Over the past week, I have seen multiple comments that have bothered me something fierce. At the core, it comes down to the simple fact that the general public doesn't know the basics of genetics, nor the modes of inheritance. And where as it seems rather cruel to expect everyone to know the basics of the basics, these people can't even draw the some of the same conclusions by looking at their fellow human beings. Which is truly odd, considering all the medical shows, both fictional and non.
Hell, even when there is an article that talks about a certain genetic trait in humans, and how it is a dominant gene that only takes one parent, I have still seen people go on about inbreeding being the cause. Reading is fundamental, sir.
My simple belief is, if you're going to have an opinion on something that has science behind it, know the damn science, even if it's just a little bit. So, this is what I'll be talking about today.
Dominant Gene: Only one parent is needed to pass the trait/disease at a 50% chance, and only one copy of the gene is needed for expression.
This means, if you have a human with Huntington's or a Brittany Spaniel with Hereditary Canine Spinal Muscular Atrophy, it doesn't matter how unrelated the other parent is (same breed or not), there is always a 50% chance of any given offspring getting the disease.
Recessive Gene: Two copies of the gene is needed for expression. If an animal or human only has one copy, it typically has no effect, and those with one copy are called "carriers". A human or animal who is a carrier, can breed to a non carrier, and will produce non-carriers and carriers. An affected human or animal with two copies of the gene, bred to a non carrier, will produce all carriers. Two affected will produce all affected. An affected with a carrier will produce 50/50 carrier/affected. Two carriers will produce 25% affected.
If you have a Siberian Husky who carries Progressive Retinal Atrophy and breed it to an Irish Setter that also carries Progressive Retinal Atrophy, you have now produced a litter of carriers and 25% affected. Congratulations, you have produced a genetic disease in the supposedly healthier "mix breed".
Polygenic Genes: Multiple genes combination to produce a trait or disease.
If you have a German Shepherd with A and B parts of a 3 part code for a disease, like say, Hip Dysplasia, and you have some random Boxer mix who carries A and C....you're likely going to get some Boxer/GSD/? mixes with HD.
Now, this is just a simplistic overview. There's also Sex-linked genes, mitochondrial DNA, and other factors that we're still learning about. Genetics is a fairly young science. Some health issues can even be caused. But the basics give you a basic understanding of how and why things can go wrong with the health of mixed breeds, why mixed breeds don't magically get a pass with health.
Now, in theory, if two breeds had completely unrelated problems that were solely recessive, could a mixed breed between the two be healthier? Possibly. But you still have to take in another issue that isn't related to genetic diseases, but the genetics behind conformation-how a dog is put together.
This area is tricky. We can't map out everything in dogs, at least not yet. However, consider two different head types. Now, some of the discussion I've seen has people saying that the genes for the top jaw and lower are different sets. So, if this is true, you could end up with a mouth in a crossbreed that is poorly put together and may cause the dog some issues, however minor. When you look at the whole picture, every part of the dog, you could very well end up with a mishmash of conformation that may or may not cause the dog to break down physically as it ages. Within an entire litter, there may be a wide variation of traits, and some may be fine, others may live a life of pain or discomfort from early on. It's Russian Roulette with genes, especially as the majority of people breeding crosses on purpose seem to do no genetic testing (because "mixed breeds are healthier", so why bother?) and have little to no understanding of genetics in the first place.
And we're not even touching on the subject of temperaments and drives, which....is one more very important factor in breeding.
All in all, it's important to go to a breeder who knows their lines, health testings, does something with their dogs, and has an understanding of genetics. Doesn't matter what breed, or even if it is a cross, it is. This is how you stack the odds of health in your future dog's favor.
But wait! There's more!
I'm going to give a basic run down of some facts.....
-Health tests are available for some diseases. However, the number of tests available vs genetic diseases out there is quite small, though ever growing.
-Health tests are often breed specific/limited to a number of breeds, as even though a number of genes are the same across breeds, not all are.
-Health tests should NEVER be confused with "Vet Checked". Health tests are DNA tests that look for markers, or specific testing to check body parts. Vet Checked is just a vet going over a dog/puppy to see if it is healthy at that point in time, and is no guarantee of future health. And sometimes, vets do misunderstand certain things that may be breed traits or common in development in a specific line-vets are fallible, do not make any rash decisions or get angry until you've talked to your breeder about the report.
-Health tests are not perfect, and because there are so few health tests compared to the number of diseases, there may still be something that pops up. Always let your breeder know so they have all the information possible to prevent and/or study such issues.
-Breeders, like vets, are fallible. If there really is a problem, approach with a clear and level head, try to have an idea of what you want to do regarding the problem, and ask what your options are. Flies, honey, vinegar, you know?
-Be mindful of the fact that even the best breeders are not psychic, and sometimes new problems in a breed will pop up with little to no warning. This is a fact of life.
-If ever you are angry about an unpredictable health problem with your pet, look to the world, look to your fellow humans. We have a right ol' mess of our own with genetic diseases. And you know what? You can't directly blame purity, inbreeding, or linebreeding for the majority of it. Unless if you want to blame nature for possibly squishing our gene pool a couple of times, if I recall what science suspects correctly?
