Pure bred or Mutt?

When one goes to get a dog, do you go for a purebred or a mutt?   Do you buy from someone or go to a shelter?  These are very important questions to answer before you ever consider adding a companion to your home.  Dogs of any variety or NOT fair weather animals.  They are meant to be kept for their lifetime, not tossed away at the first sign of trouble.   Thus there are many questions to consider when thinking about getting a pet, of any kind (fish, gerbil, cat, dog, ferret) .

It is my belief, based upon all the information I have ever read or seen and all the self education I have, that ALL modern day dogs are mixed breeds in one way or another.  Science tells us that the DNA and or genetics of a common dog come from the grey wolf which was domesticated several tens of thousands of years ago.  Unequivocal genetic and archaeological evidence shows that humans domesticated wolves on more than one occasion.  Many scientists believe that humans adopted orphaned wolf cubs and nursed them alongside human babies. Once these early adoptees started breeding among themselves, a new generation of tame "wolf-like" domestic animals would result which would, over generations of time, become more dog-like.  From there, humans began to select for specific traits and thus create "breeds" of dogs.

I have had both mutts and purebreds in my lifetime.    I find both have been wonderful animals.   I do not consider my dogs as "pets" per say, but more companions which add to my quality of life.  In the above picture you see four of my dogs I had at the same time.   Echo, the doberman, Missy, beagle/cocker mix, Blake, greyhound, rottweiler, chow chow, collie mix, and Brasso, the German Shepherd Dog.    Each one of these dogs had it's own strengths and weaknesses.   We , as "owners"  need to look for and focus on the strengths that our companions have to offer us. 

Both Echo and Missy turned out to be fantastic and certified Therapy Dogs, and also both were Service Dogs.   They went into grocery stores, restaurants,  nursing homes, hospitals, schools, churches, and any other place I wished to take them.   By federal law they were granted access to any place I was allowed in.   Blake was an excellent mouser and neck warmer.  Brasso was the Military War Dog who served to protect me, my home, and the other animals that lived in it.  

 With the purebred, you are able to get a fairly accurate estimate of size and what the breed was originally bred to do, as well as the group it is placed in by the standards of AKC  or UKC.   There are people who  can tell you about the characteristics of the purebred dogs you have and may be willing to help out with problems.    You can find a reputable breeder if you wish to purchase a purebred.   No, not a yard full of puppies with a make shift pen out in the country where the dogs are kept confined, not socialized and bred to death.   A reputable breeder is one that has taken into account the best characteristics of their particalar breed , such as a good herder, watch dog, police dog, lap dog, along with the best set of genetics possible.   This only happens when a person is willing to spend a large amount of time and money on a dog.   Genetic testing, showing, training, careful selection of the very best puppies and making sure all dogs that go to homes not able to achieve these standards will have an altered pet, not able to be bred randomly.   Papers mean nothing more to the average Joe Citizen than to look at the accomplishments of the generations past. 

There are deeply misguided people today who are taking pure bred dogs and mixing two breeds together.   This is NOT a purebred.  And to purchase one of these dogs is a huge mistake !    You may as well go save a life of a mutt in a shelter than give money to such uninformed individuals.   They have only produced a mutt.  To create a new breed takes many , many long years and a lot of careful selection.  By definition a pure bred dog is one that when you breed it to another of the same breed you ALWAYS get exact copies of the same type of dog.   It is not hit and miss.  Of course coat color, texture , and length vary in the same breeds of some dog but you still have a Pug, and a Pug , looking like a Pug. 

A purebred dog offers you a glance into its possible medical history.   Some are predisposed to hip problems, bloat, eye issues, seizures, etc.   To be aware of this is always good and again you can see if the breeder you are buying from screened the parents, grandparents, and other ancestors for all the genetically linked medical problems.   If a breeder does not have this information available to you, as a purchaser, then don't buy the dog.  You could be in for a world of heart ache when your one year old Labrador Retriever gets hip dysplasia.  Being aware that many deep chested, large breed dogs can suffer from Gastric dilatation volvulus (bloat or torsion of the stomach filled with excess gas and becomes twisted)  is being a good owner.  Thus you can seek to avoid this condition and know what to do if it occurs.

