dane as an example, this would mean that the dog is extremely hyper, restless and aggressive. Based on its breed description, the Great Dane is rather calm, relaxed and friendly.
The “newcomers” are often compared with their predecessors and people therefore decide to go for this breed again. The memories are attached to the last years of the well-trained, calm older dog.
I really recommend that you think about it beforehand before a new family member moves in with you and get professional advice. This can help you in your human-dog relationship right from the start.
So, now write your list of which dog you want and what characteristics it should have.
Have fun, your Ben