Saturday, April 4, 2015
Thursday, February 19, 2015
"The Puli Lady" At Westminster
There's been tons of talk in the dog world about the. Some bad, some good, some meh.
My thoughts?
I don't care what a handler wears, so long as it's not hindering the handling or presentation of the dog.
If anything, she was probably more relatable to the general public watching the show than those who were dressed up. And the fancy kinda needs more of that.
I get that it's a big, prestigious, and hell, even glamorous show. And I'm not saying the fancy should do away with that. But at the same time.....maybe there should be a little thought put into how being so fancy as a fancy may make it seem that the sport is only for the well-off who have money to spare for sparkly outfits? Even though we know it's not true. At least for a short bit?
Because the fancy is in trouble, from both people and issues within and outside of it.
My thoughts?
I don't care what a handler wears, so long as it's not hindering the handling or presentation of the dog.
If anything, she was probably more relatable to the general public watching the show than those who were dressed up. And the fancy kinda needs more of that.
I get that it's a big, prestigious, and hell, even glamorous show. And I'm not saying the fancy should do away with that. But at the same time.....maybe there should be a little thought put into how being so fancy as a fancy may make it seem that the sport is only for the well-off who have money to spare for sparkly outfits? Even though we know it's not true. At least for a short bit?
Because the fancy is in trouble, from both people and issues within and outside of it.
Wednesday, February 11, 2015
If You Really Love The Breed You Own....
In the same theme as yesterday's post, people suggesting people get a particular breed because they own one.
I get it. You love your chosen breed. You've had great experiences with them, they're a good match for you. However....
Not everyone is.
Just as not everyone is suitable to take on a random rescue dog, not everyone will be a good match for your breed. But I see it time and time again. People, the general public, suggesting people get their own breed because....
They're wonderful.
They're great with kids.
They're fun.
They're mellow.
They're sweet.
They're loyal.
They're smart.
And so on.....
And they do truly believe their breeds are that. Their own dogs have probably been that to them. I'm NOT denying that.
What I am denying is that any given breed is suitable for any given person. It's simply not true. EVERY breed has their pros and cons. EVERY SINGLE BREED. That is NOT a bad thing. If anything, it makes dogs in all their different breeds, that much more interesting in their diversity.
You should absolutely take pride in the differences, the challenges, the quirks, the traits that make your breed that breed. And if you REALLY care about your breed, you'll stop trying to shove them down everyone's throat.
Yes, they're great. They're particularly great for you! That's awesome!
However, not everyone can deal with a Lab's energy, especially when they're young. Most Labradors get dumped within the first 2 years because they are slow to mature and can be more than just a handful. That's one of their downsides, it takes a few years for them to mellow out. Let me ask you, if you are a Lab person.....
Do you LIKE the fact that so many Labradors get dumped?
The answer, if you really care about Labrador Retrievers, should be "No". You should not want to see this breed in shelters or rescues at all. So why do you recommend them to anyone and everyone? Because you want to share your awesome breed? Then share them with the right people. Be honest. If you see someone who isn't very active, don't encourage them to get a Lab. Tell them the downsides to the breed, why the breed probably is probably a bad fit. Encourage them to make an educated and informed choice, encourage research into other breeds that are more suitable for their lifestyle.
The same goes for any breed.
And please, please, please, do not try to push a breed that is totally opposite of what a person is looking for onto them.
Furthermore, I also feel that with the general public's suggestions with breeds, is out of hand. You see the same common breeds being suggested over and over and over. I don't hate popular breeds, but I do hate popularity for what it does to a breed. Encouraging that popularity of already popular breeds to continue to grow is BAD for those breeds. Willy nilly interest is bad for any breed.
If you're going to be one of those people who gives recommendations, please.....research and learn breeds yourself. You don't need to know all the ins and outs of all of the breeds, but having a good general idea of breeds they may want to check into, especially outside of the common breeds, DOES make an impact of "Wow, I've never heard of that breed before" and sometimes encourages further research. And who knows, their perfect match might just be a breed that needs a little bit of a boost.
It's no secret that I love rare breeds and want to see them stick around long after I'm gone. I also want to encourage people to look at the dog world as a whole, see it as vast and amazing as I do, and encourage people to research instead of just diving into the first breed they get told they should get. I want to see a world where most people research breeds they're interested in more so than they do appliances, cars, and computers. I want to see a world where impulse buying of pets is not the main thing that happens (because there will always be odd things that happen, the oops litters, shelter dogs-yes I consider that buying, experienced people looking for a dog suddenly and a breeder may have had a buyer or 3 back out, etc).
I get it. You love your chosen breed. You've had great experiences with them, they're a good match for you. However....
Not everyone is.
Just as not everyone is suitable to take on a random rescue dog, not everyone will be a good match for your breed. But I see it time and time again. People, the general public, suggesting people get their own breed because....
They're wonderful.
They're great with kids.
They're fun.
