Old Trainer: Personality versus breed — what to look for when choosing your dog
Dear Old Trainer: My wife and I have decided to get a dog. Our kids are gone so it’s just us two. I’m too lazy to walk myself let alone a dog, so I want one to lounge around with me and love on me. I heard little dogs don’t need exercise. My wife likes the looks of Samoyeds so do they like to lay around and relax? If not, what breeds are lazy?
Walt, Clinton, Oklahoma
Old Trainer: Ha! Samoyeds are the last dog for a lazy guy. Their idea of a perfect day is to run a marathon, then run 10 miles to cool down. No Samoyed for you. But you took the first step to finding the right dog—truthfully evaluating your lifestyle. Now all you have to do is find a dog that views life the same as you do.
The perfect dog is waiting for you somewhere right now, but there is more to owning a dog than sharing naps and popcorn. Keeping a dog clean and groomed takes time and energy. Someone has to train her, clean up after her, give her attention and love.
Be honest with yourself. Are you willing to make that commitment? If not, get a cactus plant. If you are, keep reading.
First, don’t confuse size with energy level. Size has nothing to do with energy. Most small breeds are dynamos. Jack Russell Terriers are so energetic you may get tired just watching one zoom around the dog park.
The giant breeds—Mastiffs, St. Bernards, Newfoundlands, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Pyrenees—are the ones most likely to prefer sleeping all day, but the truth is all young dogs need exercise.
It’s the individual dog that counts, not the breed. Call your local shelters and rescue groups and tell them what you’re looking for. They know their dogs and know which ones will thrive living with a couch potato.
Spend time with the dogs they recommend. Pet them, throw a ball, talk to them, ask them if they want to love you and be lazy with you. One of the dogs will decide that sounds perfect and demand you take her home.
That’s the dog for you.
Dear Old Trainer: I think it would be fun to train Dax, my year-old Golden as a rescue dog. Can he do it and how do I train him?
Rina, San Jose, California
Old Trainer: Goldens are the dominant breed in avalanche rescue so Dax can do it, but rescue work is not “fun,” and you don’t do it on a whim.
People die at rescue sites. More than 2,000 first responders on 9-11 have since died. After Katrina, dogs and handlers worked for days in steamy New Orleans heat with bodies floating in murky water.
Are you willing to subject yourself and Dax to conditions like that? Remember, Dax may not be as altruistic as you, and he’s the one doing the work.
In addition, while dogs love to search for lost people and are overjoyed when they find them, some dogs cannot deal with finding cadavers instead of survivors. They become melancholy when they feel they failed and many never recover. Does Dax have the personality to handle it? Do you?
If you decide you are serious about such training, there are thousands of organizations and individuals who offer rescue training on the Internet.
The Old Trainer has been a trainer for three decades and has rescued, trained, and placed more than 4,000 dogs. Send questions to: theoldtrainer@gmail.com
This story was originally published June 14, 2020 at 5:00 AM.