The Dog Repairman

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114 – August, 2023

By Amy Fernandez

It’s no secret that “purebred” has lost its cachet among the dog-buying public. At this point, the downward trend seems unstoppable and that is truly troubling. Possibly, the most ironic aspect of it is the fact that purebred ID remains the gold standard of buyer expectations. That hard-won brand image should be a source of pride. Instead it’s fast becoming fuel for that media bonfire. Let’s unravel this paradoxical mess.

Approximately 23 million Americans acquired dogs during the pandemic and that’s always good. Evidence establishing the positive value of canine companionship far predated this brand new test of sanity. However, a large number of these households were novice owners acquiring dogs from undocumented sources. That combination instantly complicates every aspect of dog management. Most crucially, distinguishing truly aberrant behavior from basic training issues becomes very tricky for those unacquainted with this alien species. Smiling or snarling? Rambunctious or dangerous? Dogs don’t come with directions, but it’s generally easy to decipher the basic language. Sandwich on the table? Squirrel in the park? Key in the door? Unlike people, dogs tend to be straightforward about their agendas.

Thanks to thousands of years of co-evolution and selective breeding this canine/human communication network runs pretty smoothly. Additionally simplifying the language barrier is the fact that dogs have been tailored to countless specialized roles. Those specialized traits emerge effortlessly–and informed owners anticipate this from their dog. That’s why canine behavior experts (bona fide experts) always consider breed type within the context of training and management protocols. Modifying a dog’s behavior is thus tailored to established fact patterns that are associated with that breed.

Click here to read the complete article
114 – August, 2023

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