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Really?
© Darlene
Arden
Did you ever notice how many misconceptions there can be about dogs? It might be funny sometimes but at other times it can be downright frustrating.
1. You or someone you know is walking a dog using a halter. The person walking past you asks why the dog had to be muzzled. They want to know if he’s vicious. A halter is used for many reasons, most commonly because the dog pulls when he’s walked and the owner needs a bit of time to retrain him, meanwhile the halter serves as an interim tool during a daily walk.
2. All Golden Retrievers have a good temperament. That’s true of many of them but certainly not all. This can be quite deceptive. By the time a child runs up to a strange dog – never a good idea under any circumstances, no matter the breed – the child can be bitten.
3. Every Collie is just like Lassie. Wrong! Lassie has a trainer standing behind the camera telling him (yes, the dog who plays Lassie is always a male) what to do.
4. Border Collies are always easy to train because they’re so smart. That is probably what makes them harder to train for most people. They’re working dogs and need tasks to do so you simply can’t leave the dog untrained. But you will need to be a good trainer and at least one step ahead of the dog. Operant conditioning, or clicker training, is ideal. Trick training is also good to keep these dogs busy but they have a very strong herding instinct and will be happiest if they are involved in herding trials or some other activity.
5. You’ve seen Parson Russell Terriers on television playing Eddie on the TV series, Frasier, and you’ve seen Wishbone so you think this is the ideal pet for you. Think again. These dogs are extremely active and have a high work drive. If you don’t keep them busy, they will get bored and find all manner of mischief they can get into. It won’t be fun. Remember that the dog who played Eddie was in at least two other homes before being adopted by the trainer who currently owns him. That alone should tell you that these are dogs only for experienced dog owners who have a very active lifestyle.
6. (Some people think that) Small dogs are good pets for small children. Nothing could be further from the truth. A small dog can be easily picked up and dropped by a child, leading to injury or, possibly, death. Also, children mistake them for stuffed animals. They’re real dogs with all of the characteristics of real dogs. And, yes, small dogs can and will bite if provoked.
7. (Some people think that) A choke collar should be put on every dog. Nothing could be further from the truth, especially when it comes to small dogs. The choke collar rests on the trachea. Little dogs either have a collapsing trachea or are predisposed to the condition. A choke collar can precipitate the problem or exacerbate it. It’s hard to know what part of “choke” people don’t understand. They can also injure larger dogs when used incorrectly, as can a head halter. These are tools that must be used correctly to avoid injury. And you should never use a flexible leash with a head halter or a choke collar.
8. (Some people think that) Dogs don’t need much exercise, just love and attention. Owners who keep their dog as a couch potato aren’t doing their dog any favors. Dogs are intelligent and need a job to do even if they’re only fetching the newspaper every day. Training your dog to do one or two tricks that you can practice will make life more interesting for both of you and you can periodically add to his repertoire.
9. (Some people think that) Mixed breeds are always healthy and hardy. A dog inherits genes from both parents and their ancestors. If a do’s ancestor had hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, juvenile cataracts, porto-systemic shunt, etc., then the mixed breed can inherit those genetic problems.
10. (Some people think that) Yelling at a dog, rubbing his nose in his accident, is the way to train a dog. That’s the way to frighten and confuse a dog and delay the progress of housetraining while the dog learns to fear the owner. It does nothing to build the bond of trust that must be in place for a good relationship. It is, quite simply, another form of animal abuse.
11. Get a dog “for the kids.” If the parents aren’t committed to taking care of the dog and supervising all interactions with the children, it won’t work. And the commitment must be for the lifetime of the dog.
12. A wagging tail means a happy dog. Not always. That interaction the dog has in mind might not be so friendly. Don’t make that assumption or you could be in for a not-so-nice surprise.
These are only a few of the misconceptions people have about dogs. Don’t jump to conclusions. The “fact” you know might not be entirely factual.
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