So, on the one hand, knowing the reasons your dog was developed as a breed, how closely the dog you purchased still retains those characteristics, and understanding the possible medical issues your pet can acquire, is very helpful in making a decision as to what type of dog would fit your family situation the best.   On the other hand are the mutts.  Just as smart as the purebreds and sometimes with many fewer health issues.  DNA testing is available through the internet for your mutt if you wish to find out what breeds are all mixed up in there.   There are so many people who do not train, love, research, and choose to keep their dog once they pick one, that our shelters and pounds are overflowing with the unwanted.   But that does not mean these dogs are throw a ways!   The reasons people dump their dogs are as varied as the breeds themselves, from "he pottied on the carpet, yes I know he is only ten weeks old but I have new carpet!"  ,  "I don't know why the dog keeps running away when I let it out and leave for work, he has lived there almost three weeks now and if he refuses to stay in the yard I simply can't keep paying the fees at the city pound"   , or  "I can't believe the dog bit me when I startled it and jerked it's food out from beneath it's nose but I won't have a dog that bites !"

Thus, the dogs dumped at shelters and city pounds are not broken creatures.   They were owned by broken humans who probably have no idea that when you teach a human baby how to walk it takes tiny steps and falls down a lot.   We are a world of I want it done yesterday and that makes a sad case for all dogs adopted to homes with these type of people.   If you don't have time, don't want to clean up after spills and shed hair, don't want to hear the dog bark, DON'T get a dog. 
The mutts I have had through rescue, shelters and city pounds have turned out to be just as easy to train and very high in levels of intelligence.   Even in one litter of purebred dogs, each puppy has a different plane of energy, attention, and willingness to work.   No matter what breed or mixed breed you pick for your family situation, be sure to research , read, ask questions, and do not just jump at the first puppy in the window. 


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Gone Ridin'....

Yes, that is a Doberman sitting in a real Harley!!   This is Zeus.  A close friend of mine bought this lovely motorcycle for him and his girlfriend to go touring.   It turned out that again, dog was man's best friend, as she chose not to go riding.   So, not wanting to put a good bike out to pasture because he was left high and dry, he decided that Zeus would like to go along.   With a bit of training, a sidecar (fitted especially for Zeus)  and protective gear, my friend had the best touring companion he ever imagined.   There was never any complaints about where they lodged, how often they stopped or what other women he talked with.

Zeus and my friend toured all over the United States.  He went to Sturgis, where of course he was a huge hit.    Zeus was extremely well trained and friendly.  He used to come and see me often and would do his tricks for cookies.  I would look at him and ask ,
"Zeus, what's on top of the house?"
Woof !
"Zeus, what is the last name of  the best baseball player with the first name of Babe?"
Woof!

And that was just the initial crowd teasers.   As you can tell Zeus was a very intelligent dog.   He had the looks and the grace, was fearless and would keep strays away from "His" motorcycle.    With a little ingenuity we can all have the traveling companion of our dreams in our pet.   Zeus and his owner covered many a mile for his long years and last I saw they were burning rubber on some highway far out in no mans land.    


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Prowlin' around

Wolf or dog or wolf/dog mix?

Many people love the sight of a wolf and believe they would make the perfect companion for their homes.   Wolves are often touted as the perfect predator, prowler, and pack of natures choices.   I agree that their beauty and stealth is unmatched by any man made dog.   Their loyalty and protection prowess also rises far above that of our pets.   But who are wolves loyal and protective to?    Not us humans.   Packs will defend members to the death and bring "home" food for the weak.   But only their own species get such considerations.

In truth, captive wolves , or wolf dogs, have none of these qualities.   The wolf will always retain that wildness in its genes and thus causes so much heart ache on both human and animals to try to keep them.  When a wolf is mixed with a dog we get a very confused creature.  Part longing to be free and part built to lose its natural fear of man, the animal is miserable.   Often these poor animals, intentionally bred by people, will end up euthanized or dumped at shelters for wolves because they bit, dug, climbed, howled, and a myriad of other bad behaviors humans don't tolerate.

