The Right Dog for your Family!!

Ok, we’ve all seen those viral videos, movies, and TV shows with that one dog who did the amazing thing that we can’t stop thinking about!!

YOU HAVE TO HAVE ONE RIGHT?!?!

No!!!!

What you didn’t see was the countless hours of training and work that went into not only learning that behaviiur you observed; but also the contant upkeep of working breeds and high energy dogs.

Every day while working with my dog I get told:

“I wish my dog was that well behaved.”

To which I simply reply:

“They can do you work them every day with a gane or training exercise that THEY love?”

Inveriably the response always has something to do with a lack of time / energy. WHICH IS VALID!!

So how do we avaoid this conundrum?

Well, I’m glad you asked!

The first thing to consider is that breed trait and characteristics are bred in for specific purposes and often to acheive desired work. DO YOUR RESEARCH before adopting or buying from a breeder. Every breed has a specific reputations for reasons, with exceptions obviously. If you get one of the countless “high energy” breeds and don’t work them as such don’t be surprised when they rip your house apart or display high energy when you want to relax. If a dogs natural instinct and drive are not being satisfied by you they will figure out a way to get it out AND I GUARANTEE it will not be the way you want it to. AND NO your big back yard doesn’t count! They will find ways to go get that squirrel or whatever has been engaing their prey drive. Then well, “While I’m out….!!”

The shelters and resues are full of the dogs people “Just couldn’t handle” … insert excuse… STOP IT!!

Another thing to consider is how much time / money you are willing to put in. Training a dog is NOT an option it’s a requirement. Whether you do your own research and self perform or pay a proffessional is up to you but IT MUST BE DONE. We are dealing with a species that not only doesn’t speak our language but has eons of evolutionary survival instinct that goes against everything that we think is logical.

The final thing to consider is (shocker) …. NO they don’t know better!!! That guilty look that they are giving you is just because they’ve noticed a pattern of your body language being threatening in certain situations so they change theirs to one of submision and avaoidance so as to avaoid inpending punishment that they also don’t understand.

“You have 1.25 seconds to correct or reward a behavior or the dog has no clue what the praise or punishment are in relation to.”

There are ways to mitigate this, but I would reccomend a proffesional for that.

In closing:

Your relationship, comunication, and responsibility starts the day you start to think about bringing another living being into your house, not the day you actaully bring them in. If training is used as a proactive step instead of a reaction to undesired behaviour we can set realistic standards for our Furry Heores and live a much better life with them.

The Right dog