I’m not sure why some people have a hard time thinking of
dogs as individuals. We lump dogs into the breed box they fill and expect them
to act like the books say they will. I think we need to be careful of how much
we try to fit our dogs into that specific size box. Mainly because I think it
is unfair to many of those dogs. What could we be denying them by expecting
A.B.C. and the dog in front of us is really B.C. and D or even D.E. and F.? We
don’t really know if we don’t give them a chance.
Make no mistake; I am just as guilty of it at times. You say
Border Collie to me and I immediately think high energy with a propensity to
herd things. You say Beagle and I think, a dog that follows its’ nose. Those
are traits that those breeds are known for. However I have met border collies
that were couch potatoes and beagles that didn’t seem any more interested in
following a scent than any other dog. What we need to remember is that breeds
traits are a possibility of what the dog may be like, it isn’t a guarantee.
As a dog trainer I have had over 10 years meeting many dogs
and watching their behaviors. (and have 20 years of experience as an adult dog owner) What I have seen over that time has convinced me
that we aren’t giving some of our dogs a fair shake when it comes to judging
them on their own merits. Dogs have a hard enough time on this planet being
misunderstood due to a communication gap between our species. There are many
examples of that out there. Do we really want to add to their challenge of
living with us?
When I got my first Akita, well-meaning Akita people scared
the crap out of me about the breed. They said “Oh watch them with other animals,
they are hunters.” “They don’t like other dogs.” “They will kill a cat if they
get a chance.” and my favorite “Akitas are great as long as you don’t mind them
growing up to eat your children.” That last one was told to me by a dog trainer
in my area at the time when I showed him my new puppy. I was a first time dog
owner (as an adult) so you can imagine what this did for me. Thankfully I decided
to optimistically cautious and raised that dog with cats, kept him through the
birth of my children (who are both still alive and unscarred) and added new
dogs to the home after he was an adult. Looking back he probably was even more
social than I gave him credit for but I was super cautious and didn’t let him
have a chance to interact much with other dogs out of fear from those first planted
seeds. Compared to the dogs I have now he led a very sheltered life and I
regret that for him.
Aside from all the dogs I have worked with over the years, I
have some experience with my own dogs being individuals too.
I have a pug that I have done tracking with. It wasn’t
something I decided to try on a whim. She air scented on a watch that had been
left behind in my yard by one of my children’s friends. I was surprised when it
happened. Pugs weren’t supposed to be able to breathe right, let alone do scent
work! I had done tracking with some of my other dogs so I decided to give it a
go with her. She is very good! (And held back only by her lazy handler.) If I
had listened to popular opinion on the breed I never would have even attempted
such an activity with her.
I also have an Akita that helps me socialize dogs on my
prison program, and test other dogs when needed. I decided when he was young to
socialize him really well with other dogs to see if that would make a
difference with the potential for aggression towards other dogs’ trait. He is
now 7 years old and does well with many other dogs. (with the right introductions
of course) Again, if I had listened to the breed experts, what would he have
been denied?
We need to stop underestimating our dogs as individuals. Are
there pugs out there who can’t breathe and do tracking? Absolutely. Are there Akitas
out there who aren’t good with all other dogs? Absolutely. In the same vein
there are Golden Retrievers that are also not good with other dogs. And Chow Chows
that are big pussy cats. (My hand to God I have met those dogs.) That door
swings both ways. But how many of them aren’t given the opportunity to be who
they really are? Does this mean we need to throw what we know about breed
traits out the window? Of course not. Knowing the traits of a breed can still
give us an idea of what the blueprint might be. Unlike a blueprint for a
building however, we need to remember that the dog is a living being that is a
product of many things. Environment, training, brain chemistry, genetics are
all parts of the puzzle. But it is still a puzzle. The pieces go in the way
they fit, not the way we sometimes want them to go.
Train and love the dog you have behaviorally in front of
you, not what the dog might be according to some book. The dogs aren’t reading
those books after all.
Tail wags,
Marie Finnegan
K-9 Solutions Dog Training Inc.
Me with my first akita, Kuma.
4 comments:
I have a Tibetan Mastiff (breed standard: not stranger friendly, has same sex aggresion) who adores every person and every dog he meets and lives with another male dog.
I have New Guinea Singing Dog (skittish, very anti-social) who has discovered that strangers often have yummy things and so maybe they're not so scary after all, and didn't even blink at 4th of July fireworks.
On the other hand my Inlaws Chow is THE ALPHA BITCH of the family and guards with all the fervor you could expect from such a breed.
But no, I put effort into assuming the standard does not describe the breed....
At the same time, however, I do not think it is good to discount breed tendencies. If you are looking for a dog who is likely to be a good candidate for the dog park, do not get a pit bull. Are there some out there who remain dog-social throughout their lives? Yes. But they are not the majority. If you're looking for a low-energy couch captain to snuggle up with and watch movies, your best bet is not going to be bringing home a Border Collie puppy.
Dogs are individuals, but they are also their breeds. Training and socialization (and management) are important, but so are genes. You can socialize the living daylights out of a Doberman and he may well still be suspicious of strangers because that's what he was bred to be.
And I also think there's a difference between breed traits and hysteria and stereotype. A Pug can't do nosework? Come on, that's just dumbness. Pugs have noses and can scent. Some better than others, I'm sure, but seriously? Pit bulls aren't going to eat all the babies, nor are Akitas. No matter what the newspapers say. But neither is likely to act the same as a Golden Retriever. Because that's not how they were designed.
Katie, Good points. Yes they may be as they were bred and fit the description as their breed books say. I certainly wouldn't recommend going out to get a border collie if you are a couch potato. That is a disaster waiting to happen. I just want people to consider their dog might be different than they expect because they ARE individuals.
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