Submitted by: Shannon MacBeth, Shakespeare's Legacy Labradors (facebook.com/orangestonelabradors)
"Empowering puppies to be all they can be with and for their forever families."
Before you get a dog, you can’t quite imagine what living with one might be like; afterward, you can’t imagine living any other way. ~ Carolina Knapp
Adding a four-pawed family member is a very loving and exciting decision to make, but it should never be a decision made on a whim. It should be well thought out, weighing the pros and cons of the changes to your routine, your lifestyle and your expectations. Before even looking for the breed best suited for you, here are some other things to think about and discuss with everyone in your household.
"Empowering puppies to be all they can be with and for their forever families."
Before you get a dog, you can’t quite imagine what living with one might be like; afterward, you can’t imagine living any other way. ~ Carolina Knapp
Adding a four-pawed family member is a very loving and exciting decision to make, but it should never be a decision made on a whim. It should be well thought out, weighing the pros and cons of the changes to your routine, your lifestyle and your expectations. Before even looking for the breed best suited for you, here are some other things to think about and discuss with everyone in your household.
Time expectations: adding a dog, either from a puppy stage, usually eight weeks old, or rehoming an older dog is going to significantly change how you spend your time from the moment you bring them home. Obviously a puppy will take more of your time than an older dog, and we will talk about that later in the article but first let’s take a look at the time required when rehoming an older dog.
Consider changing the environment of a dog that has been brought to your local shelter or rescue from a southern state or northern province. The environment, terrain, and weather are all new. They were likely what are known as “street dogs” or strays. These dogs need a lot of time to train how to live in a home, could have resource guarding tendencies due to food scarcity and may have a fight or flight reactivity reaction because that is how they survived in their previous situation. They could also have medical conditions such as heartworm or mange. Am I suggesting not to rehome these dogs? To not take on this challenge? Absolutely not. These dogs deserve to be loved and to live a long and happy life full of comfort, love and adventure. It just takes a special caregiver to take on the challenges faced to get them to that point.
Another rehoming opportunity comes from local rescues. The challenges these dogs face often include escaping abuse, neglect and abandonment. They can unfortunately learn reactive behaviours due to the stressors and proximity of other dogs in close quarters. This is often known as fence or parameter reactivity. They can also become wary of crates and confinement as well as develop separation anxiety. While these challenges can seem daunting, with a lot of positive based training and consistency, they can be overcome. Finding a qualified trainer who will work with you and your dog will go a long way in bridging the gap between human and dog based understanding of dog behaviours. Understanding why your dog is feeling and reacting the way they are, will benefit both you, your dog and the relationship you are beginning to foster with them.
Yet another rehoming opportunity comes from reputable breeders. Adult dogs who retire from a breeding program can be an amazing addition to your family. A reputable breeder has done health testing on their dogs so there won’t be any hidden medical conditions. They are already fully trained and without behavioural issues. Now I know some people feel this is using and tossing away dogs, but that is not the case. It is actually a very tough, but loving action to give these retired dogs an amazing life. When looking for an older dog, please research and speak with reputable breeders for breeds you love and see if they have any retiring dogs. While you won’t face as many challenges going this route, there are still time requirements to consider. You’ll need to form a bond with your new dog and that will also take consistency and patience as they learn your routine and what your expectations are, however, it should be easier in situations such as these.
Lastly, and most often the one most sought out, is adding a puppy to your family. While the initial decision, planning, choosing and finally bringing them home is exciting, the days, and nights, can be long as you settle in and adjust to their every need. Puppies need structure and clear expectations. They need consistency and boundaries. They need time to expend all of their energy, and there can be more than you’d expect in those little bodies, and they need time to rest. The best way to bond with your puppy and to tire them out because a tired puppy is a good puppy, is with training. This training doesn’t need to be long training sessions with different toys and tools. Short sessions work best, but they need to be clear and consistent in their delivery and expectation. That being said, it means you need to spend a lot of time with your puppy and keep an eye on them at all times, capturing and rewarding the behaviours you want to see. Rewarding when they chew a pet friendly toy and removing the items you don’t want them to chew by managing their space and access they have to those things.
