Unhappy Dogs Are Problem Dogs – Peanut The Pomeranian
I just caught the back end of a programme about a couple in the USA who were having problems with their dogs. They had a Collie and a Pomeranian, both with some personality issues. It was the little Pomeranian which caught my attention most.
The collie Staines did not seem unhappy on the face of things. He was showing over-excitement and excessive barking when going outdoors to walk. However it was quickly clear that he wasn’t getting enough mental stimulation.
Collies are bred to work. They have masses of energy AND brains so they are also thinking dogs. When they aren’t getting enough ‘work’ they get bored and unhappy. ‘Work’ does not mean herding – which is what collies were bred for – but ‘having enough tasks to keep their bodies and minds busy’.
So the dog trainer taught the couple to ‘work’ with the collie by teaching him tasks – like fetching slippers – so he could be doing what nature and his breeding intended. Once Staines started ‘working’ he was noticeably better.
The Pomeranian was frightened of the outdoors and refused to be walked. Because Peanut was not getting enough exercise he became a barking nuisance. Also being a very intelligent little dog he also wasn’t getting enough mental stimulation. He was also very snappy when groomed, so groomers found it difficult to keep his coat in good condition. (I imagine if the coat was matted this would make Peanut unhappy and not want to be touched anyway!).
Working with Peanut, the dog trainer was able to start getting him to walk outside and also respond to being taught tasks and tricks. This meant much less energy for nuisance barking. And the grooming progressed with gentle encouragement and diversion tactics.
Both these dogs were unhappy. They were not sad, or maltreated in any way. Quite the opposite! But they weren’t getting quite what they needed to be fulfilled.
Of course some dogs do come out wrongly wired. There were some deep seated issues in Peanut that were not created by his owners. So that’s why you need to make sure you choose a breeder who is concerned with breed health and temperament as well as looks.
This is important for choosing the right dog. You need to make sure you go to the best breeders to get a dog which is sound in mind and body.
Then you have to know what ‘your’ breed needs in advance and make sure that is part of your lifestyle. When you don’t know enough about the dog you’ve chosen, you can easily overlook small aspects of the dog’s needs. And one small aspect might be enough to create unhappiness and problem behaviour.
But when you do get it right, your happy dogs are a joy to live with, as this couple found out!
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