It’s A Dog’s Life—

Misunderstandings Can Separate Dogs From Their Families

By Mary Jane Anderson

Who or what turns a problem puppy into a problem adult dog? Nature and nurture are the two factors that influence the behavior of a dog. Nature provides innate qualities through genes. In nurture, the dog learns through experience in his environment. Neither factor can be separated but must be considered when owning a dog.

A story of Rex tells about a dog and his owners that shows the importance of understanding what is necessary to know about dogs before they have a dog. A family decided to buy a puppy for their 8-year-old son, Billy, as a playmate. The puppy, a cute furry ball, was full of life. Billy and Rex became great friends.

They wrestled and rolled around the floor and in the backyard. The puppy and Billy roughhoused and when the puppy bit and growled, Billy growled back. As Rex grew, his sharp teeth hurt Billy when they continued roughhousing. The parents did not discipline Rex since they thought that the puppy would grow out of his “puppy” behavior.

When Rex was a year old, he was outdoors in the backyard and discovered that the gate was not closed. Billy did not spend much time with Rex now since he was spending his free time with his friends. Rex happily ran to the front yard; seeing his playmate riding his bicycle on the street, he ran over to play. He knocked Billy down. Billy became frightened and started to kick and yell at Rex to have him go away. Rex grabbed Billy’s arm, wanting to play.

The neighbors seeing Billy and Rex on the ground with Billy yelling at Rex to stop, thinking that Rex was hurting Billy, ran over and started to kick Rex to have him go away. Rex crawled away, hurt and confused. After all, he only wanted to play with his pal.

The family, thinking Rex had become nasty and would “hurt” Billy again, took Rex to find another home. It was an ultimate sentence for a problem puppy and a black mark in the breed. What did the family learn from this situation? Usually, nothing other than in their point of view, the dog was “mean” so they justifiably solved their problem. Unfortunately, Billy wanted another dog, so they went out and bought a new puppy and started all over again.

The big question is could this have been prevented? Could the problem have been averted if someone cared to teach Rex what he needed to know in the rules of the house and community?

A puppy, at an early age, must be taught what is acceptable and not acceptable behavior through discipline. Discipline does not include physical abuse, but rather meaningful correction by his leader, firm but with quiet voice that the dog would understand.

Parents must provide the children with a lifetime respect for all living creatures. Children should learn about proper care of their puppy before they have their own pet. Proper care means training — sit/stay, down/stay, come, heel — feeding, exercise, along with grooming and medical care so that the family works together. If this had been done before Billy got his dog, he would have known that the proper way to play with Rex is playing ball, walking down the street — rather than roughhousing, growling, and allowing Rex to nip and bite.

To have a good relationship with your dog, you must spend time so that your dog knows what to expect from the family. The dog will respect you as the leader and you will have years of enjoyment with you and your dog.