They're mellow.
They're sweet.
They're loyal.
They're smart.
And so on.....
And they do truly believe their breeds are that. Their own dogs have probably been that to them. I'm NOT denying that.
What I am denying is that any given breed is suitable for any given person. It's simply not true. EVERY breed has their pros and cons. EVERY SINGLE BREED. That is NOT a bad thing. If anything, it makes dogs in all their different breeds, that much more interesting in their diversity.
You should absolutely take pride in the differences, the challenges, the quirks, the traits that make your breed that breed. And if you REALLY care about your breed, you'll stop trying to shove them down everyone's throat.
Yes, they're great. They're particularly great for you! That's awesome!
However, not everyone can deal with a Lab's energy, especially when they're young. Most Labradors get dumped within the first 2 years because they are slow to mature and can be more than just a handful. That's one of their downsides, it takes a few years for them to mellow out. Let me ask you, if you are a Lab person.....
Do you LIKE the fact that so many Labradors get dumped?
The answer, if you really care about Labrador Retrievers, should be "No". You should not want to see this breed in shelters or rescues at all. So why do you recommend them to anyone and everyone? Because you want to share your awesome breed? Then share them with the right people. Be honest. If you see someone who isn't very active, don't encourage them to get a Lab. Tell them the downsides to the breed, why the breed probably is probably a bad fit. Encourage them to make an educated and informed choice, encourage research into other breeds that are more suitable for their lifestyle.
The same goes for any breed.
And please, please, please, do not try to push a breed that is totally opposite of what a person is looking for onto them.
Furthermore, I also feel that with the general public's suggestions with breeds, is out of hand. You see the same common breeds being suggested over and over and over. I don't hate popular breeds, but I do hate popularity for what it does to a breed. Encouraging that popularity of already popular breeds to continue to grow is BAD for those breeds. Willy nilly interest is bad for any breed.
If you're going to be one of those people who gives recommendations, please.....research and learn breeds yourself. You don't need to know all the ins and outs of all of the breeds, but having a good general idea of breeds they may want to check into, especially outside of the common breeds, DOES make an impact of "Wow, I've never heard of that breed before" and sometimes encourages further research. And who knows, their perfect match might just be a breed that needs a little bit of a boost.
It's no secret that I love rare breeds and want to see them stick around long after I'm gone. I also want to encourage people to look at the dog world as a whole, see it as vast and amazing as I do, and encourage people to research instead of just diving into the first breed they get told they should get. I want to see a world where most people research breeds they're interested in more so than they do appliances, cars, and computers. I want to see a world where impulse buying of pets is not the main thing that happens (because there will always be odd things that happen, the oops litters, shelter dogs-yes I consider that buying, experienced people looking for a dog suddenly and a breeder may have had a buyer or 3 back out, etc).
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
It Is NOT "Cool" To Pressure Or Guilt-People Who Ignore Other's Reasons, Wants, And Needs
Over the years, I have seen an increasing number of people suggesting people adopt. Go to a shelter, go to a rescue, save a life! A noble cause, truly.
But there is a point where it becomes pressuring, guilt-tripping, and in some cases, down right bullying.
"I want a dog that is good with kids."
"Go to the shelter, take your kids, adopt!"
"I want a dog that is good with cats."
"Go to a rescue, adopt!"
"I want a dog that I can do agility with."
"Shelter, rescue, adopt!"
"I want a dog that is mellow."
"Adopt!"
"I want a dog that won't eat my chickens."
"Adopt!"
Because you know, shelters test dogs regularly for compatibility with livestock. -.-
Because you know, shelters aren't high-stress environments.
Because you know, no one ever returns a dog they've adopted because behaviors have emerged that no one had a clue about.
Fact is, rescues dogs aren't always a guaranteed option.
Shelters and rescues ARE high-stress environments, even at the best of times. Dogs can shut down while they're there. Or! Dogs can become overly anxious and hyper due to lack of stimulation, wrong stimulation, lack of exercise, or just plain stress. They're strictly controlled, yet stressful, environments that are so vastly different from home life that you can't see the dog for what it really is. A kennel isn't going to have drywall that can be chewed through, or couches that the dog can destroy.
Even when shelter and worker volunteers go above and beyond the basics, there is still only so much they can see. Only so much that they notice. Only so much that any given dog will give to them.
It's not a bad thing-it's a complicated thing. It's the reason why I believe that a large number of rescue dogs are best off in hands that have at least some dog experience, flexibility, and the ability to resort to various resources if needed.
Dogs that are still rescues, but have been in foster homes are a step up. Still, there can be quirks that aren't seen depending on how that household runs, which could be very unlike the one the dog ends up in. Plus, the foster home may have very old, quiet cats, and the adopting one may have very active cats that set off prey drive. There may very well be incompatibility.
Where cat-testing is a thing in some shelters and rescues, not all do it. Different animals smell differently, move differently, act differently. There's no guarantee that a cat-safe dog will be fine with rabbits, ferrets, birds, etc. Hell, there's no guarantee that a 'cat'-safe dog will even be fine with kittens because kittens move and smell differently than adult cats (and this is something I've had experience with, not through a rescue dog, but a roommate's dog-fine with adults, not safe with kittens).