Understanding the breed: before bringing home a new puppy/dog, you should understand the breed, their adult size, their needs, grooming requirements, their activity levels and their innate characteristics. Let’s dive into each item on this list more thoroughly.
Their adult size is something that needs to be considered. Are you able to manage or control an eighty pound dog, what about 125 pounds? Large breed dogs are the perfect hiking or hunting partner, but being in control of your dog at all times is so important. On the other side of the coin would you rather a five pound lap dog who will sit nicely in your bicycle basket? Only choose a dog that is sized for you to comfortably control and add to your lifestyle.
Their needs are imperative. Do you live in a small house with a small yard or an apartment without a yard? Are you away from home often? If so, it would be best not to bring home a dog that is meant to work on a farm herding livestock or protecting fowl or a larger breed, such as a Great Dane or Bull Mastiff. If a dog’s needs aren’t met destructive behaviours are likely to arise.
Grooming, for some breeds, requires more than being hosed off or a dip in the lake. Some breeds require routine visits to the dog spa to prevent matting of their fur from developing. Nail care is also very important for all breeds.
Activity level is one of the most important things to consider when picking your breed. All dogs need regular activity however the amount of activity can differ greatly. Our Labradors need to burn much more energy than our family member’s Cavalier King Charles Spaniel who would rather take a nap than fetch a ball for hours.
Innate characteristics are those that each breed is born with. These are the traits that make up the nuances of the breed. Retrievers are always going to want to retrieve. Beagles are always going to want to chase. Border Collies and Australian Shepherds are always going to want to herd. Learn about these traits to ensure you are able to fulfill these needs in your dog.
Next begs the question, what about cross breeds? Reputable breeders who are producing cross bred dogs are still completing the same health testing as a purebred dog but are also making careful considerations on the breeds being crossed. They are using complimentary breeds for gentleness, calm demeanor and intelligence or drive, agility and nose strength, for example. They will be very knowledgeable of both breeds. Some breeds however should avoid being crossed with others as it can result in highly anxious or aggressive dogs. If you are looking at crossbreeds such as a Golden Doodle, do your research into both breeds to better understand what their needs and care could be.
Another situation where cross breeds are common are rescues. Unfortunately, many times they don’t know what the breed make up is and this leaves a hole in the information you receive about your dog. Most will say “lab mix” because Labradors have been the most popular breed for the past 22 years. While this is true some of the time, it certainly is not factual in a lot of dogs. Even though looks aren’t always a telltale of breeds, it may give some insight. In these cases, spend some time with the dog before bringing them home to determine their temperament, drive and if there are any trust or behaviour issues at play.
As you can see, choosing to add a puppy/dog to your family that will thrive in their environment and compliment your lifestyle is not as easy as picking the cute puppy in the window. Do your research and make an educated decision. You and your furry companion will be thankful you did.
Consider changing the environment of a dog that has been brought to your local shelter or rescue from a southern state or northern province. The environment, terrain, and weather are all new. They were likely what are known as “street dogs” or strays. These dogs need a lot of time to train how to live in a home, could have resource guarding tendencies due to food scarcity and may have a fight or flight reactivity reaction because that is how they survived in their previous situation. They could also have medical conditions such as heartworm or mange. Am I suggesting not to rehome these dogs? To not take on this challenge? Absolutely not. These dogs deserve to be loved and to live a long and happy life full of comfort, love and adventure. It just takes a special caregiver to take on the challenges faced to get them to that point.
Another rehoming opportunity comes from local rescues. The challenges these dogs face often include escaping abuse, neglect and abandonment. They can unfortunately learn reactive behaviours due to the stressors and proximity of other dogs in close quarters. This is often known as fence or parameter reactivity. They can also become wary of crates and confinement as well as develop separation anxiety. While these challenges can seem daunting, with a lot of positive based training and consistency, they can be overcome. Finding a qualified trainer who will work with you and your dog will go a long way in bridging the gap between human and dog based understanding of dog behaviours. Understanding why your dog is feeling and reacting the way they are, will benefit both you, your dog and the relationship you are beginning to foster with them.
