For the relationship to be satisfying, the parties must be matched. Almost every feature is liked by some people and disliked by others. Take, for example, a powerfully built guy. For one woman, this fat man will be repulsive; for another, he will be the personification of male strength. For one guy, a super well-groomed woman will be very attractive. Another may perceive her as empty, focused only on external aspects. Even though some look at the thief as a degenerate, others admire his “resourcefulness”. In addition, there is the intensity of a given feature or – if you prefer – of the interpretation. The same person will be thrifty for some and stingy for others.
In a relationship with a human or a dog, the point is to fit in properly, that is, to choose a partner whose main features suit us. Since the relationship is two-sided, our qualities must also correspond to the other party.
How does this relate to dogs?
Think about what you expect from your dog and what you can offer him. Analyze your lifestyle. Be honest. Don’t assume that as soon as you have a dog, you’ll start going for long walks (which you don’t have time for now), running (which you honestly don’t like), start cycling (currently you lack motivation) or on the contrary: that you’ll start coming back home from work earlier. If you are planning changes in your life – introduce them BEFORE you take a dog and check if you can meet your own ideas about yourself.
Once you know what your day looks like and how much free time you have, think about what kind of dog will suit you. What can you offer him?
Will you go for long walks, no matter the weather?
Do you plan to take your dog on bike trips?
Or maybe you are a homebody and like to spend whole afternoons with a book or in front of the TV/computer?
What finances do you have?
Do you have other pets at home? Small children?
How often do guests come to you (with dogs/children?)
Do you plan to do any sport with your dog? If so, how much time will you have for training?
Is the dog supposed to be a conflict-free being, loving the whole world, or do you prefer to have a watchman and protector in your pet?
Remember that every stick has two ends and some features are irreconcilable.
When I hear that someone wants a dog that will be friendly but will defend its human if necessary; eager for training, and very intelligent; so that he sits politely alone in the apartment all day and preferably does not lose his hair, I usually answer: “Before answering the question what breed you should choose, I will ask you to give me an advice what car I should buy. It is supposed to be capacious but small enough that I can easily park it anywhere; snappy, dynamic and economical; to be cheap and luxurious; It has to have such a colour that I can easily find it in the parking lot, but so that it is not conspicuous.”
“But it is impossible!” I hear.
“Exactly…” – I answer.
There is always give and take.
If the dog is to protect you, be aware that he will not necessarily be gentle, kind and friendly towards everyone.
Do you dream of a mega-intelligent dog with whom you will train? Well… Such a dog needs occupation. Left to himself, he will manage and find entertainment for himself. However, it is doubtful whether it will suit you.
Do not choose a massive dog if you want to take your dog on long hikes/bike rides. By forcing him to make this kind of effort, you will overload his joints and hurt him.
Take a piece of paper and write down how you want your dream dog to be. Be realistic and remember that some qualities cannot be reconciled. Think it through and decide what is the most important to you.
Then write down what you REALLY can offer your dog.
How much time you will have for him (how you want to spend it), how much peace and quiet the dog can count on in your home and what monthly budget you can allocate (the larger the dog, the higher the costs not only for food but also for any medical treatment).
When you know what kind of dog you are looking for and what you can offer him, you can start choosing a breed that meets your expectations (and vice versa: whose needs you will be able to complete).
You can search in breed atlases on the Internet or make an appointment for a consultation with a specialist. It is best to send the behaviourist information: what you expect, what you can offer and what your life looks like (how long you are not at home every day, whether you have/plan children, etc.) Remember to mark which features of the dog are the most important for you.
Send this information by email and make an appointment. Thanks to this, the behaviourist will think about your situation and suggest several breeds that he/she thinks you might consider.
I wish you a successful choice that will enable you to build a strong, satisfying for both parties relationship.
If you need a consultation on the choice of breed, you can write to me at info@baronsacademy.com.
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