"_____" breed is not like other dogs!

[AdrianneIsabel]

My parents are average. They love their dogs but they free feed all three terriers, rarely walk them, never train, leave them in or out depending on where the dog is when they leave the house, etc. Bad owners? Nope. Would they be suited for most breeds? Nope. As it is rescue rat terriers and an old wheaten live a great life there and for the most part Arnold would too but my mals? Hell no, someone would die.

 

[*blackrose]

After just skimming through this thread, I would like to ask: What is this generic "other" dog that XYZ breed is being compared to? What quality does this "other dog" possess that makes it different from XYZ?

All breeds are different. If they weren't, they wouldn't be breeds. A Lab is going to have different traits than a Chihuahua, and it will have different traits from a Clumber Spaniel or Bulldog. But they are all still dogs. Their drives are different, their personalities are different, and their learning style may be different...but they're all still dogs.

Different people have different opinions of what a "normal" dog is - they have different expectations of behavior, learning ability, sociability, etc. If a dog defies that expectation, then is it abnormal? No. Its still a dog.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying all dogs are the same and anyone can own any breed they want because "a dog is a dog". But XYZ breed isn't superior to another breed because of ABC.

 

[Locke]

My parents are average. They love their dogs but they free feed all three terriers, rarely walk them, never train, leave them in or out depending on where the dog is when they leave the house, etc. Bad owners? Nope. Would they be suited for most breeds? Nope. As it is rescue rat terriers and an old wheaten live a great life there and for the most part Arnold would too but my mals? Hell no, someone would die.

I guess I have a different definition of "average dog owner".

 

[CharlieDog]

Some people think their breed or their dog is not like any other dog fundamentally. They speak of them as though they're not in any way similar to other dogs. Of course there are many, many breeds with specialized traits that vary tremendously. That's why we have so many various breeds. But they're still dogs and those basic things that differentiate dogs from other species are still present (or absent) in all domestic dogs. I think sometimes people seem to be blind to that...perhaps because they thrive on idea of uniqueness.

This is where the rub comes in for me anyway.

 

[RD]

I only mind that kind of statement when it's made in snobbish context, or on a level of unhealthy admiration. I see it the most with herding breeds (and especially BCs/malis) and guardian breeds. While it is often true, the context is what can be bothersome, to me.

This, exactly.

Nothing is wrong with having a special fondness for your breed, and noticing traits within the breed that seems unique. When you insist that a certain breed is not "just a dog", it does irk me a little, because it's often used to elevate a certain breed or type to, as Allie said, an unhealthy level of admiration. I don't think much good comes of putting dogs on a pedestal because they are a certain breed.

Yes, certain breeds are different than others, but dogs are dogs. Some may require slightly different approaches to socialization, training and exercise, but they're all dogs and behave as dogs do. They are all fundamentally the same creatures.

I see it really often with herding breed people (Mals and BCs primarily, but I do see it with virtually every herding breed) and guardian breed people.

There's some merit to it from a working point of view, at least with herding breeds. People who have sheep, goats and smaller livestock often swear by border collies because, in general, they have a more precise, "teeth off" approach to moving the stock. That precise, calculating style of moving stock wouldn't be good on say, cattle, where the dog needs to be bigger and use some muscle to get a stubborn bull to move. The sheep farmer might HATE working with a dog like an ACD or Aussie that barks and nips to move stock, spooking the sheep, and the cattle farmer might hate working with the BC who has difficulty moving stubborn cows. So I hear a lot of farmers say "no dogs work like _______ dogs", but they're the only ones who seem to do that with just neutral intentions.

 

[Kaydee]

After just skimming through this thread, I would like to ask: What is this generic "other" dog that XYZ breed is being compared to? What quality does this "other dog" possess that makes it different from XYZ?

All breeds are different. If they weren't, they wouldn't be breeds. A Lab is going to have different traits than a Chihuahua, and it will have different traits from a Clumber Spaniel or Bulldog. But they are all still dogs. Their drives are different, their personalities are different, and their learning style may be different...but they're all still dogs.

Different people have different opinions of what a "normal" dog is - they have different expectations of behavior, learning ability, sociability, etc. If a dog defies that expectation, then is it abnormal? No. Its still a dog.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying all dogs are the same and anyone can own any breed they want because "a dog is a dog". But XYZ breed isn't superior to another breed because of ABC.

