There are over 150 types of dog breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) and hundreds more recognized by other clubs and even more unofficially. In addition, there are the mongrels. That's over a million kinds of combinations of dog breeds.
When dog owners are getting their first dog, all of us will ask ourselves this question, what dog do I want? But do all of us think the next question, why do I want "that" dog? The "that" I'm referring to, is the breed. I've had a student once, wonderful family, large house and the parents wanted to get the kids a dog as a pet. They went over to a local pet store (not that I agree on this, but not now), and wanted to get a beagle. Now, I myself am a beagle owner, and other than the howling and the constant smelling the ground, beagles are great with kids and families. What went wrong with this picture is that they got a Chow Chow instead. In general, Chow Chow are generally good guard dogs, but they are split to two types, the not-so-aggressive type and aggressive type. Unfortunately, the family got the latter. What happened after that? All family members had small bite marks on their hands, they couldn't get the choke collar off once they put it on the first time cause the dog bites every time the collar touches its ears, and overall, the dog does not respect any of the family members and think its the boss. The reason why they got it in the first place? "Oooooh, it's sooo cute....". Typical answer. I have no offense on puppies being cute, but if the family had understood the breed, they would be better prepared, or better, get the beagle instead. That could save a lot of trouble and better yet, save a dog from being on the streets or the pound.
There are many types of categorizations of dog breeds, but this round I'm going to use the functionality categorization. The AKC recognizes these breeds:
Herding Group - German Shepherd, Border Collie
Hound Group- Beagle, Blood Hound
Non-Sporting Group- Chow Chow, Shiba Inu
Sporting Group - Cocker Spaniel, Labrador
Terrier Group - Bull Terrier, Irish Terrier
Toy Group - Poodle, Chihuahua
Working Group - Akita, St Bernard, Boxer
Each group has their own function in life, their characters or personalities might not be the same, but the training method, what to train them for, how to train them, the amount of time and effort needed, is quite similar more often than not, the question remains whether you know your breed. And this does not stop here, how is your lifestyle, how much time you have for the dog, where do you live, how big is your house, how big is your garden, all these are to be taken into consideration as well.
I live in a single story house with a 10 feet by 10 feet garden, I don't have time nor the patience for grooming but I do have the time for bringing it for jogs or traiworksning. It's my first dog so I want to have one that I can handle more easily. I don't want a dog that has a big-ass appetite. I want a hyperactive dog, not one that lazes around. These factored in when I decided to get Rei - my Beagle girl.
After years of talking to dog owners, you'll be surprised how many owners get their dogs because of the "their cute" reason. Now I know for a fact that there are some pet stores that actually have experienced dog owners/trainers to explain how to have a dog (The owner of Pet's Safary in Ikano and a lady that either works there or co-owns it had impressed me so far), however, these are the only examples I've got so far. At least through this way, dog owners would know what they are getting into when they get the dog.
Hopefully this would shine some light on the issue and I will continue more on this topic on my next post.
Until then, Woof!
Sunday, November 25, 2012
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Dog Attacks
I remember the days when I read that dogs attacked, mauled or even killed humans, most recent one being the case of an old man being mauled by a bull terrier in Subang Jaya during his morning jog. Most have typically blamed the dog, many have blamed the owner, but how about the victim? (Please note that this post has no offense towards any victims of dog attacks and is not blaming anyone in particular, this is just to only share knowledge so that we can reduce the possibilities of future accidents)
It is the owner's responsibility to ensure that their dogs are inside their home's compound, no matter what the reason, there is no justified excuse to let a dog roam freely in the streets, especially ones that are strong enough to injure people. Dogs are always going to be animals, although loyal, their natural instincts will never be wiped out from their blood. Trainers can only train a dog to be obedient on command, but dogs will always be the descendants of wolves, it is not something that can be trained to be forgotten. Most people tend to think that because they are domesticated, they would start to think logically or humanly.
Here's an example of what I see everyday. My dogs are within the garden compound of my house. Now due to the transparent fence and gate, practically they can see everything happening outside. What I notice is that sometimes, joggers passing by would stare at them and taunt them. What they fail to realize is that by doing so they would only make the dogs feel protective of their territory,making them aggressive but still within a boundary due to the fence, so what do they do? They bark.
