Do We Need More Education?

[persephone]

Someone buys a terrier- then there are worries when it digs/goes ratting/yips/fronts up to next door's rotty with rambo-like attitude.

Someone else buys a retriever.. but is most concerned when dog is mouthy and energetic .

Someone buys a dog whose ancestors (and often near relations) were sheep/cattle herders/workers. These poor people watch the pup chasing the kids, or running a track around the backyard..and don't know why..

Someone buys/rescues a cute puppy - and their neighbourhood then is disturbed by barking at times which disturbs their peace & quiet

Someone buys a dog/puppy and wonders why it is bored in a manicured backyard all day

I often feel there is a lack of 'basic' dog behaviours/instincts . Folks are taken by a presence, a coat type, a personality or a reputation - they do some research, buy their puppy , but are then are often bewildered when instinct kicks in .

This is sad - for the new dog owner, and for the dog, who can suffer from being misunderstood.

This forum, obedience clubs etc do a good job with what they have- but am I alone in thinking that so many people just have forgotten that the DOG is an animal, a predator, which does not think like humans, and which does need understanding and careful management according to need?

[Aidan]

Yes.

[Gamby]

Hi persephone

You are not alone thinking the following - "but am I alone in thinking that so many people just have forgotten that the DOG is an animal, a predator, which does not think like humans, and which does need understanding and careful management according to need?"

Until dogs are stopped from being sold in Pet Shops, and Back Yard Breeders are stopped from advertising as well as anyone else who advertises they have dogs for sale then maybe the message could get through on what the dog was bred for.

The message needs to be told at the Kinder and School levels

[W Sibs]

I feel the same as you pers.

so answer is yes

Edited October 6, 2010 by CW EW

[poodlefan]

Absolutely. I've experienced dog breed owners at training who have no understanding of the function of their chosen breed and the characteristics that are inherent in it. One of the sadder examples is folk who buy Siberian Huskies "because they look like wolves" and have neither the knowledge nor the capacity to manage a dog of that type.

Compound that by a factor of two or more for folk with crossbreeds with challenging combinations of characteristics. IMO these are becoming more common.

Buying a dog on looks alone is fraught with risk - mostly for the dog.

Edited October 6, 2010 by poodlefan

[PoppyDog]

YES!!!!

I want to scream from the roof tops.... YESSSS!!!

I think people need to know that you don't get a nice, frienly, loving, gentle dog just by buying it from the petshop and sticking it in your backyard!!!

In terms of dog knowledge and education I would consider myself a novice but even my parents comment on how lovely Poppy is and how obedient she is.

My Mum is not a dog person and they are staying with us for a week. They have a 8 year old Corgi at home and she commented on how impressed she was that Poppy actually "listened"!

I told her it was because we (fiance and I) were such great parents! And I do believe that. Poppy is obedient because we have taught her to be that way and because we take time to train her, walk her, socialise her.

Puppy Preschool should be a compulsary part of buying a puppy!

[Henrietta]

Yes. I can also see that this lack of knowledge could lead to very much a 'watered down' dog because that is all that our society can handle, perhaps? Maybe I'm being overally paranoid in this respect, but I feel much of what some find undesirable in a dog is just a dog being a dog without any thought given to training and management and meeting the dog's needs.

Can I just say that I have been guilty of having a supreme lack of knowledge about dogs, the best thing I ever did was to make a commitment to learn as much as I can about dogs, starting from the basics up. I'll never stop learning to be sure, but what I have learnt will prevent the same mistakes from happening again.

[mita]

Couldn't agree more.

[wuffles]

Yes we do BUT... even people who are highly educated about dogs often end up with dogs with undesirable behaviours for their particular situation. They may know WHY the dog is doing it, they may have even expected it, but they still need to manage it. That part isn't really about education.

[Jigsaw]

I agree!

Emotional needs of the human side of the relationship seem to often outweigh the emotional and physical needs of the animal. Cute, small, dependent puppy makes you feel good, that often all changes with adolescence.

Edited October 6, 2010 by Jigsaw

[shortstep]

Most breeders I know say their breeding practice it to breed to the standard. That the standard is the description of the breed that will maintain that breed and bring it in to the future. The standard is a written record and ideal of the breed, it is the minds eye of what the breed is. So where better for anyone to learn about the breed than the standard.

Everyone should be sent to the standard to learn about the breed they are interested in. You can usually find a line or two some where near the top of the standard about history, temperament, behaviors or instincts.

Here are 3 standard comments that are not about appearance and focus on the what the dog is suppose to be like.

1. No history mentioned

Temperament: Outgoing and confident, friendly, courageous and intelligent. Alert at all times, not aggressive but fearless

2. No history mentioned

Temperament: Should be alert, lively, self confident and active.

3. No history mentioned

Temperament: Firm, balanced, reliable, restrained temperament. Neither nervous, nor shy or aggressive.

It is easy to tell what group they belong in and to get a real idea of what makes these breeds different to each other and what it is about them that is special.

All starts with the breeding, eh?

[Bubitty]

I think education is helpful but I think if someone buys a dog with the best of intentions, then they will educate themselves and work out what is needed by the dog eventually.

