The thing makes breed choosing mistakes important is that you can make your companions life worse and it may cause fatal Consequences. There are about 800 dog breeds in the world, including varieties and local breeds. This is made possible by artificial selection. In a way, this means that people were not satisfied with one breed of dog for compatibility, workability or other reasons, so they wanted to diversify the breeds.
And this means that the dog breed of your dreams that you’ve wanted since you were a child may not be your best choice. In this article, I’ll show you how to find the most compatible breed through common breed choosing mistakes.
The Basis For Breed Choosing Mistakes
If we generalize the main reason, we can call it irrationality. Part of what we call artificial selection in dogs is breed purification. Purification means that individuals of the breed continue to be mated within each other. Purification causes the dog to stand out from the others and causes the individuals of the breed to show common characteristics.
The reason why people make wrong decisions is that they choose breeds that they feel emotionally close to, rather than paying attention to these characteristics. Emotion is okay if you are not making a breed choosing mistake. But if you make life difficult for your companion, it can be fatal.
Characteristic Traits of Breeds.
It will be instructive to mention the common characteristics of the breeds due to purification. Then we should do so to prevent dog breed choosing mistakes.
These characteristics are as follows.
Phsycal Characteristics on Dog Breeds
- Size
- Weight
- Life expectancy
- Athleticness
- Strength
- Fur Type & Length
- Color
- Shedding Level
- Coat Grooming Frequency
- Drooling Level
And more racial physical characteristics.
For example, the Newfoundland has webbed feet,
which makes swimming easier.
Personality Characteristics on Dog Breeds
- Activity Level
- Trainability
- Playfulness
- Protectiveness
- Vocalness
- Approach to Dogs.
- Approach to Humans.
- Approach to Children.
- Approach to Strangers
- Approach to other animals.
- Adaptability to Flexible Living
- Need for Exercise and Work
- Focus on the Region or Person
- Location and Climate Compatibility
And more breed specific personality traits. For example, the yodel-like barking found in the Basenji the 5,000 y.o Breed or the attention craving behavior of the Husky (It is adorable by the way).
Irresponsibility turns into a Behavior Problem
We need to take the initiative to take liberties with these characteristics as our lifestyle allows. This characteristics are huge hint for not making any breed choosing mistake. But I think everybody needs to take this more seriously. So I will give some examples that show you how important to do not making any breed choosing mistake.
Example #1 – Turkey’s Banned Dog Breeds
I’ll give you an example, I’m Noah. I’m actually Turkish. In Turkey in 2021, Pitbull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, and later the Staffordshire Terrier and American Bully breeds were banned. With the excuse that they are breeds that are competed in dog fights by vagrants and used as weapons by criminals. These dogs were neutered and their breeding was banned. I think it was a great decision, but it had some consequences.
These punks shifted to a breed called Belgian Malinois.
That was a huge breed choosing mistake for them. Because, Belgian Malinois have a higher prey drive than these banned breeds and therefore require instinct training and daily exercise. These punks were also unaware of this because they were ignorant. They paid for their ignorance and irresponsibility with behavioral disorders and serious injuries.
Example #2 – Toy Poodles
And when it comes to toy poodles, the breed choosing mistake comes up. Because toy poodles are dogs that have been artificially selected from classic poodles and therefore inherited their prey drive, but are still impulsive and need physical work. But most people approach it as a small dog that they can put in the house and live. Any dog trainer who deals with behavior problems will confirm me, friends, most of the dogs with behavior problems are toy poodles. Poodles are direct subject of breed seleciton mistakes…
Fun Fact: Once I was trying to pet one of them and one of them chased me and put me in an embarrassing situation. A few hours later I found out that dog live in the basement of the shop.
How do you not make a dog breed choosing mistake?
- Do not keep a large breed dog in an apartment.
- Don’t keep dogs with thick or dense or double coats in warm places and short or sparse coats in cold places (dog clothes don’t always work).
- Don’t ignore their need for exercise just because they are small.
- Don’t feed dogs whose energy you can’t keep up with.
- If you can’t fulfill the needs of dogs like Border Collies or German Shepherds, which are highly workable and require mental exercise and whose perceptions are incredibly receptive to your commands, don’t buy these breeds if you can’t fulfill these needs.
- Avoid dogs that you cannot control by instinct.
- Do not adopt dogs that already have aggressive tendencies unless you are going to raise them as area guarding dogs.
- Avoid breeds with high expectations of attention that you cannot devote your time to during the day.
- More breed choosing mistake caution.
- And so on.
- Blah, blah, blah.
The truth of the matter is that no matter how long I extend this list, I will not be able to warn for every possibility. But extending this list like me is not something that requires much infrastructure. All you need to do is to research well about the race you want to have. Because otherwise, you may end up in ridiculous situations like getting a Schnauzer or a Pomeranian and saying “Dude, this dog barks a lot!” or choosing a Bernese Mountain Dog and saying “Hell Nah! I just found out that this dog lives a little!”. If that happens, I will laugh at you too. Seriously.
Quick Q&A
Does breed determine behavior?
Breed alone does not explain all of the behavioral differences observed in dogs. Instead, factors such as age and sex appear to be better predictors for specific behavioral traits. Nevertheless, the influence of breeds should not be underestimated. Breeds influence susceptibility to neglect, such as lack of exercise, aggression, apathy, Activity Level, Trainability, Playfulness, Protectiveness, Vocalness, Approach to Dogs, Approach to Humans, Approach to Children, Approach to Strangers, Approach to Other Animals, Adaptability to Flexible Living, Need for Exercise and Work, Focus on the Area or Person, Location and Climate Compatibility. So it is wise to know the breed’s personality traits to make any dog breed selection mistake.
What are the consequences of making a breed choosing mistake?
Breed choosing mistakes can lead to challenges such as behavioral issues, compatibility issues with your lifestyle, and difficulties meeting the dog’s needs. It’s crucial to avoid such mistakes by thoroughly researching and understanding the characteristics of your chosen breed.
How can I prevent breed choosing mistakes when selecting a dog?
To avoid breed choosing mistakes, consider factors like size, energy level, grooming requirements, and temperament that align with your lifestyle. Being aware of common pitfalls and seeking guidance from experts can help you make an informed decision.
As a Result
As a result, being mindful about your choice of dog breed can lead to a happier and more fulfilling relationship with your furry friend. By considering factors like size, temperament, and energy level, you can ensure that your lifestyle aligns well with your chosen breed’s needs. Taking the time to research and understand breed-specific traits can prevent potential challenges down the road. Ultimately, responsible breed selection sets the foundation for a rewarding companionship that lasts a lifetime.
Best Regards, Noah. Don’t forget to take a look at our other articles.