One of the biggest reasons dogs are taken to the local shelter is because the new owner wasn’t prepared for the dog’s behavior. I recently was talking to a person that was lamenting how her “Labradoodle” had become aggressive. She told me how her son had received the dog but then kept the dog in a crate 9 hours a day with only a short break during the day when he was able to come home and let him out to potty. She then received the dog since her son realized he could not properly care for the dog. Now the dog still spends many hours in his crate and when she comes home the dog is “aggressive” with her.

While talking with her I told her there are several items that are attributing to the dog’s behavior.

  1. The crate is not the issue. Dogs are naturally “den” animals. The crate is never to be used as a punishment, but rather a safe area for her. The issue is the number of hours.
  2. When the dog is released from the crate, they were not giving the dog an outlet for her energy. During the day the dog build a lot of energy, that energy needs to be used. Take the dog out to run, play ball, or something to use that energy.
  3. Most dogs are social animals. The dogs alone all day and when they release the dog she’s full of energy and wants to play with them but there has been no outlet for that need of the dog.

When many people start looking for a dog they gravitate towards the “In” breed. Dog breeds tend to go in fads, both in purebred dogs and in “Designer” dogs. Dogs are chosen due to the fad, and on how the dogs look. Sometimes for health reasons like being hypoallergenic. Unfortunately, many puppy/dog purchasers miss the most important component. How active is the dog? This is the one question that gets missed. An answer I hear quite often is, “Well I had one when I was a kid and it was a wonderful dog.” Then they get the new dog and it begins to take over the house. Why? They remember the dog in later years most of the time.

When I interview potential puppy buyers one of the first questions asked is, are you prepared for a dog that is active? We have and breed Belgian Tervuren’s. They are very busy herding dogs.  They also love to dig in their off time.

By researching our breed I was able to use their instincts to help train them. I also knew how busy they are so I developed a training and exercise program for them so they would not destroy our home. Not all dogs are the same, but dogs in a breed will tend to be similar. Researching the activity level of your prospective new dog, looking at the “Breed Standard” and talk to the breeder. For instance, you may love Shelties, but you live in an apartment. Shelties were bred to move sheep with their barking, it is instinctual. You may find “a” quiet sheltie, but more than likely you won’t. They are born to bark, you will not train that out of the dog. Would that be a good fit in an apartment? Knowing what instinctual attributes your dog has will help you find a dog that will fit with your home much better. The AKC website has a nice overview of each breed.

But what if you are getting a “Designer” dog, such as the person in my story above. Look at the behaviors of the breeds that make up the dog. Some designer dogs even have websites that give the attributes of the dogs. Talk to the breeder after doing your research. This way you can have some information in order to ask the questions you need to be answered.

Last but not least, look into known health issues with the dog breed you are thinking of getting. Most purebred dogs have known health issues that are common to that breed. In the case of “Designer” dogs, you may end up with health issues from all the breeds used to make up the dog. Very rarely are health issues “Bred out” by making a designer dog. The health issues can just be compounded. Remember, this is going to be a member of your family for many years. Do your research to find the right fit for your living conditions and your household.