Beginner Dog Guide — The Link Between Breeds, Personality, and Needs
How a Breed Influences Personality
Dog breeds can decide various characteristics of a dog, from the length of its coat to the length of its legs, its size, how muscly or high-energy they are, and of course, its personality and behavior, as explained by Science here. The reason is simple: when it comes to dogs, they tend to act by instinct, and this instinct is heavily affected by its ADN.
For example, we can say that there are specific breeds that are considered family-oriented dogs because they are easy to bond with, non-aggressive, dislike conflict, are very protective, and can get along with other animals and people. Bulldogs can easily enter this category.
On the other hand, there are other breeds that are considered guard dogs because they are not scared of conflict, can be very protective, are well-mannered and calm, and can react accordingly to challenges or danger if necessary. They are often easy to train and can follow the simple to complex commands if needed. A good example of this is the Australian Shepherd.
Other dogs are more suitable for being indoors and can be described as lap dogs, since they enjoy being near their owners as much as possible, receiving attention, and can get overly anxious if left alone for long periods of time. The Chihuahua breed is a good example of this.
With that said, these rules don’t always apply. Some small dogs that are commonly recommended for being indoors and are considered well-mannered can be fairly aggressive, yet, as showcased at https://www.livescience.com/why-small-dogs-are-fierce.html, this can be a problem caused by their own owners. There are also dogs like the Pitbulls, which are frequently marked as very aggressive and dangerous dogs but can be very gentle and lovely animals.
I would dare to say that, when it comes to adopting a dog, researching is very important as well as learning how to deal with the specific breed you want to adopt. Before adopting, you should also know whether the dog’s breed of your choice is compatible with your personality and lifestyle, so make sure to always research before making any decision!
Breeds and Their Specific Needs
Besides personality, a dog’s breed can also influence various aspects regarding its maintenance. Maintenance is all aspects of owning a dog that involves its well-being and happiness, and it is what keeps it in good spirits and overall health. Things like providing them with enough food, grooming them, and bathing them can enter the category of dog maintenance.
Now, in which way does a dog’s breed influence its maintenance? Well, we can take for example the previously mentioned Australian Shepherd. This specific breed is well known for being a very energetic one that requires exercise on a daily basis, for periods of 1 to 2 hours per day. The reason is simple: they have way too much energy!
If this energy accumulates, the Australian Shepherd can easily turn into a destructive force of nature that can even become aggressive, anxious, or depressed. It can also become overweight very fast, so it is often recommended for those who are likely to deal with this aspect of their care with discipline. They also require a careful approach to their bathing needs and their coat does require grooming from time to time.
On the other hand, we can talk about Pugs. Pugs are very small dogs that enjoy being inside since they can get hot fairly easily, and because of their size, they are exposed to various dangers. They don’t require as much grooming as an Australian Shepherd, but you have to pay more attention to their health because of their particular physiology.
If you are interested in learning about breeds in more detail, you can always check out the Holistapet directory for more information.
Why It Matters so Much?
The reason why knowing this matters is that, when you adopt a dog, you are fully getting in charge of its needs, happiness, and health. If you are not up to the challenge, the poor pet of your choice will likely become unhealthy and unhappy.
For that reason, to make sure that you will be a great pet owner, you have to take your time to research and learn about the dog, to know whether you will be capable of handling the responsibility properly or not, whether it is financially, or time-wise.
