Top Dogs A New Owner Should Avoid

Most of these breeds should be avoided if you are a first time pet owner. These are the kinds of dogs that most often have a dominance streak or generally require more time and patience. These rules do not apply to all dogs but all of them will show some breed specific behavior. Mix breeds will sometimes show these characteristics as well just because your dog looks like another doesn't mean he will act that way. If you are getting a dog from a local shelter (which I recommend) look into the dog breeds (not just what they say! some breeds look like others) don't adopt on impulse many terrier mixes for instance go in and out of homes many many times because people think they are cute and are not prepared. I also listed the ATTS scores from 2007, ATTS stands for American Temperament Test Society who rate dogs based on their reactions to everyday stimuli including shyness, aggressiveness, protectiveness and stability.



Dalmatian: One thing about these dogs they are go-go-go and never stop. Designed to run along side carriages these dogs can go all day unfortunately after their rise in popularity caused sever in-breeding and behavioral issues. Many Dalmatians are prone to aggression and anxiety mostly stemming from lack of exercise. However if you have a horse and go riding or happen to be living on a farm these dogs love to run and would probably fit in just fine. They also tend to have a slight dominating streak so be sure your training shows the dog you are always in charge. They scored a 81.8% on the ATTS.

Akita: Handsome, dignified, and strong (both in mind and body). These dogs are easy care but have one of the most stubborn streaks usually associated with terriers. They have incredibly strong guarding instincts and if not socialized will become very anti-social and aggressive with people. They also tend to be aggressive to other dogs including their own kind. They are very quiet in terms of body language and will often "go off"  with very little warning. They also bore very easily in training not to mention their strong willed so you have to be the right type of person. But with tons of socialization (and I mean tons of it) these dogs can make great  guards and a wonderful friend. The Akita scored a 74% on the ATTS test.

Chow Chow: Very much like the Akita, powerful independent and dignified are common was to describe chows. These cute balls of fluff are extremely not tolerant of things they do not want. They are very loving protective and attached to their family but if your not part of the family you better watch out. If you plan to have guests frequently and don't spend time training your dog to be tolerant these dogs go aggressive. For this reason they do not make the best suburban / apartment dogs. There are stories of chows taking on bears and other large game, these dogs mean business when it comes to guarding. The chow scored a 70% on the ATTS test.

Pit Bull Type: There is no such breed as a pit bull okay. First off these dogs are great with kids and very tolerant of anything you teach them to be tolerant of. However due to bad press I can only recommend these types of dogs including Staffordshire Terriers, American Bulldogs, Bull Terriers, to owners who would make sure their dog is above and beyond the next door lab when it comes to training. Anything wrong your dog does is placed on the breed and not the specific dog. So don't ruin it for everyone by getting a pit type and letting it go bad. These breeds also have BSL or breed specific legislation. These breeds score on average about a 85% on the ATTS test.

Terrier Breeds: You got to be a certain type of person for these types of dogs. They are independent strong willed and fairly certain you are wrong most of the time. Having a terrier and getting a hamster for your kid is a good way to teach them about the circle of life. These dogs were bred for varmint hunting and will chase and hunt anything that could be game. These are not apartment dogs. Even though they are small and easily transported these dogs need just as much exercise or more then large breeds. However they will supply endless antics and a brilliant mind that needs to be kept learning. The Yorkshire terrier earned a 82.5%, the Jack Russell earned a 84.1% the English Jack 100% and the Smooth Fox Terrier 76.4% on the ATTS to name a few.

Want to know more about the ATTS? visit atts.org for a list of all breeds temperaments based on interaction and environmental situations.

