Why On Earth Do People Do This?

[Camilla and Darwin]

I have had a hard time recently with people I know getting dogs, who are completely unprepared. These are people I grew up with, who were always aware of my dog-obsessed attitude. Because of this, a few of them have contacted me when they got a dog, wanting to catch up, and share photos. I have been shocked at how little these people know about the breeds they just purchased. They have literally said "I am so scared, I don't know anything about dogs!" and "I am a cat person, but I went to a dog show, and that was it!"

Just this week, one of my friends from high school got a new puppy. And she is planning on leaving her dog with someone else when she goes back to college in the fall, "unless she has to take him". UNLESS YOU HAVE TO TAKE HIM? You just bought a dog, why wouldn't you take him? I think she might be planning on leaving him with her brother... (sigh). She doesn't know if she's going to do training, and isn't sure about puppy kindergarten either. Do you know what breed she has? A Shar-Pei. Yeah, a Shar-Pei. She got won over by the wrinkles. Does she know that the wrinkles make them predisposed to eye, ear, and skin problems? Probably not. Does she know how stubborn their temperament can be? no.

What gets me about these people is that every single old friend that has contacted me has chosen a stubborn, harder to train dog. A Pit Bull, an Airedale, and a Shar-Pei. If you are going to get a dog without knowing ANYTHING about it, why does it have to be the dogs that require the most rigorous training? Horrible Coincidence? I think it's wrong to buy ANY breed without knowledge, but the ones that are naturally more stubborn, high strung or aggressive are just so much more risky for these kinds of people.

The Shar-Pei club of america actually states that they have an extremely low Aggression threshold, and that physically restraining them in any way (or ear cleaning, clipping nails, etc.) often results in them attacking. Does she know any of this? Probably not. We are going to meet up soon and I hope to talk to her, and give her my trainer's number so she can hopefully enroll in puppy kindergarten.

This is nothing but a rant. I've been so frustrated lately. I am just so shocked at how many people run out and grab a dog from a newspaper ad, without doing any research on dogs at all, let alone the specific breed. I hope these people will end up learning from their mistakes and becoming more informed. I hope they don't end up surrendering their dog when they find out it isn't all sunshine and daisies. I'm so frustrated because I don't know them well enough to give them a lot of unsolicited advice, but I know them well enough not to ignore it...

Have any of you had people you know do this kind of thing? How did you deal with it?

[Kevin Poole, Penny & Ozzy]

Fortunately, nobody I know personally has done this, but I know so many people do get into getting a dog with no research. Drives me nuts too, it's not as if there's isn't enough resources out there, books, internet, and TV. It's been years since we had a dog, but we HAVE had dogs, but that didn't stop us trying to find out as much about doodles as we could before we committed. Even the simple task of walking their dog seems to be too much to ask of a lot of dog owners. Out of the 12 houses nearest me, only one doesn't have a dog, between the other 11 houses there are 23 dogs, and only two get walks...Aaaargh!!!! I feel so sorry for the other 21!

[Sally loves Maple & Lucky]

One more personal tidbit - after Marge died, I thought I wanted a Chesapeake Bay Retriever. Duh, it's a natural in Maryland, right? Nope. I did my research and ran away as fast as I could from THAT idea! In my mind, I went back to the four Standard Poodles that I grew up with which lead me to the Doodle :)

[Sally loves Maple & Lucky]

Like all the comments here, I see it too and my heart goes out to not only the dogs - like the runaway Husky with mats so long it looks like he's being chased by his own fur to the toy poodle that "keeps running away, hahaha" down the street. (Personally I think he's trying to adopt me. Or is it a recruiting effort by Maple and Lucky?) But also to the other family members that are pulled into a lifestyle they KNOW is not for them because one person makes a stupid decision.

My friends daughter, husband and 13 y/o granddaughter never had a dog before. So...Why did they choose a 6 m/o pit bull and not a ...beagle? And hubby can't wait so he brings the puppy home 2 weeks before they take off for a family vacation and then boards him at a kennel for 10 days! At 16 mos, he's still eating every stick of furniture he can wrap his teeth around. He's nervous and sneaky and makes my doods very uncomfortable. Now we find out it was solely hubby's decision to buy the dog - a response to an insecurity. It's like the dog is a living representation of what's wrong in their home.

In my home, if one person has issue with a major decision, there's a conversation. Then, if the person is still uncomfortable, nothing happens.

