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How to Pick the Right Pooch
When adopting a dog make sure to heed this lifestyle-lapstyle approach
By Jessie Knadler
Published: Dec 01, 2007
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DEL.ICIO.US
YAHOOWhen I was a kid, we had a dog named Pepper. Pepper was possessed by Satan. Whenever the UPS man came around our neighborhood, she would growl and bark and lunge at him like Kujo with rabies. On a few occasions, she actually broke her chain (yes, I'm ashamed to say that we chained our dog in the yard), and attempted to bite the front tires as the truck barreled down the street. Another time she actually attacked the driver--who responded by threatening my mom and dad.
It was only years later that I realized that Pepper was not devil spawn, she was an Australian Shepherd, a herding dog bred to work and run. If such a breed is not given a specific task, whether rounding up sheep or fetching a Frisbee, it can become stir crazy and even hostile. (We ended up giving her to a dog-loving uncle who lived in the middle of the woods in Montana. She was very happy.)
I share this with you to illustrate a) how badly we sucked as dog owners and b) the importance of getting the right breed for your circumstances—especially if you're considering a dog for the first time. Following are four things you ought to at least consider before making your debut trip to the pound or to your local breeder.
LESSON 1: Go for breeds that are less crazed than you are
You may be a go-go-go person, but that doesn't mean you require a go-go-go dog, according to Stephanie Shain, director of Outreach for the Humane Society. In fact, people who bounce all over the place probably shouldn't get an equally high energy canine, such as a Dalmation, Jack Russell or Border Collie, all trendy dogs in recent years but who require a tremendous amount of exercise and mental stimulation, for which you may not have enough time. (Exceptions are made for new dog owners who spend a lot of time outdoors doing stuff—jogging, hiking, working—that their pet can join in on.)
Important: If you’re so busy that you’re gone all the time (and there’s no one else to take care of the dog except the dog walker) it’s probably best not to get a dog at all since dogs need plenty of love and interaction and stimulation. Otherwise, behavioral problems are inevitable.
Greyhounds, Poodles, Afghans, Retrievers, Brittanys and English Springer Spaniels, while all very energetic, are typically less tightly wound, so they're apt to want to relax, rather than destroy your living room, when they have nothing to do.
If you're looking more for companionship as you putter around the house or work on the computer, then a smaller, less energetic breed like a Schnauzer, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel or a Papillon is the way to go.
TRAINING TECHNIQUE: Exercise your dog at least thirty minutes twice a day, says Shain. This will make them calmer and less frantic when they’re inside or left alone. Caveat: "Exercise is not a euphemism for a bathroom break," she says. Encourage heavy panting by making the dog run at least once during your time outside.
LESSON 2: Forget XL-sized dogs (for now)
Teaching your dog commands while on the leash (“sit” “stay”) is part of how you establish yourself as the alpha master—the ultimate authority figure in your pet’s world. Your ability to do so is impaired if you can’t physically control the dog; if your four-legged friend always dislocates your leash arm during strolls. This is why smaller women—particularly those with no prior dog experience—and large breeds such as Rottweilers, St. Bernards, Dobermans, Great Danes generally do not mix, says Stanley Coren, PhD, professor of psychology at the University of British Columbia and author of several dog books including Why Does My Dog Bark? The Complete Guide to Your Dog’s Personality. Small and midsize adult dogs weighing up to 50 pounds like Basset Hounds, Beagles and large Poodles are more manageable to maneuver, thus train.
TRAINING TECHNIQUE: Make your dog, regardless of its size, work for everything—sitting before getting a treat, rolling over before going on a walk. This establishes you as the alpha master, while ingraining discipline and keeping the dog engaged.
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