The wolf and wolf dogs feel a deep need to not be confined.    Just as they would dig a den in the wild, they will dig, dig, dig to get under your fence to ....... ?      Once they are loose and running the neighborhood, wolf hybrids become a nuisance to others.    They will not be great fighters for dog fights because they only fight each other until dominance is established and one submits to the other.  They will not protect you or your home from people because hybrids are inherently afraid of people on their wolf side, so they become distrustful and lack the self confidence to be defensive animal.   Wolves own their food, and often humans will get bitten trying to feed or pick up their bowls.   There is no room in wolf society for the faint of heart at the top of the leadership ladder.    Hybrids will push you aside, physically and mentally, and begin running your home in the way they see fit.   If the couch is the choice for sitting on before you, you will just have to find another chair.   If your steak looks better than their dinner, you will just have cook something else.

Hybrids also can climb and jump very well.   Huge fences must be erected to keep them in along with concrete below the ground.   Maybe even a top on the fence would be needed to confine them properly   Looking at the mental picture I just drew, you will see a cage, or pen.    Now why would anyone want to cage a wild animal for our own benefit?   That question I do not have the answer for.    The wolf above looks so beautiful because he is free in his natural environment.   Let's utilize all the strengths of a man made dog and leave the wolf to it's own kind.


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One Mans Trash is another Mans Treasure

Meet Brutus, AKA Tobias as a registered name.  For all intents and purposes he appears to be a handsome, healthy, purebred Doberman.   But if you had seen his before picture, you might ask yourself what his former owners were thinking. 

 I met Brutus when he occasionally found his way to my front porch in his running escape from his family.  He would pause just long enough for a few pets or until he heard the familiar truck and yelling of his name, then he would scramble off to run again.  Other days I could hear him barking and see him one block over, tied with a six foot metal chain to the front porch.   100 degrees or minus 20 degrees, it mattered not, this dog was tied outside with no food, water, or shelter for many hours at a time.  The people who owned him made methamphetamine at their home and thought a protection dog was needed.  The summer he kept getting loose he whittled down to a mere 40 pounds, covered in fleas and collar falling off his neck.

A woman came by the house and asked if it was my Doberman who was laying in the street over there on one extremely hot day.  I hurried over in my car to find the poor thing laying on the hot pavement, middle of the road, under the shade of a tree.   He was dehydrated and close to death.  I picked him up and brought him home.  Bathed, flea treated, watered, fed, and set him up in a cool pen with a fan blowing on him, praying he would live.   Two days went by before the owners were searching the alleys and saw I had him.   Broke my heart to give this "property", as the police told me, back to these careless people.  Biding my time for what seemed an eternity and working with the local pound I finally got a call saying the drug dealers wanted to sell the dog.   Eagerly I implored a neighbor to pay for and retrieve Brutus on my behalf.   The price was not too steep to save this lovely animal.

Once set free into a home with loving people and renamed Brutus so he could forget that old way of living, he blossomed into a fine, handsome gentleman.  A few minor bad habits were broken and after that Brutus enjoyed many car rides, all the food he wanted, getting to be a lap dog, and sleeping under the covers in the bed with his head on the pillows.   Loyal and gentle, he was, to all  he met.   He shared his home with cats and dogs while enjoying the luxury of a doggie door.  Brutus lived to a ripe old age, and as it happens with some large breed dogs, his hips gave out and his suffering had to be ended.

If there is humor in this tail it would be in the times when the old owners saw who had purchased their dog.   I would laugh when they stood on their porch and saw Brutus standing at the back fenced in yard looking their way, and they would call to him.........   "Toby !   Toby  !"       To say he was smart is an understatement, for I swear he would look around the yard as if to say , "Who are they calling for"  then would turn on his paw and head into the house without so much as a backwards glance at the people who had raised him for the first years of his life.   I see a lesson in this story as well.  It shows that although dog may be mans best friend, he certainly knows who is cruel to him and holds them accountable for their actions.


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Trust and Respect in pet relationships

Trust, in both human and pet relationships, is vital.   It takes a long time to create total trust and only moments to destroy it. This is a picture of Dozer (the dog)  and Cinder ( the African Grey Parrot) showing perfect trust.  Neither dog nor bird are leashed or tied in any fashion, they have free will to leave if they wanted.   I had Dozer before I got Cinder as a tiny fledgling.   Hand feeding this bird along side of the dogs showed them that I valued Cinder.   As time passed the dogs were shown that this 500 gram or 17 ounce bird held a high ranking in the pack.   I allowed Cinder to exert authority over the dogs for the obvious reason of size difference.  One paw slap in play from my pet would kill him.    Gentle introduction and correction of the dogs allowed me to have Cinder out of his cage (always supervised)  with his four legged buddies.

