This is THE biggest mistake you can make when choosing a dog!

Are you looking for the right dog or have you already fallen in love? Then you absolutely must read this article! It will prevent you from making the biggest mistake in your dog search and will save both you and the dog from a life of unnecessary struggles.

The biggest mistake when choosing a dog: focusing on looks

A family had wanted a Border Collie for ages. Now, they’ve finally fulfilled their wish and got a beautiful Border Collie, who is also incredibly intelligent. Perfect!

A week later, things are tense at home, the parents are baffled, and they’re considering giving the dog up. Why? The perfect dog is chasing the kids, biting their arms and legs. It constantly controls everything, is always on edge, and appears to be lurking aggressively.

What happened? Simply put, they got a perfectly normal Border Collie, doing exactly what Border Collies were bred and specialized to do: herd.

Since there’s no livestock for him to herd and channel his genetically programmed behavior, he’s taken to herding the kids instead.

What the family completely overlooked or successfully ignored in their choice was that this is a herding dog. If it doesn’t have a proper job, it will find one.

This scenario, or something similar, happens to many dog owners. People choose dogs based solely on their appearance and are completely shocked when these dogs act exactly like typical representatives of their breed. Many dogs are quickly labeled as problematic – even as puppies – just because they are hunting dogs, herding dogs, guard dogs, or other working breeds.

The rude awakening comes when the dog matures and starts exhibiting all of its genetic traits. Do it better by paying attention to the following points!

THE biggest mistake when choosing a dog: ignoring traits

“But they’re soooo beautiful / cute / impressive!”

“I fell in love at first sight!”

“Breed X has always been my dream!”

We all find different traits appealing. Some people find the athletic appearance of the Malinois unbeatable. Others love Rottweilers, and some can’t resist Huskies and the like. Once people fall in love with a dog’s looks, they tend to ignore the fact that the dog might not fit into their lifestyle.

Then the Doberman is demonized because it turns out to be a typical Doberman in behavior, not the Beagle that would have better suited the owner. The German Shepherd or Malinois can also be a disappointment when it stirs up trouble on the dog park instead of playing harmoniously with others. And that the Weimaraner constantly wants to hunt wasn’t part of the plan either.

The following points will show you what to look out for when choosing the right breed for you and avoid typical mistakes.

Learn about the breed’s history

What was the breed originally bred for? What jobs did these dogs do? What traits were sought after in breeding, and what are they selected for today? The breed’s selection and history will reveal a lot about what the dogs are genetically programmed to do.

Were they bred to work with livestock? Then you can expect that representatives of this breed are not timid, can assert themselves, and are skilled at herding or driving. Yes, even using their teeth.

On the other hand, if the breed’s historical role was to guard and protect its owner’s life and property, then these dogs will find strangers unnecessary and generally suspicious.

Of course, behavior can be shaped with the right training. But the natural instincts are there, and they must be understood and worked with, not against. No matter how hard you try, you can’t train a Bernese Mountain Dog to become a poodle.

Where are the dogs used?

We all know the videos: dogs doing something particularly cute, showing impressive athleticism, displaying extraordinary intelligence, or, contrary to popular belief, being totally relaxed.

This can often distort perceptions and reality. So, look closer at real-life situations, not just in your immediate environment. Educate yourself about the current roles these dogs are used for, and be aware of typical and potential issues. This will help you gain a better understanding of what you’re getting into.

Get informed about their traits

Breed descriptions often sound like advertising and leave a lot of room for interpretation. Understanding them correctly is an art. Additionally, many descriptions focus on positive traits that can actually become problematic in everyday life.

Here are a few examples:

Alert – Sounds great, right? This dog will keep an eye out, protect you, and keep burglars away. But it also might mean that the alert dog will bark at the whole neighborhood because a strange bird landed on the balcony railing, the mailman is too loud with the mailbox, or a child is riding a tricycle down the street.

Intelligent – Wonderful, the dog will learn hundreds of commands in no time and impress everyone, with almost no effort from you. Unfortunately, that’s not true because:

1. Just because a dog is intelligent doesn’t mean it will automatically do what you want.

and

2. Intelligent dogs do learn very quickly, but that also includes picking up on your mistakes, weaknesses, and unwanted behavior patterns.

Family friendly – Perfect. This dog is definitely friendly, loves kids, and gets along with everyone. No! The term “family dog” leaves a lot of room for interpretation. A dog can love its family dearly and still wish death upon any unfamiliar creatures, including occasional visitors like Grandma Erna, who only stops by once in a while and isn’t considered part of the family by the dog.

Get to know the breed in person

No breed description or video can replace meeting the dogs in real life. Shows and breeders are good places to start.

BUT: Keep in mind that here you’ll meet carefully selected representatives of the breed, typically in the hands of experienced, skilled, and knowledgeable owners. These owners know how to handle their dogs, what to look for, and what to avoid. So, you’ll be seeing the dogs at their best, which can significantly distort your impression.

Therefore, you absolutely need to consider the next point to get a truly accurate picture.

Consider the breed’s health and drawbacks

Why are representatives of your breed most often given up for adoption? Ask at animal shelters, read reasons for rehoming, and educate yourself about rescue organizations focused on your breed. Talk to owners, trainers, and breeders about why you might not want to get a dog of that breed. Ask specifically about the disadvantages, special characteristics, and limitations you can expect.

Lastly, educate yourself about the breed’s health. Are they prone to cancer, heart issues, eye diseases, allergies, food intolerances, or degenerative joint diseases?

Would you still want the breed if the risk of a herniated disc is high or you’re faced with a chronic illness that requires years of daily medication?

Time and again, people are shocked when their dog suddenly suffers from these issues, even though they are often breed-specific illnesses that occur alarmingly frequently.

The better you are informed, the better your dog choice

The more you inform yourself about the potential drawbacks and suitability of a dog for your life, the less likely you are to be negatively surprised. And the less the dog’s appearance will play a significant role in your decision.

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