Yet another rehoming opportunity comes from reputable breeders. Adult dogs who retire from a breeding program can be an amazing addition to your family. A reputable breeder has done health testing on their dogs so there won’t be any hidden medical conditions. They are already fully trained and without behavioural issues. Now I know some people feel this is using and tossing away dogs, but that is not the case. It is actually a very tough, but loving action to give these retired dogs an amazing life. When looking for an older dog, please research and speak with reputable breeders for breeds you love and see if they have any retiring dogs. While you won’t face as many challenges going this route, there are still time requirements to consider. You’ll need to form a bond with your new dog and that will also take consistency and patience as they learn your routine and what your expectations are, however, it should be easier in situations such as these.
Lastly, and most often the one most sought out, is adding a puppy to your family. While the initial decision, planning, choosing and finally bringing them home is exciting, the days, and nights, can be long as you settle in and adjust to their every need. Puppies need structure and clear expectations. They need consistency and boundaries. They need time to expend all of their energy, and there can be more than you’d expect in those little bodies, and they need time to rest. The best way to bond with your puppy and to tire them out because a tired puppy is a good puppy, is with training. This training doesn’t need to be long training sessions with different toys and tools. Short sessions work best, but they need to be clear and consistent in their delivery and expectation. That being said, it means you need to spend a lot of time with your puppy and keep an eye on them at all times, capturing and rewarding the behaviours you want to see. Rewarding when they chew a pet friendly toy and removing the items you don’t want them to chew by managing their space and access they have to those things.
Understanding the breed: before bringing home a new puppy/dog, you should understand the breed, their adult size, their needs, grooming requirements, their activity levels and their innate characteristics. Let’s dive into each item on this list more thoroughly.
Their adult size is something that needs to be considered. Are you able to manage or control an eighty pound dog, what about 125 pounds? Large breed dogs are the perfect hiking or hunting partner, but being in control of your dog at all times is so important. On the other side of the coin would you rather a five pound lap dog who will sit nicely in your bicycle basket? Only choose a dog that is sized for you to comfortably control and add to your lifestyle.
Their needs are imperative. Do you live in a small house with a small yard or an apartment without a yard? Are you away from home often? If so, it would be best not to bring home a dog that is meant to work on a farm herding livestock or protecting fowl or a larger breed, such as a Great Dane or Bull Mastiff. If a dog’s needs aren’t met destructive behaviours are likely to arise.
Grooming, for some breeds, requires more than being hosed off or a dip in the lake. Some breeds require routine visits to the dog spa to prevent matting of their fur from developing. Nail care is also very important for all breeds.
Activity level is one of the most important things to consider when picking your breed. All dogs need regular activity however the amount of activity can differ greatly. Our Labradors need to burn much more energy than our family member’s Cavalier King Charles Spaniel who would rather take a nap than fetch a ball for hours.
Innate characteristics are those that each breed is born with. These are the traits that make up the nuances of the breed. Retrievers are always going to want to retrieve. Beagles are always going to want to chase. Border Collies and Australian Shepherds are always going to want to herd. Learn about these traits to ensure you are able to fulfill these needs in your dog.
Next begs the question, what about cross breeds? Reputable breeders who are producing cross bred dogs are still completing the same health testing as a purebred dog but are also making careful considerations on the breeds being crossed. They are using complimentary breeds for gentleness, calm demeanor and intelligence or drive, agility and nose strength, for example. They will be very knowledgeable of both breeds. Some breeds however should avoid being crossed with others as it can result in highly anxious or aggressive dogs. If you are looking at crossbreeds such as a Golden Doodle, do your research into both breeds to better understand what their needs and care could be.
Another situation where cross breeds are common are rescues. Unfortunately, many times they don’t know what the breed make up is and this leaves a hole in the information you receive about your dog. Most will say “lab mix” because Labradors have been the most popular breed for the past 22 years. While this is true some of the time, it certainly is not factual in a lot of dogs. Even though looks aren’t always a telltale of breeds, it may give some insight. In these cases, spend some time with the dog before bringing them home to determine their temperament, drive and if there are any trust or behaviour issues at play.
As you can see, choosing to add a puppy/dog to your family that will thrive in their environment and compliment your lifestyle is not as easy as picking the cute puppy in the window. Do your research and make an educated decision. You and your furry companion will be thankful you did.
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