I don’t think you can ever educate people who have questionable intentions/motives from the start.

[persephone]

Bub- what I am thinking is that .. a couple of generations ago , when dogs were more or less free to roam neighbourhoods, fight, howl, follow the kids around to parks etc.. there seemed to be more knowledge of dogs as ANIMALS - kids grew up playing outside with their dogs.. teh dogs used to have pups..the dogs used to snap/nip if kids did the wrong thing- and , in my neck of the woods, anyway, we were given no sympathy .. just told to remember the lesson, and not repeat whatever it was we did.

Kids often never saw a dog indoors..they did see dogs roaming in packs- scrounging, mating,fighting..they KNEW what dogs did ...and how to avoid being bitten

Dog behaviour , like a lot of human behaviour today seems to have been 'sanitised' .. so we don't see dogs doing all of which they are capable - therefore succeeding generations do not know what to look out for/manage.

I'm p'raps not explaining it well..sorry.

[Hairy Maclary]

I would say that there is a lot of information out there about dogs and breeds if you are prepared to do your research. But people either don't look for it in the first place - they see a cute puppy in the pet shop or on Gumtree and have to have it, or if they do find information (say on the web), aren't really able to distinguish reliable information from rubbish.

Also, I chatted to a few breeders at the Royal Show here in Perth last week and was given several business cards, but not one of them suggested that I go away and research the breed and see if it was right for me.

[persephone]

I chatted to a few breeders at the Royal Show here in Perth last week and was given several business cards, but not one of them suggested that I go away and research the breed and see if it was right for me.

a perfect opportunity for them to inform and educate gone ....

[B-Q]

It seems to be mostly dogs they expect to be humans. People still expect cats to scratch and horses to kick but dogs should be able to be pushed and pushed and pushed and never react.

I heard on the news yesterday something about a dog "attack" I'm pretty sure the headline read "Pregnant woman mauled by dogs"

turns out she had her arm bitten while breaking up a dog fight. Council has seized the dogs.

On the weekend I did attend Woofstock in Eumundi, it was nice to be around so many people that genuinly liked dogs. Quinn met a little girl thay first went to get in her face (which Quinn loves anyway) and her mother stopped her and told her thats not how you approach dogs. She sat down quietly and Quinn lay down in front of her and then the girl copped licks all over the face.

I saw another boy slap his staffy on the backside, his father turned around and slapped him on the shoulder and asked him how he liked it.

[VJB]

I couldn't agree more. I'm still learning heaps and love every bit of it. But loads of people are just not interested in what the dogs needs are necessarily, just happy that they have got themselves a dog.

I wish that all breeds wouldn't be be viewed under the same umbrella when it comes to dog ownership....and basic needs, by the average dog owner in society. The basic needs for a Chihuahua vs a GSP are different in many ways, and as soon as I hear about people getting dogs, I have to hold myself together..... as I almost go into trying to ask them what they are going to provide for their dogs, depending on the dogs natural instincts etc.... I get worried about dogs left alone with no company, when they are a breed that requires lots of human interaction. And I also think that something should be done to educate people more about dog ownership.

I was getting a massage the other day when the lady massaging my back said "oh, my sister and me bought a Pom-chi X at PP in hornsby the other day"

Me "oh, um, wow.... um..

Massager - "yeah, we've had her a week and she's very vicious so we can't do anything with her and have to keep her locked in the laundry".

Me "oh dear, well, PP has itself a bit of a bad name, but as you've now got her, maybe you should get into some dog training places and book yourself in too...you will learn a lot, plus make your dogs life a happier one because you will understand how she thinks depending on her breed/s etc, and you are better prepared to provide the stimulation she's looking for. Also, she's probably petrified.

Massager - "hahahha,,, she's just a dog, she'll be right, surely something so small couldn't require much"

:rolleyes:

[persephone]

she had her arm bitten while breaking up a dog fight. Council has seized the dogs.

Sheesh!! :rolleyes: That council sounds as if it needs some edumacation. Glad the dogs who have bitten me when I was breaking up fights weren't in that council!

[LittlePoppet]

yes agree.... and being the owner of sibes researching and talking to others is very important.....

i didnt initially intend to buy a purebreed dog i just wanted information on the breed so i wasn't bringing home a breed couldnt look after....

but as a teacher (well almost.... 3 months away!) i was wondering how you would suggest implementing this type of educatio in the classroom?

im all for it and love when students in my placement classes ask about my dogs and i tell them abut showing and racing......

interested in your thoughts =D

[Jed]

Oh goody, one of my favourite topics

Of course buyers should research. But they don't always, and they don't know the questions to ask.

So, the responsibility is with the seller or breeder to thoroughly know and understand the traits of the breed, and to assess whether the person wanting to buy is going to be happy with the dog and vice versa.

My biggest objection to pet shopsl and particularly large chains, is very young girls selling pups. They mostly have insufficient knowledge of both people and dogs to be able to make a worthwhile decision on puppy sales.

I love fox terriers - I love the way they move, I love their personalities, I love the way they look. If I owned one, I'd kill it in the first 5 minutes, because they are far too busy for me. :rolleyes: I know that.