Many dogs greet you with an intact level of trust they willingly offer.   If you respond negatively to the pets greeting then you have broken a level of trust and must work to regain that.  Respect goes hand and hand with trust.  When your pet does not respect you the behavior offered is sometimes unpleasant.   You can see this upon the pets greeting, do they jump up on you?  Or do they come and stand before you waiting their turn to be petted. 

 Jumping up is one sign of disrespect.  Another is biting the hand that feeds it.   Many a dog has been sent to the pound or euthanized because of just these two behaviors.  But bad habits can be dissected to find the root cause and worked on to correct. 
Just as some dogs offer you trust and respect upon greeting, you too need to respect them.  Gone are the days of foisting an open hand down to the pets nose to sniff.   They don't need your hand to smell because every part of you exudes scent.  You are ... scent... to them.  Following Mother Nature's lead we acknowledge that the dog's first sense in life is smell, then hearing, then sight comes last.  Too often people try to communicate with dogs from the eyes, then ears , then nose.   This is confusing and will not build your respect in their eyes.   Cinder first heard me, then saw me.  So I follow that line when working with birds. 

When you achieve total trust and respect from your pet, be it dog, bird , or cat, you will find a new level of relationship has opened up.  There will be little need to constantly talk; instead learn to  develop your communication skills in non verbal ways.   People will be amazed when, with the flick of a hand signal, your dog hurries to your side and sits quietly.   Enjoy the secret relationship you have developed with your kids and watch as the mutual trust and respect grows.


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Control with kindness

All animals, people and furred, feathered or finned, work best on positive reinforcement.   When I first attended a class on dog training, years ago, I was schooled in the old "pull and jerk"  method.    That method is when one takes a dog, who has not been taught what command you are trying to achieve, has a choke or pinch collar put around their neck, and is lead then jerked when each command is given.   Being young and eager to learn, I thought this was a working method.   As time went by I soon saw how unfair it was and how many problems it created.
We must realize our dogs do not speak our language.  Be it English, German, or another we have to show the dog what we are saying.   People often believe that a dog can only learn the proper words for a "trick"  or command.   Trial and error has shown this to be untrue.   As an example, if you are trying to get your dog to sit... there is no need to use the English word "sit".    You can use any language you wish and any word you wish.   We only use "sit",  as a place keeper, because it would be difficult to recall if you were saying "mashed potatoes"  as your command.  But be the verbal command to the dog "sit" , "sitz"  (German), or "mashed potatoes"  they all can represent the dog placing its rear end on the ground.
First, a teacher must teach, or show, the student what they desire.   Gentle hands on your pet will help them into the sit position.  If you prefer, tiny training treats can be used to maneuver the animal to the correct position.    Each dog is an individual and must be treated as such in order to reap the most benefits with commands.  I like to "catch"  a behavior that my pet is doing and reward it.   This means, once you have a re pour, watching closely until your pet does a desired behavior.   The dog sits on his own, you lavish praise or treats, petting, love upon them along with saying something like "good sit"  or "yes sit".    You are using the same word all the time so the animal is not confused.   "Good"  or "yes"  are place holders for your praise.   Pick a word that means the dog has done well and stick with it.
Most of my training occurs at home, off leash, not worrying about a collar.   This method is great for abused animals who fear human contact.   Using training treats of any kind, and leading a dog into a position is also one of my favorites.  Either way your pet learns.  You have not taught the "sit" , for the dog always knew how to sit.  What you are teaching is the English, German, or other language to your dog.   By showing your pet how to communicate with you, a whole new window has been opened.   A way to get across your desire for you pup to follow your commands.   This brings trust into your relationship and boosts the dogs self esteem.   


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Feral or Friend ?

