Living With Dogs by Dr Hugh Wirth Read Free Book Online Page B

guard duties.
    People often buy dominant breeds like Rottweilers and German Shepherds as guard dogs, but the best burglar deterrents are small, alert dogs who live in the house and make a lot of noise. Dogs have a sense of possession of their properties when they are secure in their lifestyle, and they will bark the roof off if anyone tries to invade the property.
    Intruders will never enter if you have a dog that yaps its head off, so it is not necessary to have a dog that will rip a human limb from limb. The risk of having a dominant dog as a guard dog is that all dominant dogs (unless well controlled and disciplined) make terrible masters. They behave very badly, they’re bad-tempered, and they bite. If you feel insecure in our current social climate and decide to buy a Rottweiler to make yourself feel more secure, the dog will become number one, because it will sense your insecurity.
SAMOYED
    The fluffy white Samoyed, with its distinctive smiling mouth, was used by the Samoyedes people of Siberia to pull their sleds, herd reindeer and caribou, and to guard them against bears and wolves. The dogs were discovered by fur traders and taken to Europe. They are eager, friendly dogs, and have always loved human company, dating back to the time when they used to share the tents of the Samoyedes people. They are frequent barkers and need a lot of exercise.
Non-sporting dogs
    The non-sporting group of dogs is a collection of different breeds with few linking characteristics. They include the Bulldog, Chow Chow, Dalmatian, Great Dane, Poodle, and Shih Tzu.
BULLDOG
    Winston Churchill celebrated the Bulldog as a symbol of British determination in the Second World War. They are tough dogs, but fond of humans. They were bred for bull-baiting, to distract the bull long enough for the hunting party to come up for the kill. The breed now has a lot of genetic faults, including breathing and cardiovascular problems, which have been caused by breeding for appearance, rather than practicality.
CHOW CHOW AND SHIH TZU
    The Chow Chow and Shih Tzu are both Chinese dogs. The Chow is also known as the Chinese mutton dog, and was bred from the wild to be eaten. The modern domesticated Chow is not far removed from its wild ancestor, and can be vicious. The Shih Tzu is a tough little dog, like the Pekingese, and it has grown in popularity in recent years.
DALMATIAN AND GREAT DANE
    Dalmatians were bred to guard the old mail coaches by running alongside them, so they have a dominant streak. They are high-spirited, and often highly-strung, and need a lot of exercise to burn off their nervous energy. Great Danes were also used as guard dogs, as well as for hunting, and they are classed as giant dogs, often standing one metre tall. In Australia there is currently a high percentage with poor temperaments, and they are not long-lived, generally not surviving beyond six years of age.
POODLE
    Poodles continue to vie for the title of the most popular breed, as well as the most intelligent. They were first depicted in European art in the 15th century, and the breed may have originated in Germany, crossing into France with German troops. Poodles became the rage with the nobility of the 17th and 18th centuries, and were gradually bred to a smaller size. The dogs are highly responsive to their owners, which is one reason why they have become so popular. On top of all that, they are not expensive to keep. They come in standard, miniature and toy sizes.
Consider your temperament and lifestyle
    Approximately 200 different breeds of dogs are available in Australia. In making the right selection, what you are trying to do is marry the temperament of the dog with your temperament and lifestyle. It is a bit like a marriage: unless you are compatible, problems can arise, which is very wearing on the spirit. However, unlike humans, dogs don’t change their minds or attachments. In all our dealings with humans, there is always that element of doubt, but dogs are always