And if someone is looking for a dog to be around livestock at the shelter? Oh boy, that's a HUGE gamble. Even if you do find a herding or livestock guardian in the shelter, there are those who just have the wrong drive and are there because they ARE a risk to livestock and got dumped for it. You don't know.
You also don't know what a shelter dog's health is going to be like. No, mixed breeds aren't healthier, they have their own set of common problems and can pop up with uncommon ones just the same. If anything, the early-fixed pups are at a high risk of ACL tears, which makes agility a risk. Not every dog, mixed or not, will have health issues, even when they've had things stacked against them. But it is what it is, which is a question mark with a dog whose history is unknown.
I would love if we could really just magically pull all of a dog's quirks and traits and health out of the air so they could be placed perfectly. I wish we could have that guarantee, but we don't. Sometimes adoptions and trials don't work out. That's ok. Not every and any dog is for anybody who comes along, that is important to note.
So here's the deal. Here is where I have serious issues with a number of pro-adoption/rescue people...
You push. No matter what reasons the original person who was asking for help says, you push. You shove. And sometimes, when they stand firm, insults start getting thrown about. Accusations of them "killing dogs" by going to a breeder. By knowing what they want and are looking for.
Not all dogs are the same. They're dogs, then they're their breeds/mix, then they're individuals. If you expect someone who is wanting a Pug, has researched Pugs for the past year, to go to a shelter and be happy with some random Catahoula mix.....you're risking setting them and whatever dog you have guilt tripped them into getting into failing. That's not nice. It's not responsible or fair or right.
If you tell someone who is looking into a livestock guard to watch their flocks to go to a shelter and adopt whatever, you are RISKING THEIR LIVESTOCK. You! You are risking the death of animals on an unknown because they should save a life. What happens when that saved life takes other lives?
If you bully them into feeling so bad about even thinking about going to a responsible breeder they've been referred to, that they end up adopting a high energy, anxiety ridden dog who eats their walls and doors in the short time they've gone to get the mail...you should be paying for repairs and apologizing.
Because people who want predictability of a certain breed and a good match because they know they can't handle anything that gets thrown at them aren't bad people. If anything, they're more responsible and aware than the people who try to shove the adoption agenda down their throats. It's okay if their wants, needs, and reasons are different than yours.
And before you set off on the "you can find purebreds in rescues!"......Let me fix that for you. "You can find questionable quality purebreds of the COMMON breeds in rescues and shelters". Many of the rarer breeds...not even the national breed club rescues will pull many of them in a year. That's what happens when there's only double digits of a breed registered each year, or even just triple. Most breeds do NOT have the numbers behind them that Labs, Goldens, German Shepherds, or any of the other top 20 or so breeds do.
It IS ok to ask them how they feel about rescue, if they're interested in adopting. It's horribly annoying to be the 28th person telling them to adopt. It's awful to be that person who insists on adoption at all costs, trying to think of ways and reasons for them to do it when they have stated they're not interested or that they're looking for particular things. You, at that point, are pushing.
Peer pressure isn't cool. Remember your parents telling you about peer pressure in regards to sex and drugs? Yeah. Pressuring people is bad, Mmmmkay? Guilt-tripping is bad. Bullying is bad.
Know what is awesome though? Being a helpful person. Being insightful. Being respectful. Because I'll tell you a secret.....I get a lot of people thanking me when I'm giving them spiffy information and options they never would have thought of otherwise. So let's help each other while respecting each other choices.
But there is a point where it becomes pressuring, guilt-tripping, and in some cases, down right bullying.
"I want a dog that is good with kids."
"Go to the shelter, take your kids, adopt!"
"I want a dog that is good with cats."
"Go to a rescue, adopt!"
"I want a dog that I can do agility with."
"Shelter, rescue, adopt!"
"I want a dog that is mellow."
"Adopt!"
"I want a dog that won't eat my chickens."
"Adopt!"
Because you know, shelters test dogs regularly for compatibility with livestock. -.-
Because you know, shelters aren't high-stress environments.
Because you know, no one ever returns a dog they've adopted because behaviors have emerged that no one had a clue about.
Fact is, rescues dogs aren't always a guaranteed option.
Shelters and rescues ARE high-stress environments, even at the best of times. Dogs can shut down while they're there. Or! Dogs can become overly anxious and hyper due to lack of stimulation, wrong stimulation, lack of exercise, or just plain stress. They're strictly controlled, yet stressful, environments that are so vastly different from home life that you can't see the dog for what it really is. A kennel isn't going to have drywall that can be chewed through, or couches that the dog can destroy.
Even when shelter and worker volunteers go above and beyond the basics, there is still only so much they can see. Only so much that they notice. Only so much that any given dog will give to them.
It's not a bad thing-it's a complicated thing. It's the reason why I believe that a large number of rescue dogs are best off in hands that have at least some dog experience, flexibility, and the ability to resort to various resources if needed.