Meet Blake.   He was found in the Shawnee National Forest by hikers who then contacted a local no - kill shelter.   The shelter trapped Blake along with his mother.    I was contacted by the shelter because he had no people skills.   Often there is talk about feral dogs, such as Blake and his mom, with contempt and fear.   That comes from lack of education.  This dog was no monster.  He had no idea how to eat or drink out of bowls, climb steps, allow human contact, or anything a dog raised in our homes would have.  However, he was not a lost cause. 
A compact boy with a huge spirit, I worked endlessly with him.  It took three weeks before he would use bowls for food or water, two months to learn the steps, and hand contact was a long challenge.
But I never gave up.  As happens sometimes, this foster kid became my dog.  He soon exceeded all my goals for him.   He began to excel in obedience and trust.   Although his circle of family and friends was small, he still attended training classes with me, and enjoyed rides in the car, trips to the lake and vacations.
 His favorite sport was mouse hunting.    He would , very excitedly , lead me to an area in the garage and then lay there.  Looking back to me telling me the mouse was right there.
Of course I could not see it.   Often he would catch a mouse on his own,  racing in the dog door and show me his prize, offering to share with me.   I always politely refused.
Dumped dogs in the country are a common site.  Sometimes farmers feed them, more often they are shot, killed by cars or starve to death.   It is NOT natural for a domesticated dog to be dropped off in the wilderness and expected to thrive.  A lucky few are saved and rehabilitated.    If you ever think you can help a litter of puppies by dumping your problem onto someone else' property, think again.  You have only caused grief and maybe heartache for these little ones. 
Yes I have read about the occasional pack of feral dogs that will bite or kill a person.   But the amount of times this happens compared to the quantity of strays is infinitesimal.   Blake did not have an easy life.   I wondered what his DNA would say he was so I had him tested with a local online kit.   For a 35 pound dog, no higher than a beagle , I was surprised.   The report came back with Chow Chow, Rottweiler, Collie, and Greyhound.   Reading DNA can be misleading as it has limitations on recognized breeds and this was fourth removed.     Still Blake had the heart of a warrior but the misfortune of bad genes.   He had a bad under bite, like a bull dog,  terrible arthritis most of his adult life, and luxating  patellas (knee caps that slid out of place every time he bent his rear legs ).    For all his problems he got the best of veterinary care and tons of love.   It was beyond sad when he looked up at me one day, near his tenth year of life with me, and clearly he was in unbearable pain.    I never allow my animals to linger and suffer for my sake.    He had a week of being carried everywhere, as he could barely walk, with all the snacks he wanted.   On his last day we drove to the lake and sat alone on the shore and said good bye.    I still miss my little man but I know he was snatched out of harms way by greater hands than mine and placed into my life for learning.   Thank you Blake for all you taught me.


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Dogs and Cats....

This is Blake with a tiny kitten I found dumped at my house in the springtime.   It was not yet weaned and needed to be hand fed.    I kept him inside the house with the four dogs.  Yep, four dogs.   Now not all dogs like cats, and some like cats but not kittens.   Three of my four dogs loved this kitten.   My Doberman, Echo, was "Mommy".  Carefully watching that he did not stray too far when outside or get under buildings.  She cleaned him from head to toe and had to be sure to sit and watch patiently at each meal.    Echo has a long time fascination with kittens.   Years before this one,  there was a feral mother who had five kitties under a storage barn.   Although the mother was untouchable, the babies did not know to be afraid of the big Doberman who discovered them by sticking her nose under the shed.    By the time these fragile babies had their eyes open, the smell of Echo was all around them and they saw her as a surrogate mom.  
Two times a day I would go out with a plate of canned food mixed with kitten formula and tell Echo we were going to feed her kittens.  Like a proud mother she would hurry along and lay beside the plate of food as each baby took their turn.  After they ate she cleaned them off.  This Doberman  adored canned food yet she left it alone so the babies got their fill.   Often other species will come along and adopt frail babies.   When the mother cat was back Echo went in the house.   When the mother had weaned the babies I took them inside and rallied them to the vet for shots, flea treatments and worming.    When they were healthy and ready to be placed I took them, in conjunction with a no kill shelter,  to adoptions.  All were spayed/ neutered and placed in good homes.   The above kitten also went through a local humane society and when ready to go was placed in a good home as well.  
The other dogs that lived in the house were Missy ( cocker /beagle mix ) and Brasso (German Shepherd Dog).    Missy had no desire to be a mother at all.   She would get up and leave any time the kitten made it's way over to her.    An owner can not force a friendship between pets.    Brasso was having nothing to do with the kitty.   He had to be watched as he thought it might make a tasty snack.  But when Brasso dealt with adult cats he had no ulterior motives.   Each dog and cat is different.   At one time I had three adult cats living indoors with the four adult dogs and an African Grey Parrot.   There was total harmony.    It all depends upon your approach, how your cat and or dog see you feel about their relationship and how much work you are willing to put into it.    (I do not recommend ever dropping cats and dogs together without supervision until they become pack mates)
Just like human children, dogs learn from us what is acceptable and what we will allow.   Good communication, studying body language of the animals and patience is all you need to reap the benefits of a well rounded home with many species. 