But let's just say, the gates are opened for some reason, and the dogs are out, most likely the dogs would aim for the person that taunted them before, because to the dogs, that person is a threat. Now, who's to blame? Other than the owner that failed to make sure the gate is not closed properly, who is the one to blame in this attack, the dog which was trying to protect, or the victim that taunted the dog in the first place?
Every morning on my way to work, passing by SMK Damansara Jaya, there is a piece of land beside the school at the traffic light going into Sprint Highway, I would see this black dog (mongrel, medium size) practically staying on that piece of green grass. I noticed that when strangers go by the roadside while ignoring the dog, the dog would only follow behind them, obediently. Was the dog trained? I don't think so. Was the dog a pure breed? After years of looking at dogs, I doubt I'd miss that mongrel look. Without posing a threat to the dog, the dog could co-exist with other beings (not sure with cats though, that's another story).
Now, I'm not denying that there are dogs that would attack anything that moves, but dogs should not be natural attackers for no reason. There are numerous reasons they could be at that state, they could be mentally unstable, tortured, traumatized, startled etc. I'd believe even humans in these conditions could attack others more likely than others (but hey, maybe that's just me).
But looking at it more subjectively, a dog normally doesn't bite unless it needs to or is commanded to. Now, I wasn't at the scene of any of the past dog attacks, nor I cannot say that would started to attack, the victim or the dog. But there are a few pointers for someone without dog knowledge, on what to do when you see a dog roaming the streets:
1. Never taunt a dog without a valid reason, don't throw stones or swing a branch at a dog for being too close. You'd just be taunting or challenging it for no reason. And if the dog is aggressive, you're just picking a fight with it.
2. Don't act afraid, or get frozen. Dogs can literally smell fear, it's the chemical reaction in your body that let's them smell that you are afraid. Once that happens, you're the prey. Just act normal, or try to act normal and walk off the other direction calmly and don't look back. After they see that you are "retreating" they might follow but after a few steps, they might also leave you be. Never run, as that is a sign of being scared and they will chase.
3. A dog is basically challenging your stand in his territory. If you don't plan to fight the dog, don't stand up to the challenge. Just walk away calmly.
4. Never try to think that you are OK with all animals. Even dog trainers/owners not necessarily get along with all dogs. Dogs are loyal but only to specific people. They will snap at anyone that they feel is a threat to themselves and to their owners.
5. If you see a dog faraway, and you have to go that direction, but it doesn't show any sign of trying to attack, it just looks at you at a more normal way. Just walk by, don't look at it, don't care for it and walk on calmly. The dog most likely will lose interest in you as there's nothing for it to be attracted to.
Now, in the media, certain dogs have been characterized as dangerous and aggressive, first it were rottweilers, then German Shepherds, Pitbulls and Bull Terriers. Personally, I think it's nonsense, just because a few dogs from a breed attacks, that makes them dangerous? It's just like saying a Malaysian that killed someone in another country, then that country should brand Malaysians as dangerous. Or someone driving a Ferrari crashed, the car should be branded too dangerous to be driven. This doesn't make sense to me. It is constant training and socializing that can help dogs to be less aggressive and obedient, but there will always be accidents if precautions are not carefully taken. This all depends on how much work the owner put in and how the public as a whole react to dogs.
I know this Japanese lady, Sayori-san, that comes to Bandar Utama Central Park almost every week day. She adopted a traumatized black German Shepherd by the name of Bangsar (yes, because they stay there). Bangsar was a victim of torture, because there were obvious burn marks on his neck, due to constant usage of the electric collar. Now electric collars are common tools to train security dogs, so that they are obedient and aggressive at the same time. But sadly, some trainers tend to go over board, and when the dogs are not coping to their training program, they could use the collar as a torturing tool without noticing it.
Bangsar was saved by a Non-Profit Charity Organization, and was adopted by Sayori-san, first time I met Bangsar, he didn't trust me, he was not aggressive, but he didn't let me touch him. It's normal as he was tortured by humans. But after a few months of constant introductions to the park, my third meeting with Bangsar let me to be surprised, that he was much opened German Shepherd that is now approachable and of course lovable.
Dogs, like humans, can be great at times and aggressive at other moments, it only depends on when and where. Hope this knowledge sharing can bring some insight into how a dog reacts and how humans should react to them.
