DOG trainer Sarah Wilson calls it "junior high syndrome." People choose a dog for its looks, or what's considered cool at the moment. But after a few weeks with a great-looking but perhaps hard-to-handle canine, they've learned the hard way what's really important: personality.
Choose with care or that
By Christine Donnelly
handsome doggy in the
window may turn out to
be a moody mutt
Star-Bulletin"That would be my No. 1 advice to families: Choose the dog on temperament, not looks. It's what you're going to end up caring about anyway," said Wilson, co-author with husband Brian Kilcommons of the book "Paws to Consider: Choosing the Right Dog for You and Your Family."
The couple, dog trainers with 45 years combined experience, say that while not foolproof, temperament testing can help families narrow their canine choices, whether selecting among pure- or mixed-breed, puppies or full-grown dogs. Results help predict whether a dog tends to be dominant or submissive (dominant ones are more likely to bite), seeks human leadership or is independent, immediately loves kids or is uneasy.Specific tests depend on the dog's age, but here are a few criteria for puppies at about seven weeks old. The puppy should:
>> Readily come when the evaluator claps his hands and kneels down, and should follow when the evaluator stands up and walks away.>> Calmly go over to investigate when a ball or set of keys is thrown nearby.
>> Not object too much when the evaluator gently turns the puppy over on its back or holds the puppy under its belly about one foot off the ground.
The best dog for a busy family is rarely the stereotypical choice, Kilcommons and Wilson say. That is, it's not the bold, excited puppy gnawing on your shoelaces, acting up as if to say "Pick me!" or the sad-looking one cowering in the corner, desperate for love. Instead, the perfect pup may be the average one that most people wouldn't immediately notice, the one who's relaxed and happy to see you, neither too assertive nor too withdrawn. "Choose a calm puppy, even if you want an active dog," Kilcommons said.Although most kids clamor for puppies, the experts advise families not to overlook grown dogs, especially as first-time pets. A well-socialized adult dog may require less daily exercise and training than a puppy, and it's a myth that adult dogs won't bond to new owners, Kilcommons said. Plus, there's the advantage of knowing the dog's full-grown size and personality.
Animal behaviorist and author Michael Rosen, whose books have raised more than $300,000 for animal welfare agencies, recommends mixed breeds for families because he says they tend to have less intense temperaments than pure-bred dogs. "Plus, the child gets to learn about saving an animal's life," he said.
It costs about $50 to adopt a puppy or dog from the Hawaiian Humane Society, with the price including neutering or spaying, a veterinary exam and initial vaccination, worming treatment, microchip identification and a leash, said spokeswoman Eve Holt.Every stray gets a health and behavior screening before it's put up for adoption, Holt said, because "we want people to take home healthy, friendly pets they'll love for a lifetime."
The shelter at 2700 Waialae Ave. is open from noon to 8 p.m. on weekdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends and holidays. A pet telephone hotline, updated every morning with information on new arrivals, can be reached at 946-2187, ext. 780.
If a family has its heart set on a certain breed, it's important to buy directly from a reputable breeder, said Kilcommons, Wilson and Rosen. Get all the information you can on the dog's parentage and medical history, including test results on genetic defects prevalent in the breed, such as deafness in Dalmatians.
Before settling on a breed, research ingrained traits that could prove incompatible with kids. Terriers, for example, were originally bred to be fierce rat hunters, and carry that feisty nature to this day.
"They're small, so kids try to pick them up, and they get bitten. Just because a dog is small doesn't mean it's huggy," said Rosen, whose books include "The Kids' Best Dog Book" and "The Kids' Best Field Guide to Neighborhood Dogs." "It's easy and fun to find out a little bit about each breed. Say you want a Retriever. It's going to take your socks. Accept that."
Although temperament is the most crucial consideration, other factors also weigh heavily, including the dog's size, energy level and the amount of grooming, exercise, food and living space required. Owning any dog requires a big commitment of money and time.