Very well said

 

[jaxen]

I didn't read every comment, but here's how I see it...
When raising children your kids are not like anyone else's. This comes from an endless number of factors. First parental personalities, children's genetic code, how parents interact with their kids, exercise levels, discipline, and infinite outside influences that can have an enormous impact whether it is immediately apparent or not.
I feel dogs are the same way...Each of these factors is equally as important in your dog as any child. Yes your dog is awesome to you, just like that person who adores their child, but that doesn't mean your dog or child isn't a spoiled brat.
I think that what people don't realize is that that wonderful dog they rave about, despite its breed, is only wonderful because they have discovered a personality that meshes so well with their own.

It's all about knowing your dog, and, like a person, if your personalities compliment each other you can't help but love them like family.

 

[monkeys23]

Then why is that at all the cattle dog trials here in backwoods Idaho, nearly every single dog is a Border Collie?

Our Border Collie when I was a kid came from people who ran cows on the range.

My parent's current BC seems pretty watered down and (sorry Will I love you but its true) kinda useless compared to Buddy's drive and determination. Buddy was never on sheep until he was like 12, only moved cattle before that. Will will run if a ewe challenges him and supposedly he is well bred. Buddy was of purebred, but unpapered working ranch Border Collies.

I think its going to be hard to get a working ranch BC when you are breeding for BC's that will look flashy while it herds three to ten sheep and get high trial scores because those two things don't necesarily require the same things from a dog.

Went to Bull-O-Rama a few weeks ago. Its like only bull riding instead of a full rodeo. One of the pickup men couldn't get his BC to leave the arena. That dog was way more efficient with the bulls then they were... they should've just sat back and let it do its job.

Just felt I should relate my experiences since BC's seem to be a popular example used in this discussion. And for what its worth, I think BC's are really easy dogs. My sled dog mutts are waaaaaaay more high maintenance in my opinion.

 

[monkeys23]

Also I ultimately ended up with Scout because someone didn't heed my warnings about how much dog this type of mix is what they require from an owner. Reason my friend's mom acquired Scout was solely because she thought Lily was so awesome.

 

[Fran101]

Every parent thinks their kid is a special genius little future super star and that every phrase they udder is the work of a tiny prophet comedic angelic messiah.

and every dog owner kind of thinks their dog is superior to everyone else's in some way or another lol
They think their bond is stronger then the one other people have with their dogs... Their dogs are cuddlier, more understanding, smarter, funnier, more energetic etc..etc.. and by proxy, the entire breed is of course, also superior.

The truth of the matter is.. of COURSE we feel that way. We interact with our own dogs every. single. day.

You look at your friend Carol you see sometimes at work. You are asked to describe her, "She has red hair, she is nice I guess, her birthday was last week"
You ask Carol's husband to describe her and he describes her sparkling green eyes, how impossible she is when she doesn't get her coffee in the morning, her love of dogs, how kind she is and how she always shares her breakfast with the neighborhood birds, how cold her hands always are, how she tells the best jokes and does the best oprah impression etc..

Pfft.. what makes this girl Carol so special?! She's a girl isn't she.. It's kind of rude for him to speak of her like she is some kind of unique snowflake! Girls are girls are girls. You see Carol all the time and **** she SEEMS pretty normal. You had lunch with her.. nothing that fantastic there.

You guys get where I'm going here.
Brace yourselves.
It's gonna get sappy.

We think the things we love are super special because we LOVE them enough to see more than what is at the surface.

That's right.
It's all about love bitches.
Love for your dog and by extension, your dogs breedly counterparts.

BOOM.
LAWYERED.

 

[release the hounds]

oh, how I do love my bitches

 

[SaraB]

Lovely post Fran! Why the heck else would we choose the breeds we choose if we didn't think they were special?? If I didn't think koolies were the shiznit, I would've just gone to the shelter and picked up my next dog!

The only time this really annoys me is when people come into the vet clinic and demand special medical care because their breed can/cannot handle certain things. If they say that their specific individual dog can't handle a vaccine/medication/treatment, that is one thing. To claim an entire breed is biologically different from the entire species is crazy. And yes, I understand that certain groups of breeds like giant breeds do need special feeding requirements because they are so genetically different from toy dogs, they will not crumble to the ground because they have received a rabies vaccine.