Once Again: Why I hate positive only trainers

Any one who tells you positive training is the ONLY method of dog training has obviously never been around any dog with any sort of serious problem. I have read and talk to many positive only trainers who will admit that their method doesn't work. But that applies everywhere is any trainer ever tells you their method is the only humane safe or correct method you need to run the other way. Its one of the reasons I dislike Victoria Stilwell in the great Cesar Millan Vs. Victoria Stilwell debate. Victoria will tell you her way is the only correct way and Cesar admits to there being other methods and to do right by your dog. Just like every child is different every dog is different there is no incorrect way as long as the dog understands.
So again someone told me today I should get Doodles a harness and I told them no, he needs to learn to walk properly on a collar and leash alone. And they told me it was mean and wrong and could hurt him, I said look my boxer figured it out at 1 1/2 years old I think my jack russell can too. They they ranted about positive training and how it was the ONLY way to train a dog.... So here is where I sit, lots of so called positive trainers make exceptions for dogs... so your dog cant walk on a collar they should just get a harness and forget it... Somehow I think that is wrong. Most of my dogs get harnesses later in life after they learn to use a collar. There have been many times I have forgotten their harness and was thankful they were polite on a collar. My favorite was when I was told that touching a dog was wrong. If you dog cant be lured into a sit then showing them by putting their butt on the ground and rewarding it was wrong. If your dog couldn't get sit without being touched forget it your dog just cant learn it... Maybe its me but I think lots of positive trainers need to reevaluate their methods.

Puppy Practice

We have been working on getting Doodles to stack properly to see if he has any sort of showing capabilities, so far he is doing okay. Holding still seems to be the hardest :) I managed to get a photo of him he isn't over his shoulders though, he did it a few times but I couldn't snap a photo, the expression on his face says it all. Silly boy falling asleep on mommy.

 

We finished with some tunnel work which he loves. He can span a 6 ft tunnel with a S curve so far no hesitation, I dont really have to train him to go down it treats aren't necessary either.  The reason the tube is metal and not the standard wood is because I want him used to working in tight spaces, as he grows he will get a larger one.

~Happy Tails~

Yorkshire Terriers: Now Earthdogs...?

Well not to be biased but what was the akc thinking... to many dogs have been breed to far from their original hunting lines to show lines and they have lost many attributes and skills of what made them such great hunter. The main point that I will get to quickly before you think any less of me is that not all yorkshire terriers would make good hunting dogs but some might. By some miracle of backyard breeders and people think its cute to make puppies a few good hunting yorkies might exist. They aren't yappy for nothing. Bolting quarry from a hole was the whole point of terriers in the first place. 

 Your dog barking at squirrels doesn't mean though that they will make a good hunter in fact cool terriers (meaning ones of calmer level demeanor) will be much easier to hunt then a untrained yappy rat. Unfortunately you wont see any prissy little dogs running around sets (although that would amuse me much). Show dogs are a far cry from hunting dogs for the simple fact that they have different standards.    In fact you would probably have to reinvent much of the yorkie to get it back to where it could be used again.

Yorkies used to not be the prissy little dogs they were today and years of breeding out so called bad habits like barking, digging, etc. ( and over all really dumbed this breed down) has left the yorkie in the toy group. I will not consider this dog a real terrier till I see them go to ground once more with enthusiasm and controlled skill.  The akc doesn't even mention the history of the yorkie as a earth dog in its history.


As of august this year the yorkshire terrier was allowed into the earthdog trials we will see if the enthusiasts will follow through now that they are allowed in.

~Happy Tails~

*All pictures belong to their respective owners*

New Aggressive Barking Training Plan: Calming Signals

Kaz has always had a problem with aggressive learned barking at the door. Living with roommates has always been a challenge to help them learn what to do. Anyone who lives with animals knows that every interaction is a learning experience. Now I am trying to instill a new plan based on calming signals every time he rushes the door barking I am going to block ignore and send signals till he relaxes, then open the door.
For those who have never heard about calming signals, they are signals that all canines have to send to other canines and animals to diffuse potential problems, among other things. As dogs are social animals avoiding conflict is important. Here is a good video on calming signals. And here is another video by the long time dog trainer and 'creator' of calming signals.
So far so good. We will see.
~Happy Tails~