Dogs come in all shapes and sizes. As of now, there are 340 recognized breeds around the world. But why so many? Because we use them for so many things, from sledding and water rescue to companionship. So how do you go about choosing the right breed for you and your family?
Too often, people look for the wrong qualities in dogs. A mismatch between the dogs and their people ultimately puts the dog in a bad situation where his needs are ignored or he is turned over to a shelter.
Some dogs look like teddy bears, while others can only be described as regal. Some dogs may weigh more than your sixth grader while others may fit in your purse, but size and appearance are not the way to judge what kind of dog you should bring home. Instead, you should focus on learning as much as you can about the breed that interests you.
Function and instincts of the breed
Each breed has a natural repertoire of behaviors that we generally refer to as instincts. No amount of training can override an instinct, so what you get is what you get. In this way, you’ll want to make sure you’re as informed as possible with the breed’s intended role so you can get an idea of what their instinctive behaviors will be.
Sheepdogs will herd easily, water dogs will swim easily, companion dogs will snuggle easily, and so on. This is not to say that dogs don’t have a lot of overlap in these abilities, but in most breeds, one of these abilities has been greatly magnified through artificial selection. There are also secondary instincts that you need to consider. A dog’s instinct to bark, for example, is not an accident. Barking (or not barking) plays an important role in the jobs each breed was created to do. Digging is another instinct that many dogs have been bred for, and in some breeds, it is a form of self-preservation. An example of this is that most vermin hunting dogs, including dachshunds and many terriers, were bred to dig into burrows to hunt vermin and small animals, while huskies and chow chows dig to find deeper soil. Cool to go to bed in hot weather. Both barking and digging can be deal breakers that you’ll want to be aware of before making the decision to bring one of these breeds home.
Specific instinct stimulation
Knowing what instincts have been instilled in your dog will not only help you decide if they fit into your lifestyle, but it will also help you understand what kind of stimulation they will need. Every dog needs stimulation to ensure his mental and emotional well-being. Each breed will need specific games and activities for their role. For example, sheepdogs that are trained to carry out herding commands will excel in a home where they are taught a wide range of commands and signals. A bloodhound will excel in a home where it’s given the opportunity to track, even if it’s just finding your kindergartner’s missing left shoe. Cart and sled dogs will be happiest given the chance to pull, even if it’s just their owner on a pair of skates.
No dog is born perfectly capable of completing these tasks, instinct or not. He will still need to train them to focus on commands, to track what he wants them to track, and to keep the car on track. When choosing a breed of dog that is right for you, you will not only need to understand what their breed role is, but also whether you are willing and able to stimulate them properly.
Why is this so important?
Just like people, dogs don’t do well when they’re not given what they need. Problem behaviors like digging and barking, as well as emotional problems like depression and anxiety, can be caused by a lack of adequate exercise and mental stimulation. It will be 100% your responsibility as the owner to stimulate them and for many dogs, it won’t be as easy as opening the back gate of a fenced yard, no matter how big.
A note about breeders.
If you are looking to buy from a breeder, always make sure you can meet the parents. Whatever the parents’ personalities and tendencies, your pup’s are likely to be very similar. Don’t take his word for it! MEET THE PARENTS! A good breeder will be more than happy to facilitate this. It also doesn’t matter if the breeder has never hunted or herded anything, the dogs they breed will still have their breed specific instincts.
It’s also important to note that every dog is different and the threshold needed to act on a particular drive may be higher or lower, even within the same breed. An example of this is that for some rat terriers all they need is the smell of a rat to start hunting and for others, they need to see the rat. They both have the instinct to hunt rats, they just need different levels of exposure to rats to be able to hunt them.
I hope that whatever breed you bring home, you can give each other years of love and companionship!
