People get dogs for different reasons.
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by Katherine Houpt, VMD, PhD, DACVB
Are you thinking of obtaining a dog? You already know that dog ownership (or parenting, if you like) is a big responsibility in terms of both time and money. There are other things to consider.
Most people have a pretty good idea of what kind of dog they want. What pops into your mind when you hear the word dog: Smooth or fluffy? Solid or mottled coloring? Big or little? One rule I suggest, especially for seniors is to ask yourself, “Can you carry this dog?” You may be able to use a large dog as an assistance dog, allowing you, for example, to pull yourself out of a chair by the dog's harness. A Pekingese would not be adequate in that role.
What about allergies? The sad fact is that there is no non-allergic breed of dogs; they all produce allergens that one can be allergic to. All dogs shed, but some shed much more than others. Golden retrievers seem to leave their golden tresses everywhere. Poodles shed; the difference is that the hairs are curly. Terriers shed their wiry coat less. In a competition with my Westie, the Ragdoll cat wins hands (or coat) down in the shedding contest.
Adding to the Current Group
Consider the dogs that you already have and the potential impacts of adding another.
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Do you already have a dog or dogs? If so, consider why you would add to your pack. I suggest that prospective owners think about that because I see so many cases in which the social dynamics within a home were fine, until another dog—often a third dog—is added. A frequent motivation is to prevent grieving. The owner of the old dog feels that if his dogs overlap, he will miss the old dog less if there is another dog in the household. I should do a survey of dog owners to see if they grieved less when there was a younger dog left in the household. I always parry that statement with, “I am glad my husband did not replace his greying, wrinkled wife with one of those cute young vet students.” Aside from this anthropomorphic hypothesis, I have a more intellectual objection to replacing the old dog before it dies: Although, occasionally, a new dog, especially a puppy, may rejuvenate an older dog, it is more likely that the old dog will be ignored while everyone fuses over the new one, especially if it is a puppy.
Aggression between the two younger dogs may appear. This seems to be more common in three- than in two-dog households. This has led me to another rule: The number of dogs in the household should be equal to or less than the number of adult humans in the household.
Considerations for Choosing a Dog
Provided that your reason for obtaining a dog is valid—that is, you have the room and the bank account to properly care for a dog—which breed of dog should you get? If you work from home and expect your dog to lie quietly at your side, a German shorthair pointer would not be a good idea, at least for the first few years of his life.
You should consider the health and welfare of your dog. Old English bulldogs have myriad, uncomfortable health problems. Their skin folds become infected, their eyelashes can be ingrown, their hips leave something to be desired and they have difficulty breathing. Those adorable French bulldogs are even shorter-lived than bulldogs, so please pick a breed with a nose. Also, Dachshunds are prone to painful back problems.
What about behavior? Next to health, this is the most important characteristic of your dog. Although all dogs are different and early life experience is very important—especially socialization between 7 and 9 weeks—genetics is a strong determinant of a dog's behavior. Two groups of scientists—the Harts, a husband-and-wife team at University of California, Davis; and James Serpell at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine—have published on this subject. In their book, The Perfect Puppy (Academic Press), the Harts polled veterinarians about their opinion of each breed while Serpell's team asked owners to rate their own dogs. Both asked questions about aggression to other dogs, and to people. The most aggressive breed toward strange people was the Dachshund, and to dogs, the Akita, according to owners. Trainability is very important and general trainability such as obedience and housebreaking—a term I hate; house training or, really, elimination training are much better terms—are closely related. Border collies, poodles, and Australian shepherds are the easiest to train. It only took three rotisserie chickens to train my Westie—a breed that ranks low in trainability. She has not eliminated in the house in 10 years.
Finally, there is the question of where to get a dog. Pet-shop dogs often have health and behavioral problems; in many places, only dogs from shelters can be sold. There are very cute puppies for sale on the internet, but these puppies may be from distant states and perhaps from “puppy mills”—places that raise many puppies, usually in kennels, not in the kitchen where the puppy would learn about people. If the puppy must be shipped from a distance, he will no doubt be frightened at just the wrong time of his life. A good breeder will let you visit before the puppy is old enough to leave. Obtaining an adult dog from a shelter or rescue is noble, but the dog may still express the behavior that led him to be relinquished to the shelter or rescue. Good shelters will help you with training the dog you adopt.
Enjoy your new companion!
Source: Katherine Houpt / Used with permission
Katherine Houpt is a veterinarian who treats dogs, cats, horses, and the occasional mini-pig with behavior problems. She is the author of the textbook, Domestic Animal Behavior for Veterinarians and Animal Scientists. At 85, she continues to ride her Arabian horse and drive her Swedish Gotland pony.