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Lookin' up ....

Spike is looking up at his squirrel friend who is just out of camera shot , looking down at him.   The squirrels are so tame here from feeding they know just how far the dog can get before they must leap into the tree.  

Eye contact is an extremely important tool in your canines life.   He watches your face most of the time.  Micro expressions cross your face that we are not even aware of but the dog picks up.  Thus the dog learns what pleases us and what upsets us.  Before any meaningful relationship can happen your dog must acknowledge you.  Watching your face, hands, body movements all cue him as to what you are thinking and feeling.  Before we utter a word the dog knows we are frustrated, angry or happy. 

Knowing this can greatly help with training.  Getting your pet to look at you boosts self esteem for them while raising awareness of their environment.  I find this extremely helpful with abused ones who cower and look away.   Time and treats will bring your furry , four footed one around.    

When watching dogs at play they seem to have a secret language.   They stand still, facing one another, then burst into play at the same time.  To some it seems magical, but watching their posture, eye movements and subtle non verbal cues can help you to read what is going on in that fuzzy brain. 

Getting to know your dogs subtle, non verbal language benefits you.   You can accurately read if a pet is going to start a fight with another dog, lunge at cat, snap at a person, or needs to go outside.    Once we become aware of this language we can quickly prevent unwanted disasters.  So often it is the person who does not "read" their animal who is yelling the loudest about a dog fight or a house breaking accident.    It takes some time, and for humans to step beyond our "me" world, to read and comprehend the dog.  But like a good novel, the information we obtain is invaluable. 

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Howlin' at the .................. Train ?

Have you ever heard a dog howl?    This is Jamoka and Brutus practicing their howling inside the house.   Jamoka was the first dog I had who howled and it warmed my heart.  His voice was heard for ambulances, trains, police sirens, to name a few.  It mattered not if the sound was in his immediate area or on the television.   When Brutus joined the pack, years later, he did not know how to partake in the "talking".   True to form, Jamoka taught his new pack mate.
Not all dogs howl, and some breeds do more than others.   Siberian Huskies or Alaskan Malamutes are two of the breeds that come to mind as avid howlers or "talkers".   When our dogs sing to us in this manor we can learn how they are feeling.  Some will do this when left alone or if they are fearful.
Sometimes this is an expression to pack mates or other dogs in the neighborhood telling them something is going on over here at my house.  A distant siren or train may sound like a howl to your dog and so he is simply being courteous and answering  the other  "dog".
Grace, the beagle, began to bay when a mom racoon and five babies moved into the attic.  Every morning she would go out and sniff excitedly around the back door then stop at a spot and bay.   Usually it was where a coon could climb onto the roof.  Every night I would answer her "call" by going out with a flashlight to see if we had corned the coon.  One night I was rewarded with a huge 25 pound raccoon sitting on top of the dog pen.  The coon was clearly not phased by the dog and just sat there staring at her.    My presence and the flashlight did little to send the coon away either.  Lucky us, we had our coon, then her five babies, for twelve incredibly long weeks.
When the coon moved out Grace was crushed.   Heartbroken at the loss of her foe, she began to not bay but howl at passing train whistles.   Living near the tracks, there was quite a bit of howling.  Spike got to hear it all.  One day last week, I heard Grace howling and I peered out the back door as a tiny, unfamiliar yipping howl joined her.   It was a Kodak moment , of course I didn't have the camera ready, to see Grace sitting with her face held high to the sky.    Spike stood next to her, keeping up the mournful howl.   I simply burst into a huge smile.   Dogs do that you know, make you smile.
So next time you hear a howl, maybe try your hand at joining in with your canine friend.  The connection will be endless.


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