Wilson advises parents make the initial dog search alone, narrowing the field to a few suitable pooches and then bringing the kids to choose among them. And no matter how much the kids promise otherwise, parents should realize they'll end up taking care of the animal. "Anything else is an illusion, a dream," Wilson said. "Mom has to really want the dog, too."
It's important to neuter or spay the new pet. Besides reducing the unwanted dog population, it may improve behavior, said Kilcommons, who noted that unneutered male dogs between the ages of one and three are the most likely to bite.
Once the canine is welcomed to the family, it's best to start training early, before problem behaviors occur. Rosen suggests getting professional help, saying, "Most people have no idea how to train a dog, no more than they would how to teach piano, but they don't have the humility to admit it."
Many owners inadvertently teach their dogs habits that cause trouble with kids, Wilson said. "Most people feed their dogs by just lowering the food, with no verbal command. Enter a 3-year-old with a cookie. It's on the dog's level, so the dog thinks it's his." Adding a verbal command before lowering the dish avoids that problem, she said.
Just as the dog must learn how to behave, the children in the family must be taught to treat the dog as a living companion, not a plaything. A good rule of thumb: Don't let children do anything to a dog they would not be allowed to do to another child.
"A lot of people give up a dog because a 2-year-old (child) pokes it in the eye and the dog yips or snaps," said Rosen. "Then they say, 'Oh, it's in the dog's nature.' No, it's in the child's nature."
Although he believes temperament testing is vital, how a family treats a dog has just as much impact on how the animal turns out as any inborn traits, Rosen believes. Dogs are pack animals, social creatures who need to feel part of the family, whether by running and playing with the kids during the day or sleeping in the master bedroom at night. "Ultimately, you end up getting the dog that you deserve, that you make, by the way you treat it, train it and love it, or don't," said Rosen, who lives in rural Ohio with two beloved mutts of his own.
To steer inexperienced dog owners away from the more demanding breeds, trainers and authors Brian Kilcommons and Sarah Wilson list a "Not for Everyone" section in their book "Paws to Consider: Choosing the Right Dog for You and Your Family." The couple is quick to stress that the breeds listed are not bad dogs; they're just not the best choice as casual companions for the relatively inexperienced:
Akita American pit bull terrier Australian shepherd Basenji Bloodhound Border collie Bulldog Chinese shar pei Chow chow Dalmatian Irish setter Jack Russell terrier Lhasa apso Old English sheepdog Rottweiler Saint Bernard Weimaraner Airedale Alaskan malamute Belgian sheepdog Bouvier des Flandres Bullmastiff German shepherd Rhodesian ridgeback Siberian husky Staffordshire bull terrier, Standard schnauzer
Here are some Web sites that will help you learn more about dogs: Dogs on the 'Net
>> www.choosingtheperfectdog.net offers information on temperament testing.
>> www.i-love-dogs.com/ bills itself as the directory of dog Web sites.
>> www.hawaiianhumane.org is -- The Hawaiian Humane Society Web site
>> www.greatpets.com -- Brian Kilcommons and Sarah Wilson's site.
>> www.akc.org -- The American Kennel Club Web site.
>> www.fidosopher.com -- Michael Rosen's Web site.
To steer inexperienced dog owners away from the more demanding breeds, trainers and authors Brian Kilcommons and Sarah Wilson list a "Not for Everyone" section in their book "Paws to Consider: Choosing the Right Dog for You and Your Family." Think twice about
these puppiesThe couple is quick to stress that the breeds listed are not bad dogs; they're just not the best choice as casual companions for the relatively inexperienced:
Akita American, pit bull terrier, Australian shepherd, Basenji, Bloodhound, Border collie, Bulldog, Chinese shar pei, Chow chow, Dalmatian, Irish setter, Jack Russell terrier, Lhasa apso, Old English sheepdog, Rottweiler, Saint Bernard, Weimaraner, Airedale, Alaskan malamute, Belgian sheepdog, Bouvier des Flandres, Bullmastiff, German shepherd, Rhodesian ridgeback, Siberian husky, Staffordshire bull terrier, Standard schnauzer
Click for online
calendars and events.
