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In the News: Tails of Marin There’s no place like — the right — home
“Mom, where did Jake go?”
I was recently chatting with a family in front of the shelter. I knew the parents—a lovely couple who had made a very difficult decision to surrender one of their dogs because he did not get along with their other dog. The daughter peeked around her mother’s skirt, looked me in the eye and asked, “Where did Jake go?” Although it had been more than six months, the little girl still missed Jake, and didn’t understand why he was returned to the shelter. Though I could confidently tell her that Jake was very happy in his new home, to her he couldn’t be happy, because he was not in HER home. Unfortunately, this type of situation isn’t unique. There are many reasons why dogs have to find new homes. Some are not predictable—but some are. And some are preventable, with good management and training. The first thing that you should keep in mind when looking for a new canine companion is this: Though breeds often have some temperamental similarities, they are not all carbon copies of each other. One Golden Retriever may act differently than another Golden Retriever. So each dog must be judged on his/her own merit, and judged based on what YO U want and need, not what your neighbor likes, nor what the shelter, rescue group or breeder has available at the moment. Whether you find your new dog this week, next week—or even next month—it will make no difference when you’ve had her for awhile. In other words, a good match is worth waiting for! Here are some other important considerations: Big or little? Big dogs are—big! They can get in the way, and they can be difficult to take places. Little dogs are easier to travel with, but they also can get underfoot. By and large, little dogs are less tolerant of rough handling and they tend to bark to let everyone know where they are (as would we if we were that small in an overwhelmingly large world). On the other hand, if a bigger dog has behavior problems, this can be overwhelming for the guardian. Adult or puppy? Many people want to find a puppy because they think a young dog is a blank slate, and that they can mold the dog’s personality. That’s not quite true. Though early experiences have a lot to do with the way a dog acts when he/she is an adult, there are many behaviors that are genetically based, including shyness and confidence. It’s easy for people to think they can nip a problem in the bud when they really can’t. Shy or bold? Shyness is one of the most pervasive challenges. There’s a shy puppy in almost every litter, and often prospective guardians are drawn to them. But shy dogs have a tendency to become very territorial and protective of what they believe is theirs, and this can lead to big obstacles. It’s usually better to pick an outgoing, friendly dog, especially if you have a growing family or an active social life. The most important thing to remember is that choosing a pet isn’t a simple process, nor is it problem-free. Rather, it’s something to research carefully, be picky about and take your time with, so you and your family—human and canine—can live happily ever after. Trish King is the Director of Behavior & Training at the Marin Humane Society, which contributes Tails of Marin articles. Write to Tails of Marin, 171 Bel Marin
Tails of Marin appears every Saturday in the Home & Garden section of the Marin Independent Journal
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