I applaud you if you know dogs/pets are not your thing and you choose not to adopt. Carry on, and you can always hug MY dogs instead when you need to cuddle a furry face!

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

I am with you 150%, Camilla!
WIth T., I had been wanting a chihuahua for a few years - it was luck and I basically adopted him from a great family (he was living there with his brother and sister). With Peri, DH and I talked about getting a doodle for YEARS. I searched for a breeder for months and months. I put a lot of thought into this.
When people act like a dog is no big deal or if they are contemplating getting one, I just remind them how much work they are, how much training they need, how much LOVE they need, etc..... I don't put a damper on dog ownership, but I do mention things I think they need to hear. ANd I did recently discourage an acquaintance from getting a doodle - knew she was "fairweather" about the breed and wouldn't have time to train, etc....

[Frannie & Callie]

I agree with all of my being. LIVING ANIMALS SHOULD NOT BE IMPULSE PURCHASES. IF YOU NEED IMMEDIATE GRATIFICATION, BUY A PACK OF GUM. (sorry for the all-caps "shout"...it's just such a huge peeve of mine). I had a friend from college who moved to Atlanta, got married, and got a puppy. Two weeks later they took the puppy back because they had no idea that it would need so much attention. That was several years ago and we've mostly lost touch, but I cannot think of her without having a strong desire to shake her.

[Anna and Achilles]

I get my Irish up on this one. I think I have offended a few people. Maybe in doing so I saved a dog!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I do have to admit that Ned was an impulse buy with little breed research done before acquiring him. I have to also admit that my husband and I are the kind of people who take their responsibilities seriously. An animal who comes to us - even if it turns out to be a mistake would be our forever pet - loved and cared for to the very best of our ability. Hopefully, there are others out there who step up to the plate and learn about their new pet and take care of them forever. Or, like us and doodle(s), become obsessed and pretty knowledgeable about their chosen breed.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Almost every day, I hear about someone's twenty-something kid who wants or has already gotten a bulldog, usually from an ad or a pet shop. Even bulldogs from the best breeders are riddled with health problems and difficult to train, imagine what the bulldogs from the mills are like! They want them because of the "look" and because they're trendy right now, and I am sure at least ahlf of them are going to end up in shelters. Bulldog rescues are tearing their collective hair out right now.
How do I deal with it? Let's just say that most of these people are sorry they told me, lol.

[Beth Lord]

This drives me crazy too. People fall in love with the look or image of a certain breed, then don't even bother to do their research on the breed itself...much less research a good breeder, etc. The thing that bothers me the most is simply the fact that it is usually the DOG who will pay for THEIR mistakes.

[Janice Allocco-Ange]

This also is a sore spot for me! Unfortunately I once fell into the category of "grabbing a dog" from a newspaper add. When I was growing up, I had a Shepard/Collie mixed breed that was a gem! Of course what I didn't know was all the training my dad put into her (I was only in 4th grade when we got her). Needless to say, as an adult, when I got my dog (a Retriever/Lab mix) from the paper, I didn't know what I was in for! Long story short I devoted as much time as I could (including puppy training, on leash and off leash training classes), but still couldn't meet her needs for attention and exercise. I felt an incredible amount of guilt (even to this day) and finally ended up giving her to my cousin who was able to give her the time and attention she desperately needed. I've learned that researching a breed that fits well with your lifestyle is extremely important and that unless you can devote your life to meeting the needs of your dog, you shouldn't get one.

I now have two miniature golden doodles who I would say are well trained and spoiled rotten (in a good way!) My neighbors(who have a little girl) work incredible hours and are rarely home, have told me they really want a dog. They see my cute, well behaved girls and really want one of their own. I have been blunt with them on the amount of time and energy needed for a dog and have told them out right that since they don't have the time needed to devote to a dog, it wouldn't be fair to the dog. After several conversations, my neighbor said they decided that now is not a good time for a dog. Phew! I told them that when they are ready, they should research the different breeds and select one that fits into their lifestyle.

My son and his girlfriend have a little girl and also want a dog-another disaster in the making! I told them the same thing-it just wouldn't be fair to the dog. Since I have mine, they are welcome to come and play anytime they want.

I am very vocal after my experience with the "newspaper dog". I share my personal story and discourage people from getting a dog unless they research the different breeds and are truly ready for the commitment. Unfortunately there will always be people that will get a dog without knowing what it entails. I recognize that I can't change what I feel is wrong, but I can give my two cents when I learn about it!!!