Each dog breed exhibits unique characteristics that influence their behavior.
Today, discover a rating system you can use to get a better idea of what to expect from your dog.
In this episode, we continue our trilogy that shifts focus so you can get a broader knowledge of why your dog behaves the way she does!
Show Highlights
- This is a three-part series
- We’re going to talk about very specific characteristics in specific breeds and cover main characteristics.
- Knowing these characteristics will help you better choose your forever-pet.
- Genetics will influence the type of personality it demonstrates, the energy of the dog, etc.
- Understanding this, you can better respond as to why the dog is behaving this way
- STOP! Comparing your new dog to the last dog and why this new dog is not as great as your new dog
- Even if you get the same exact breed it is not the same dog – each dog has its own individual characteristics.
- Dogtime.com – this website breaks down each breed and sub headings for each one of those.
These are the five main breakdown points:
- Adaptability
- All-Around Friendliness
- Health and Grooming
- Trainability
- Energy / Activity Levels
Adaptability
- Does this dog adapt well to living in an apartment – good with living in smaller areas?
- Is your dog going to be ok with you working 8-10 hours a day?
- A Border Collie might not do as well as a bull dog.
- Does your dog tolerate a lot of activity or noise?
All-Around Friendliness
- Does your dog get along with other people, other dogs?
- It is important to compare this characteristic with your lifestyle when looking at a specific breed of dogs
- Cocker Spaniels have a tendency to latch onto one owner instead of multiple – if you are very social, this dog breed may not be the best family dog.
Health and Grooming
- Do these dogs shed a lot?
- Are they hypo-allergenic?
- Does the dog drool a lot, like a mastiff?
- Are they easy to groom or complicated, like a Yorkie?
- Also – pay attention to the size – a Yorkie is a lot different from a Mastiff!
- Consider your own health when choosing a dog.
Trainability
- Intelligence and “easy-to-train” do not go hand in hand!
- Bennie’s experience is that more intelligent dogs are harder to have as pets, for example a Border Collie.
- Dogs that are very trainable and adaptable are ones such as Labradors.
- If your dog has a big prey drive, then they have something they will focus on and will help you with training utilizing motivation
Energy / Activity Levels
- If you live a relatively sedate lifestyle, you might consider:
- Small breed: Bichon
- Medium-size breed: Basset Hound
- Large breed: Mastiff.
- Look at the energy levels of your dogs
- If you are very active, you don’t want to have a basset hound
Homework
- What is it that you would be looking for to match your lifestyle?
- What are the things you need to analyze in order to bring a dog into your home?
- Investigate a breed that will be right for you – consider the following factors:
- Decide whether you want an adult dog or a puppy
- Almost 25% of the dogs in a shelter facility are purebred
- Size matters – larger dogs on average cost more to manage a year than a smaller dog
- Consider about the amount of area you need in your home for your dogs and you to co-live
- How active you are can largely influence what dog you should get
- Do you have a large family or other pets such as cats or other dogs that would not get along with other dogs
- Is the area you currently live in dog friendly
- Future thinking – are you going to outlive this dog?
- A few other things to consider :
- How much time will you be spending with your dog ?
- Do you have outside support ?
- Are you ready for dog destruction ?
- Are you willing to do what it takes for that dog to train them?
- Is your home puppy-proof?
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Call to Action
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