Dogs that are still rescues, but have been in foster homes are a step up. Still, there can be quirks that aren't seen depending on how that household runs, which could be very unlike the one the dog ends up in. Plus, the foster home may have very old, quiet cats, and the adopting one may have very active cats that set off prey drive. There may very well be incompatibility.
Where cat-testing is a thing in some shelters and rescues, not all do it. Different animals smell differently, move differently, act differently. There's no guarantee that a cat-safe dog will be fine with rabbits, ferrets, birds, etc. Hell, there's no guarantee that a 'cat'-safe dog will even be fine with kittens because kittens move and smell differently than adult cats (and this is something I've had experience with, not through a rescue dog, but a roommate's dog-fine with adults, not safe with kittens).
And if someone is looking for a dog to be around livestock at the shelter? Oh boy, that's a HUGE gamble. Even if you do find a herding or livestock guardian in the shelter, there are those who just have the wrong drive and are there because they ARE a risk to livestock and got dumped for it. You don't know.
You also don't know what a shelter dog's health is going to be like. No, mixed breeds aren't healthier, they have their own set of common problems and can pop up with uncommon ones just the same. If anything, the early-fixed pups are at a high risk of ACL tears, which makes agility a risk. Not every dog, mixed or not, will have health issues, even when they've had things stacked against them. But it is what it is, which is a question mark with a dog whose history is unknown.
I would love if we could really just magically pull all of a dog's quirks and traits and health out of the air so they could be placed perfectly. I wish we could have that guarantee, but we don't. Sometimes adoptions and trials don't work out. That's ok. Not every and any dog is for anybody who comes along, that is important to note.
So here's the deal. Here is where I have serious issues with a number of pro-adoption/rescue people...
You push. No matter what reasons the original person who was asking for help says, you push. You shove. And sometimes, when they stand firm, insults start getting thrown about. Accusations of them "killing dogs" by going to a breeder. By knowing what they want and are looking for.
Not all dogs are the same. They're dogs, then they're their breeds/mix, then they're individuals. If you expect someone who is wanting a Pug, has researched Pugs for the past year, to go to a shelter and be happy with some random Catahoula mix.....you're risking setting them and whatever dog you have guilt tripped them into getting into failing. That's not nice. It's not responsible or fair or right.
If you tell someone who is looking into a livestock guard to watch their flocks to go to a shelter and adopt whatever, you are RISKING THEIR LIVESTOCK. You! You are risking the death of animals on an unknown because they should save a life. What happens when that saved life takes other lives?
If you bully them into feeling so bad about even thinking about going to a responsible breeder they've been referred to, that they end up adopting a high energy, anxiety ridden dog who eats their walls and doors in the short time they've gone to get the mail...you should be paying for repairs and apologizing.
Because people who want predictability of a certain breed and a good match because they know they can't handle anything that gets thrown at them aren't bad people. If anything, they're more responsible and aware than the people who try to shove the adoption agenda down their throats. It's okay if their wants, needs, and reasons are different than yours.
And before you set off on the "you can find purebreds in rescues!"......Let me fix that for you. "You can find questionable quality purebreds of the COMMON breeds in rescues and shelters". Many of the rarer breeds...not even the national breed club rescues will pull many of them in a year. That's what happens when there's only double digits of a breed registered each year, or even just triple. Most breeds do NOT have the numbers behind them that Labs, Goldens, German Shepherds, or any of the other top 20 or so breeds do.
It IS ok to ask them how they feel about rescue, if they're interested in adopting. It's horribly annoying to be the 28th person telling them to adopt. It's awful to be that person who insists on adoption at all costs, trying to think of ways and reasons for them to do it when they have stated they're not interested or that they're looking for particular things. You, at that point, are pushing.
Peer pressure isn't cool. Remember your parents telling you about peer pressure in regards to sex and drugs? Yeah. Pressuring people is bad, Mmmmkay? Guilt-tripping is bad. Bullying is bad.
Know what is awesome though? Being a helpful person. Being insightful. Being respectful. Because I'll tell you a secret.....I get a lot of people thanking me when I'm giving them spiffy information and options they never would have thought of otherwise. So let's help each other while respecting each other choices.
Saturday, December 6, 2014
Finding a purebred of a popular breed in a shelter is NOT impressive! Stop acting like it is!
I don't know how many times I see people basically say "Yes, a purebred _____, in a shelter!", often followed by how you can find purebreds in shelters and you shouldn't dare go to an "evil" breeder.
Ok, look, if the breed you found is in the top 50 AKC registered breeds, that means squat. OF COURSE you can find popular breeds in the shelter. Especially the top 10. Plus various bully types, be they actual American Pit Bull Terriers or those American Bully things, or mixes of.
But! It doesn't mean they're well bred. Those popular breeds are....well...popular. And are readily bred by questionable people EVERY SINGLE DAY. Why? Because they're popular and people want them, even when they haven't don't one iota of research or spent any actual time with them.