Like always, please post your comments below or send me an email if you want me to post some information that you'd like me to share at wchui22061985@gmail.com
Till next time, woof!
It is the owner's responsibility to ensure that their dogs are inside their home's compound, no matter what the reason, there is no justified excuse to let a dog roam freely in the streets, especially ones that are strong enough to injure people. Dogs are always going to be animals, although loyal, their natural instincts will never be wiped out from their blood. Trainers can only train a dog to be obedient on command, but dogs will always be the descendants of wolves, it is not something that can be trained to be forgotten. Most people tend to think that because they are domesticated, they would start to think logically or humanly.
Here's an example of what I see everyday. My dogs are within the garden compound of my house. Now due to the transparent fence and gate, practically they can see everything happening outside. What I notice is that sometimes, joggers passing by would stare at them and taunt them. What they fail to realize is that by doing so they would only make the dogs feel protective of their territory,making them aggressive but still within a boundary due to the fence, so what do they do? They bark.
But let's just say, the gates are opened for some reason, and the dogs are out, most likely the dogs would aim for the person that taunted them before, because to the dogs, that person is a threat. Now, who's to blame? Other than the owner that failed to make sure the gate is not closed properly, who is the one to blame in this attack, the dog which was trying to protect, or the victim that taunted the dog in the first place?
Every morning on my way to work, passing by SMK Damansara Jaya, there is a piece of land beside the school at the traffic light going into Sprint Highway, I would see this black dog (mongrel, medium size) practically staying on that piece of green grass. I noticed that when strangers go by the roadside while ignoring the dog, the dog would only follow behind them, obediently. Was the dog trained? I don't think so. Was the dog a pure breed? After years of looking at dogs, I doubt I'd miss that mongrel look. Without posing a threat to the dog, the dog could co-exist with other beings (not sure with cats though, that's another story).
Now, I'm not denying that there are dogs that would attack anything that moves, but dogs should not be natural attackers for no reason. There are numerous reasons they could be at that state, they could be mentally unstable, tortured, traumatized, startled etc. I'd believe even humans in these conditions could attack others more likely than others (but hey, maybe that's just me).
But looking at it more subjectively, a dog normally doesn't bite unless it needs to or is commanded to. Now, I wasn't at the scene of any of the past dog attacks, nor I cannot say that would started to attack, the victim or the dog. But there are a few pointers for someone without dog knowledge, on what to do when you see a dog roaming the streets:
1. Never taunt a dog without a valid reason, don't throw stones or swing a branch at a dog for being too close. You'd just be taunting or challenging it for no reason. And if the dog is aggressive, you're just picking a fight with it.
2. Don't act afraid, or get frozen. Dogs can literally smell fear, it's the chemical reaction in your body that let's them smell that you are afraid. Once that happens, you're the prey. Just act normal, or try to act normal and walk off the other direction calmly and don't look back. After they see that you are "retreating" they might follow but after a few steps, they might also leave you be. Never run, as that is a sign of being scared and they will chase.
3. A dog is basically challenging your stand in his territory. If you don't plan to fight the dog, don't stand up to the challenge. Just walk away calmly.
4. Never try to think that you are OK with all animals. Even dog trainers/owners not necessarily get along with all dogs. Dogs are loyal but only to specific people. They will snap at anyone that they feel is a threat to themselves and to their owners.
5. If you see a dog faraway, and you have to go that direction, but it doesn't show any sign of trying to attack, it just looks at you at a more normal way. Just walk by, don't look at it, don't care for it and walk on calmly. The dog most likely will lose interest in you as there's nothing for it to be attracted to.
Now, in the media, certain dogs have been characterized as dangerous and aggressive, first it were rottweilers, then German Shepherds, Pitbulls and Bull Terriers. Personally, I think it's nonsense, just because a few dogs from a breed attacks, that makes them dangerous? It's just like saying a Malaysian that killed someone in another country, then that country should brand Malaysians as dangerous. Or someone driving a Ferrari crashed, the car should be branded too dangerous to be driven. This doesn't make sense to me. It is constant training and socializing that can help dogs to be less aggressive and obedient, but there will always be accidents if precautions are not carefully taken. This all depends on how much work the owner put in and how the public as a whole react to dogs.
