First, I have a question: Do you know the leading cause of overcrowded shelters?
Research conducted in the United States clearly shows that the main reason is the choice of a breed that does not match the expectations and capabilities of the Guardian.
Too often, when choosing a dog, we focus solely on its size, appearance and stereotypes of the type: for a family with a child, the best is a Labrador / with a small dog, there is less trouble / a large dog is not suitable for an apartment / I have a garden, so the dog will be fine with me / thanks to the dog the kid will learn responsibility, etc.
In the next few posts, I will refute some misconceptions and suggest what is worth following when choosing a breed.
Today I will raise the issue of fashionable breeds.
When I was a little girl, there were plenty of dachshunds, boxers and cocker spaniels in my city. Then, when I got a little older, the parks were swarming with schnauzers. Over the years, subsequent breeds were in fashion: Labradors, Goldens, Chihuahuas, Shih-Tzu, Bernese Shepherd Dogs and others.
Different things affect fashion. After the Disney movie “101 Dalmatians”, everyone dreamed of having such a Pongo, so spotted dogs lived on every street. So when Paris Hilton flaunted her pet everywhere – some ladies in trims stocked up on chihuahuas and mercilessly packed them in their bags…
Labradors were super dogs for families with children. Unfortunately, this news spread by a flight of lightning, and all parents dreaming of a four-legged friend for their offspring no longer thought about the breed but about the coat – usually, the yellow won.
Yes, Labradors WERE super dogs for families with children. But, unfortunately, for quite a short time. Precisely because of its popularity. Puppies of this breed were sold on the trunk, and people asked when the next litter would be and immediately signed up for a puppy.
Demand breeds supply. New kennels grew like mushrooms after the rain. People governed by quick earnings crossed dogs as it fitted them the most, without thinking it through. The fact that both father and mother were Labradors was good enough. No one wondered about the predispositions or inclinations of the individual. To earn even more (saving on mating costs), some breeders went to inbreeding (crossing related individuals, i.e. mother with son, siblings, daughter with father).
Genetics has its rights – inbred causes exaggeration of some features (such as jaw hypertrophy in the Habsburgs) and genetic physical and mental defects. Over time, Labradors began to change. Increasingly, less stress-resistant, reactive and even aggressive individuals appeared. The fashion for the breed passed forever, and the shelters were full of beautiful, harmed by people, yellow dogs.
Unfortunately, this scenario repeats in the case of any fashionable breed. At least in my homeland (Poland).
Do you want to know what kind of dog is on top? – go to the shelter – there will be a lot of representatives of this breed.
It should be emphasized that most of these dogs ended up behind bars not because of genetic defects but because of MISMATCH.
Under the influence of the Disney fairy tale, people pounced on the Dalmatians. They wanted THOSE dogs. Why? Because they were brilliant because people wanted to have Pongo. Adult people believed in a fairy-tale character? It’s like I decided to marry a blonde guy because the prince from “Sleeping Beauty” was so brave!
In the Dalmatians’ case, humans were thoughtless and behaved like in the sheep’s rush: everyone is running, so I am running too. So what if I don’t know where. Others know. Others don’t know either. Hence the problem.
How inclined we (humans) are to follow the crowd is terrifying. I encourage you to explore this topic. Elliot Aronson’s book “The Social Animal” is worth reading; in my opinion, it is really great. You can quickly find an example here: A social experiment shows how others follow the crowd – Social experiment – most people are sheep – Bing video
Through fashion and the desire to follow the crowd, thousands of families come into possession of a puppy of the currently popular breed, about which they know nothing …
Over the next few months, I will write about choosing a dog.
Here are the topics I’ve planned for my next posts.
Of course, the plan is a plan, and as you write, some things may change 😉 a bit.
30.11.22: We debunk the first myth: “I have a garden, so the dog will be fine with me.”
20.12.22: Debunking the second myth: “There are fewer problems with a small dog.”
30.12.22: We debunk the third myth: “It not ok to have a big dog in the apartment.”
10.01.22: We debunk the fourth myth: “I work a lot, so I can’t have a dog.”
20.01.23: “The dog will teach the child order and responsibility.”
30.01.23: “So what to follow when choosing a breed? a post about needs and predispositions.”
10.02.23: “A brief overview of breed types, not forgetting about multiracials.”
20.02.23: “Learn to read between the lines of breed descriptions.”
10.03.23: “Breeding and adoption – advantages of both solutions.”
20.03.23: “Adoption: Puppy or adult dog? Where to adopt? What to follow?”
30.03.23: “How to choose a kennel.”
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