It may be based on a friend of neighbor going "Oh yeah, they're great, perfect dogs! Not a single problem. You should get one." Because everyone gets along with peanuts and onions, right? No. -.-
It may be based on looks. Often times, it is. They see a cute puppy, where ever they are, or in some book or on a website, then they want one. So they go buy a puppy of that breed or mix like they buy shoes....actually...no, I think even shoes often get researched more than when people decide to buy a dog. -.-
It may be based on some reputation, like being a guard dog. And then you have people failing to realize that to be a well balanced dog that isn't a liability and gonna get your ass fined or sued, you have to SOCIALIZE AND TRAIN IT. And even then, depending on breed and personality, there's MANAGEMENT!
And often, these breeds people get are readily available, commonly seen, often bred by people who have no idea what they're doing because they're doing it because "everyone wants one".
So what happens then?
People are shocked when that adorable Labrador puppy tries to chew and eat everything, and needs surgery to remove a bunch of rocks and socks from it's belly. People are surprised when they realize how much that Golden Retriever sheds. They're taken aback when they don't understand why their 1-year old Boxer hasn't settled down like the 7-year old they met! They are horrified when their Siberian Husky tries to eat the neighbor's cat. They are appalled to find themselves in danger of losing everything they own because their German Shepherd threatened to eat a kid.
And then off to the shelter they go. Popular breeds, more likely to end up in the wrong hands, more likely to be gotten without research, more likely to be shipped off to the shelter.
Really, you don't see Dandie Dinmont Terriers or Sussex Spaniels everywhere. So typically, hardly anyone knows about them, and you don't have a plethora of "can't be bothered to research a living thing, but oh I'm going to research the shit out of these headphones" members of the public falling in love over dumbass reasons and getting them willy nilly. And even if tomorrow, everyone wanted one, the circle of breeders is so small that they just don't produce many litters, and the breeders are highly protective of their breed. Occasionally, one will fall into a shelter or rescue. It happens in rare breeds, I'm not going to deny it. However, depending on the people in the breed, how the breed is or isn't promoted, and the area, it can vary greatly. Which is why you're far more likely to see a Dogo Argentino in a shelter than a Sussex, why you're more likely to find a coonhound in the south rather than on the north coast, more likely to find more Chihuahuas in cities, and herding and livestock guards in rural areas.
Even if a rare breed does end up in a shelter, a rescue (breed club rescue or otherwise) may pull the dog, the responsible breeder may pull it, there may be someone who was waiting longer than you, or it may simply be a mislabeled mixed breed-which happens a LOT. Furthermore, you may have to travel, or possibly wait years and years.
So if you're one of those people who is in love with a popular breed that can be readily found, and doesn't give a shit about proper temperament or health testing, go.....feel free to find your next dog at the shelter.
But stop being a Judgey McJudgerson for those who do care or are in love with a breed that is difficult to get even when going to a responsible breeder (some waiting lists for the rare breeds can be years long). And stop acting like it's some impressive feat to find a common, questionably bred purebred in the shelter. It's not.
When thousands of Goldens, Labs, and German Shepherds are registered every year, and you're lucky if there's 16 new English or American Foxhounds...there's a huge difference in availability no matter where you go.
Common=More of. Easier to find. More often to end up in the wrong hands. Simply.
Ok, look, if the breed you found is in the top 50 AKC registered breeds, that means squat. OF COURSE you can find popular breeds in the shelter. Especially the top 10. Plus various bully types, be they actual American Pit Bull Terriers or those American Bully things, or mixes of.
But! It doesn't mean they're well bred. Those popular breeds are....well...popular. And are readily bred by questionable people EVERY SINGLE DAY. Why? Because they're popular and people want them, even when they haven't don't one iota of research or spent any actual time with them.
It may be based on a friend of neighbor going "Oh yeah, they're great, perfect dogs! Not a single problem. You should get one." Because everyone gets along with peanuts and onions, right? No. -.-
It may be based on looks. Often times, it is. They see a cute puppy, where ever they are, or in some book or on a website, then they want one. So they go buy a puppy of that breed or mix like they buy shoes....actually...no, I think even shoes often get researched more than when people decide to buy a dog. -.-
It may be based on some reputation, like being a guard dog. And then you have people failing to realize that to be a well balanced dog that isn't a liability and gonna get your ass fined or sued, you have to SOCIALIZE AND TRAIN IT. And even then, depending on breed and personality, there's MANAGEMENT!
And often, these breeds people get are readily available, commonly seen, often bred by people who have no idea what they're doing because they're doing it because "everyone wants one".
So what happens then?
People are shocked when that adorable Labrador puppy tries to chew and eat everything, and needs surgery to remove a bunch of rocks and socks from it's belly. People are surprised when they realize how much that Golden Retriever sheds. They're taken aback when they don't understand why their 1-year old Boxer hasn't settled down like the 7-year old they met! They are horrified when their Siberian Husky tries to eat the neighbor's cat. They are appalled to find themselves in danger of losing everything they own because their German Shepherd threatened to eat a kid.
And then off to the shelter they go. Popular breeds, more likely to end up in the wrong hands, more likely to be gotten without research, more likely to be shipped off to the shelter.
