June 13th, 2024.
Choosing a companion may not be a lifetime commitment for you, however, it most certainly is for your 4-legged love bug. Any time we get into a long-term relationship with anyone, we take many factors into consideration including their set of values, effective communication, respect, level of awareness… just to name a few. However, when we get into a long-term relationship with a dog, our major concern is what they look like. Which is quite limiting, considering every dog is as individual as every person and with that comes a variation of personality traits and behaviors.
Beyond Looks: Considering a Dog's Personality and Behavior
When entering into a committed relationship with our dog, if their manners are less than pleasant, our first instinct is to figure out how to change them to be how we want them to be. This understanding is what has led many people to suggest that it is necessary to “break” a dog. Using language that declares that we need to “break” a dog so that it is suitable for our lifestyles only furthers the spread of misunderstanding of dogs and perpetuates trainers using cruel techniques to complete the “breaking”.
The Misconception of "Breaking" a Dog
To “break” someone, quite literally, means to destroy or dismantle someone’s sense of self and/or spirit. Depending on one’s strength of will, in order to reach the level of defeat necessary to lose oneself, there must be significantly traumatic experiences. Generally speaking, dogs have the comprehension level of a toddler, somewhere between the ages of 3-5, depending on the breed and nurturing they receive. Forcing anyone with such a narrow level of understanding to be subjected to the torment of “breaking” is not only inhuman, but incredibly selfish.
The Harmful Impact of "Breaking" Techniques
Imagine your partner came to you one day and they decided that they didn’t like an aspect of your personality and they decided to hire a therapist who suggested that you wear an E-collar so that when you do something they don’t like, you feel a “vibration”. Or maybe suggested that you’re given a Hershey’s Kiss every time you do something your partner likes. Or, perhaps, suggest that you be sent to a “Board & Train” camp so that you can learn how to behave properly. Even hearing the recommendations from this professional would not only make you anxious, but also possibly question whether or not your partner actually loves you at all.
A Human Perspective: Comparing Dog Training to Human Relationships
When we are considering getting into a long-term relationship with another person, we first gain an understanding of who they are so that we ensure a foundation of harmony. If someone doesn’t have the manners that we prefer, we don’t ever look for the best ways to “break” them, we simply end the relationship. With dogs, however, it’s not so simple. Sending dogs from one home to another and then back to a shelter or rescue is undoubtedly cruel, which is why taking time to consider compatibility from the beginning is of the utmost importance.
Questions to Consider When Choosing a Dog
A few suggested questions to ask, whether adopting from The Kennedy Puppy Foundation or not might be: does this dog tend to be more of a couch potato or are they more of a busy body? Does this dog tend to be more gentle or more exuberant? Is this a dog that’s able to sit still or are they constantly interacting with something? Does this dog tend to be more attentive to people or is this dog satisfied on its own?
Embracing a Dog's True Self: The Path to a Lasting Bond
“People who are attracted to you because of your looks won’t be by your side forever. But the people who can see how beautiful your heart is will never leave you.” Be the person who chooses to see a dog for who they are not what they look like because in you they can find their soulmate.
Xoxo
Daniella & Eran