 

[BostonBanker]

The only time this really annoys me is when people come into the vet clinic and demand special medical care because their breed can/cannot handle certain things. If they say that their specific individual dog can't handle a vaccine/medication/treatment, that is one thing. To claim an entire breed is biologically different from the entire species is crazy. And yes, I understand that certain groups of breeds like giant breeds do need special feeding requirements because they are so genetically different from toy dogs, they will not crumble to the ground because they have received a rabies vaccine.

So I shouldn't call the vet to ask about ivermectin and my half-BC?

 

[SaraB]

So I shouldn't call the vet to ask about ivermectin and my half-BC?

That's a legit concern. And that's a group of dogs not just a pomeranian that can't receive a rabies vaccine because their breeder said so.

 

[Lyzelle]

The only time this really annoys me is when people come into the vet clinic and demand special medical care because their breed can/cannot handle certain things. If they say that their specific individual dog can't handle a vaccine/medication/treatment, that is one thing. To claim an entire breed is biologically different from the entire species is crazy. And yes, I understand that certain groups of breeds like giant breeds do need special feeding requirements because they are so genetically different from toy dogs, they will not crumble to the ground because they have received a rabies vaccine.

What about anesthesia? Many different breeds are sensitive to that as well. Certain medications, too. It isn't just feeding.

The breed isn't biologically different from the rest of the species, but stuff like that does exist across entire breeds. It isn't always specific to only individual dogs.

I don't demand special care for my dogs, but I do expect a vet to know the breeds weaknesses and sensitivities and act accordingly. Many don't, though, and of course it's the owner paying the bill and the dog suffering the consequences.

 

[SaraB]

What about anesthesia? Many different breeds are sensitive to that as well. Certain medications, too. It isn't just feeding.

The breed isn't biologically different from the rest of the species, but stuff like that does exist across entire breeds. It isn't always specific to only individual dogs.

I don't demand special care for my dogs, but I do expect a vet to know the breeds weaknesses and sensitivities and act accordingly. Many don't, though, and of course it's the owner paying the bill and the dog suffering the consequences.

I'm well aware of that. I'm talking specifically about the people who refuse treatment because their breed absolutely cannot have xyz. Not a "well they are sensitive to anesthesia", well right, we are careful with certain breeds and use different sedatives with those breeds. But to refuse to put their dog under for a necessary procedure because of it? Or refusing to give a necessary vaccine because their breed can't have it?

 

[SaraB]

And before anyone jumps on me for this:

Delaying a vaccine isn't a big deal. I delay my vaccines, but I still give them when necessary, even to my sensitive Great Dane with a compromised immune system.

 

[Lyzelle]

I'm well aware of that. I'm talking specifically about the people who refuse treatment because their breed absolutely cannot have xyz. Not a "well they are sensitive to anesthesia", well right, we are careful with certain breeds and use different sedatives with those breeds. But to refuse to put their dog under for a necessary procedure because of it? Or refusing to give a necessary vaccine because their breed can't have it?

A "necessary" vaccine? If the breed can't have it because it reacts badly to said vaccine, I'd say that is a very legit concern and I WOULD refuse it. Ditto can be said in the ivermectin case. I'm not going to chose permanent damage or death of a pet just because some wayward money hungry vet says it is "necessary".

Unless the vet giving the treatment wants to pay for the treatment the dog will need due to the poor reaction...no, even in that case, I do not risk my dogs' health. Others may do differently, but I prefer choosing the less of two evils.

 

[SaraB]

A "necessary" vaccine? If the breed can't have it because it reacts badly to said vaccine, I'd say that is a very legit concern and I WOULD refuse it. Ditto can be said in the ivermectin case. I'm not going to chose permanent damage or death of a pet just because some wayward money hungry vet says it is "necessary".

Unless the vet giving the treatment wants to pay for the treatment the dog will need due to the poor reaction...no, even in that case, I do not risk my dogs' health. Others may do differently, but I prefer choosing the less of two evils.

What BREED of dog can't have a rabies vaccine? By law it is a necessary vaccine.

ETA: I already said that if the individual reacts to a vaccine I understand that. But to refuse a vaccine because the BREED can't have it is not a legit excuse.

 

[AdrianneIsabel]

We have several dachshunds that can't and their vets have signed off on it. I'm not sure why but it's caused reactions and paralysis, temp, in a few.

I don't however know if it's breed wide or what, it just seems to happen a lot here since we check all vet records at my work.