I know this Japanese lady, Sayori-san, that comes to Bandar Utama Central Park almost every week day. She adopted a traumatized black German Shepherd by the name of Bangsar (yes, because they stay there). Bangsar was a victim of torture, because there were obvious burn marks on his neck, due to constant usage of the electric collar. Now electric collars are common tools to train security dogs, so that they are obedient and aggressive at the same time. But sadly, some trainers tend to go over board, and when the dogs are not coping to their training program, they could use the collar as a torturing tool without noticing it.
Bangsar was saved by a Non-Profit Charity Organization, and was adopted by Sayori-san, first time I met Bangsar, he didn't trust me, he was not aggressive, but he didn't let me touch him. It's normal as he was tortured by humans. But after a few months of constant introductions to the park, my third meeting with Bangsar let me to be surprised, that he was much opened German Shepherd that is now approachable and of course lovable.
Dogs, like humans, can be great at times and aggressive at other moments, it only depends on when and where. Hope this knowledge sharing can bring some insight into how a dog reacts and how humans should react to them.
Like always, please post your comments below or send me an email if you want me to post some information that you'd like me to share at wchui22061985@gmail.com
Till next time, woof!
Friday, October 19, 2012
Owners and Neighbors
For my first post, I'm re-posting a comment that I made in Facebook regarding Owners and their neighbors. We discuss on what it means to be an owner and the responsibility while also giving an in sight to neighbors who are not dog lovers what happens to dogs that get taken away.
Introductions
For my first blog post, wanted to introduce who I am and what is the blog about.
I'm Jon, an amateur dog trainer/handler that has been in the works for about 2 years now. I myself am having and training a Beagle and a Great dane mixed. I belong to a dog training group called Pawsitive Friends, where we train dogs majorly for Obedience.
The purpose of this blog is to share knowledge, experience and personal thoughts on issues relating to dogs, such as obedience, healthcare, problems with having a dog, breeding etc. The blog is open to all to comment, as in the Canine world, there is no such thing as 100% correct method, every dog has a different training or treatment method, just like humans.
We welcome disputes and objections, but please do not only throw in negative comments and leave it be, cause that will not help anything. Only constructive opinions or disputes are welcomed.
As Malaysia is a country with various races, cultures and religions, dogs are often misunderstood and under-estimated. Only a handful of knowledgeable owners/handlers/breeders know what is are the better ways to own a dog and to fully enjoy the life. Hopefully this blog will help with the situation, to pass along the knowledge to other dog owners so that we can make our lives as dog owners much better.
We will post our comments and our techniques online, anyone who has comments or questions can let us know and we can discuss further. All in all, everyone wins. And as mentioned before, haters or owners with only negative feedback will not be entertained. We only welcome those that have constructive opinions to help our community.
If there are any issues that you'd like to talk to me personally, here's my email wchui22061985@gmail.com.
So I hope everyone enjoys themselves. :)
Yours truly
Jon Wong
I'm Jon, an amateur dog trainer/handler that has been in the works for about 2 years now. I myself am having and training a Beagle and a Great dane mixed. I belong to a dog training group called Pawsitive Friends, where we train dogs majorly for Obedience.
The purpose of this blog is to share knowledge, experience and personal thoughts on issues relating to dogs, such as obedience, healthcare, problems with having a dog, breeding etc. The blog is open to all to comment, as in the Canine world, there is no such thing as 100% correct method, every dog has a different training or treatment method, just like humans.
We welcome disputes and objections, but please do not only throw in negative comments and leave it be, cause that will not help anything. Only constructive opinions or disputes are welcomed.
As Malaysia is a country with various races, cultures and religions, dogs are often misunderstood and under-estimated. Only a handful of knowledgeable owners/handlers/breeders know what is are the better ways to own a dog and to fully enjoy the life. Hopefully this blog will help with the situation, to pass along the knowledge to other dog owners so that we can make our lives as dog owners much better.
We will post our comments and our techniques online, anyone who has comments or questions can let us know and we can discuss further. All in all, everyone wins. And as mentioned before, haters or owners with only negative feedback will not be entertained. We only welcome those that have constructive opinions to help our community.
If there are any issues that you'd like to talk to me personally, here's my email wchui22061985@gmail.com.
So I hope everyone enjoys themselves. :)
Yours truly
Jon Wong
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