Really, you don't see Dandie Dinmont Terriers or Sussex Spaniels everywhere. So typically, hardly anyone knows about them, and you don't have a plethora of "can't be bothered to research a living thing, but oh I'm going to research the shit out of these headphones" members of the public falling in love over dumbass reasons and getting them willy nilly. And even if tomorrow, everyone wanted one, the circle of breeders is so small that they just don't produce many litters, and the breeders are highly protective of their breed. Occasionally, one will fall into a shelter or rescue. It happens in rare breeds, I'm not going to deny it. However, depending on the people in the breed, how the breed is or isn't promoted, and the area, it can vary greatly. Which is why you're far more likely to see a Dogo Argentino in a shelter than a Sussex, why you're more likely to find a coonhound in the south rather than on the north coast, more likely to find more Chihuahuas in cities, and herding and livestock guards in rural areas.
Even if a rare breed does end up in a shelter, a rescue (breed club rescue or otherwise) may pull the dog, the responsible breeder may pull it, there may be someone who was waiting longer than you, or it may simply be a mislabeled mixed breed-which happens a LOT. Furthermore, you may have to travel, or possibly wait years and years.
So if you're one of those people who is in love with a popular breed that can be readily found, and doesn't give a shit about proper temperament or health testing, go.....feel free to find your next dog at the shelter.
But stop being a Judgey McJudgerson for those who do care or are in love with a breed that is difficult to get even when going to a responsible breeder (some waiting lists for the rare breeds can be years long). And stop acting like it's some impressive feat to find a common, questionably bred purebred in the shelter. It's not.
When thousands of Goldens, Labs, and German Shepherds are registered every year, and you're lucky if there's 16 new English or American Foxhounds...there's a huge difference in availability no matter where you go.
Common=More of. Easier to find. More often to end up in the wrong hands. Simply.
Thursday, August 28, 2014
If You Own It, You Should Be Able To Spell It
It seems as time goes on, I see more and more horrific misspellings of breed and species names. By people who are trying to re-home, or more often than not just flat out sell whatever animals they have. Both owners who have whatever reasons, bad or reasonable, for giving up a pet they've lived with for a while to people who have bred said animals for....well, if you can't spell the breed(s) you've bred, you probably have shitty reasons and are breeding animals that shouldn't be bred.
Look, you're on the internet. The occasional misspelling is fine, but unless if there is something seriously wrong with the spell check on your computer, I shouldn't be seeing.......
And that is just one example of many, but I'm not up for dragging myself around the net, trying to find the most asinine spellings.
I'm here to tell you that if you are one of these people who can't even be bothered to cross check your spelling VIA GOOGLE, you are lazy, and your lazy posting will likely end up attracting idiots. Because serious animal people who are dredging the cesspool of CL will 9 times out of 10 will laugh at you and leave you be. The ignorant, the desperate, the foolish, the wrong people will likely be the ones who touch upon your ad and see absolutely nothing wrong.
Further more, incorrect names are just as bad. Unless if you went up north and brought back a sled dog that is just bred with competition or purpose in mind, and is most likely a random mix of whatever sledders found works for them, you do NOT have an Alaskan Husky. You, if you have a purebred, have a Siberian Husky, and if you can't even learn the difference then I highly doubt that dog is as well behaved as you say it is. Why? Because a well behaved dog doesn't magically happen. It takes work, and it takes pride in your work, which means being proud of your dog and likely proud enough to learn what you have and their history.
And if you think I'm being too harsh on you adults out there, my 13/14 year old self could spell Karjalankarhukoira off the top of her head, and so it remains to this day. And no, I'm not Finnish.
Look, you're on the internet. The occasional misspelling is fine, but unless if there is something seriously wrong with the spell check on your computer, I shouldn't be seeing.......
"unbrella kockatoo"
Yes, there was an "unbrella kockatoo" on my local CL.And that is just one example of many, but I'm not up for dragging myself around the net, trying to find the most asinine spellings.
I'm here to tell you that if you are one of these people who can't even be bothered to cross check your spelling VIA GOOGLE, you are lazy, and your lazy posting will likely end up attracting idiots. Because serious animal people who are dredging the cesspool of CL will 9 times out of 10 will laugh at you and leave you be. The ignorant, the desperate, the foolish, the wrong people will likely be the ones who touch upon your ad and see absolutely nothing wrong.
Further more, incorrect names are just as bad. Unless if you went up north and brought back a sled dog that is just bred with competition or purpose in mind, and is most likely a random mix of whatever sledders found works for them, you do NOT have an Alaskan Husky. You, if you have a purebred, have a Siberian Husky, and if you can't even learn the difference then I highly doubt that dog is as well behaved as you say it is. Why? Because a well behaved dog doesn't magically happen. It takes work, and it takes pride in your work, which means being proud of your dog and likely proud enough to learn what you have and their history.
And if you think I'm being too harsh on you adults out there, my 13/14 year old self could spell Karjalankarhukoira off the top of her head, and so it remains to this day. And no, I'm not Finnish.
Sunday, January 26, 2014
There Are Worst Things I Could Be
The other day I was told that my reputation within the fandom that I take part in is that of an "elitist out-of-touch snob dog-fancier bitch". I'm still not sure if that is all connected. I'm an introvert and introverts commonly often get called snobs, bitches, elitist, and more. I'm not sure if other introverts get the whole 'out-of-touch' bit, but maybe they do. Maybe I shall ask the introvert group I'm a part of later.
I do know that if it all does run together in saying that I'm all those things regarding dogs....I'm ok with that. I actually laugh at it because it shows my acquaintances' disconnection with the entire picture of animal ownership. The disconnection which happens when you live in your own little bubble, living with your own animals, maybe talking to your friends who also own animals, but have no understanding or care beyond that, thinking that everything is all right with the world and nothing will ever, ever come between you and your animals.
And how truly terrible that disconnection is. How dangerous it is to assume that everything is just dandy.
Yes, when it comes to dogs, you can call me a snob, an elitist. You can call me out-of-touch. Yet I'm the one who people come to when there's a problem or a question, though they often write me off because it's not what they want to hear. Or because I'm honest and I'll say 'I can't tell anything from pictures on your phone, especially when all I can see is the tummy'. I'm not afraid to say 'I don't know'.
Am I really those things?
Snob, elitist? Because I have an intense interest in purebred dogs and genetics? Because I champion the responsible breeder over rescues and shelters who already have thousands upon thousands of champions of their own? Because I worry about breeds vanishing, living history, great dogs, wonderful breeds? Because I try to educate that you shouldn't go to just 'anyone' and why? Because I think that first time owners should go to a responsible breeder, if not for a puppy, but a retiree so they can get experience and learn and make connections at obedience class so they have someone to call at 3am if their rescue has broken it's crate and is now eating the door? Fine. Call me those things.
Out-of-touch? Because I know with a certainty that animal rights activists want complete separation of humans from any and all animals? Because I'm aware of how vague laws can hurt great breeders? Because I actually see what's going on? Or is it because I don't simplify everything in my life and just waltz along without a care? Is it because I watch your dog and how it acts and what it's doing and I'm thinking, processing, figuring the animal out? Out-of-touch is probably the one thing out of the entire sentence that I'm most certainly not. But I can't help but to find it funny.
So I laugh. I laugh because I am misunderstood again. Written off once more.
Yet inside I ache because I want them to understand where I'm coming from and why. I want to find a way to encourage them to jump into the fight that animal owners are facing even if they don't realize that they do have a dog (or cat, or bird, or fish, etc) in the fight. I want these people and people like them to see what I see. To wonder, to explore, to love the animal world enough to keep us from being cut off by those who would rather see it all destroyed.
I do know that if it all does run together in saying that I'm all those things regarding dogs....I'm ok with that. I actually laugh at it because it shows my acquaintances' disconnection with the entire picture of animal ownership. The disconnection which happens when you live in your own little bubble, living with your own animals, maybe talking to your friends who also own animals, but have no understanding or care beyond that, thinking that everything is all right with the world and nothing will ever, ever come between you and your animals.
And how truly terrible that disconnection is. How dangerous it is to assume that everything is just dandy.
Yes, when it comes to dogs, you can call me a snob, an elitist. You can call me out-of-touch. Yet I'm the one who people come to when there's a problem or a question, though they often write me off because it's not what they want to hear. Or because I'm honest and I'll say 'I can't tell anything from pictures on your phone, especially when all I can see is the tummy'. I'm not afraid to say 'I don't know'.
Am I really those things?
Snob, elitist? Because I have an intense interest in purebred dogs and genetics? Because I champion the responsible breeder over rescues and shelters who already have thousands upon thousands of champions of their own? Because I worry about breeds vanishing, living history, great dogs, wonderful breeds? Because I try to educate that you shouldn't go to just 'anyone' and why? Because I think that first time owners should go to a responsible breeder, if not for a puppy, but a retiree so they can get experience and learn and make connections at obedience class so they have someone to call at 3am if their rescue has broken it's crate and is now eating the door? Fine. Call me those things.
Out-of-touch? Because I know with a certainty that animal rights activists want complete separation of humans from any and all animals? Because I'm aware of how vague laws can hurt great breeders? Because I actually see what's going on? Or is it because I don't simplify everything in my life and just waltz along without a care? Is it because I watch your dog and how it acts and what it's doing and I'm thinking, processing, figuring the animal out? Out-of-touch is probably the one thing out of the entire sentence that I'm most certainly not. But I can't help but to find it funny.
So I laugh. I laugh because I am misunderstood again. Written off once more.
Yet inside I ache because I want them to understand where I'm coming from and why. I want to find a way to encourage them to jump into the fight that animal owners are facing even if they don't realize that they do have a dog (or cat, or bird, or fish, etc) in the fight. I want these people and people like them to see what I see. To wonder, to explore, to love the animal world enough to keep us from being cut off by those who would rather see it all destroyed.
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