or dogs’ home due to abuse, abandonment or bad behaviour. As someone who has taken in a number of rescue dogs over the years, I can say with my hand on my heart that the rewards both the dogs and I have had have been phenomenal. The joy I have had in seeing tragic dogs given a new hope in life has been immense. And I have to admit it has made me feel good to have provided these dogs with a happy and stable home life they had previously been denied.
Having said that, there is no escaping the fact that rescue dogs can present considerable problems, for self-evident reasons. I often say that there is no such thing as a problem dog, but there are dogs with problems. And rescue dogs, by their very nature, come with more problems than most.
Obviously in such cases it is simply not possible to make the checks that are possible with a new puppy. Any decent sanctuary or rescue organisation should be able to provide you with some details about the dog’s immediate past. Again, vagueness or reluctance to give out details should be regarded with extreme caution, however, the vast majority of sanctuaries and rescue homes are run by people who have an extraordinary dedication to dogs and their welfare. Whatever they know about the dog, they will be willing to tell you: good or bad. It is not in their interest, or that of the dog, to deceive you. The reason many dogs are in a sanctuary is due to violence. I believe, however, that, provided you understand the way a dog’s mind works, it is a calculated risk. For many people, I hope it will remain a risk worth taking.
A Question of Breeding
When I was given my first dog, a Border collie called Shane, there were relatively few breeds readily available to buy. How things have changed. Today, new owners face a bewildering choice of breeds, from exotic Oriental dogs like the Akita and the shih-tzu, to breeds that, until recently, were considered rare, like the Newfoundland or husky.
I am often asked whether particular breeds are more suitable for some people than others. My answer, in general, is that anyone can own any breed provided the dog fully understands its status within the domestic pack. A Yorkshire terrier that believes it is boss may not deliver as bad a bite as a Rottweiler or German shepherd under the same delusion; nonetheless, a bite is a bite. If a dog’s attitude is right, this problem will not arise so the breed of dog is immaterial, yet there are some general guidelines you should bear in mind.
If, for instance, you have a quiet, family lifestyle and are looking for a more relaxed companion rather than an active dog, you might be advised to take a breed that does not need as much exercise, something like a Tibetan spaniel. This does not necessarily mean a smaller dog: Great Danes and Saint Bernards love to lie around. On the other hand, people, like me, who find it hard to justify going out for a walk without a dog for company, are spoilt for choice. German shepherds, Labradors, springer spaniels are all suitable companions.
You have to bear in mind the specifics of your situation. For example, I would not advise someone who is restricted in what they are able to do physically to take on dogs with heavy coats, breeds like the Afghan hound or rough collies. The demands these breeds make in terms of grooming are considerable. It is far better for people in this situation to go for a Labrador, a retriever or a Border collie, dogs that are less ‘high maintenance’ in this respect.
You should also bear in mind the practicalities of training a dog. For instance, with the introduction of basic controls such as the ‘sit’ and ‘heel’, you will be required to do a lot of crouching and bending down to deal with your dog. Older, less mobile, people might want to bear in mind whether they are going to be capable of doing this with a small dog in particular. It is a lot easier to reach the eye level of a German shepherd than that of a lhasa apso.
It is worth stating at this point that it is wrong to associate the size of the dog with the size of the task ahead of its new owner. Big dogs do not necessarily mean a bigger task in terms of training and maintaining them. Indeed, in my experience, some of the kindest, gentlest and easiest-trained dogs have been from the larger breeds. And some of the most uncooperative have been from the smaller ones.
Of course, the best way to understand the type of dog you are acquiring is to study the breed. Each breed was originally evolved, through human intervention, to perform certain functions. Border collies and German shepherds were bred as sheepdogs, and are carers and herders. Beagles were bred to hunt. The Saint Bernard and the Newfoundland were bred as rescue dogs – it is why, in normal circumstances, they are such peaceful, placid dogs. It is only when an emergency arises that they leap into action. By the same token, lhasa apsos and Pekinese were bred as lapdogs. Breeds like this are, literally, custom-made for people who are looking for warmth, affection and companionship above all else. There are dogs to suit everyone.
The one thing I would caution against is getting a dog purely because it is in vogue at a particular time. Certain breeds come into fashion every now and again. I can recall times here in Britain when the Afghan hound and the Old English sheepdog became incredibly ‘trendy’ dogs. The success of the film 101 Dalmatians suddenly made that breed popular. A short time later, when these breeds are no longer de rigueur, the sanctuaries and rescue centres are full of unwanted dogs. In the meantime, unscrupulous breeders will have gone into overtime producing as many puppies as possible, inflicting God-knows-what damage on the breed itself. If someone is going to choose an accessory from a fashion magazine, let it be a handbag, a pair of shoes or a dress – anything but a dog.
EXPANDING PACKS: PREPARING FOR A NEW DOG
The more I have observed and worked with humans and dogs, the more I have come to recognise our shared sense of family values. It is, of course, no accident that dogs possess a pack instinct as deep-rooted as our own. It is one of the reasons why our ancient ancestors forged an alliance with the dog, the first and most important animal to be domesticated by man. I mention it at this point because you must consider this when you expand your pack by introducing new dogs to a home that already has dogs. My method, as I have explained, allows you to position yourself as the leader of that pack. Yet, in situations where you already own two or more dogs, the dogs, too, will have a hierarchy. The natural result when a new dog is introduced into the pack is a situation where the dogs believe a leadership election is about to happen. I will deal in detail with this later on, but for now bear in mind that the introduction of a new dog is something that has to be planned with particular care.
There are many other factors to consider. Mixing breeds, for instance, has to be thought about. A Japanese Akita and a German shepherd will get along together eventually, but there may be a great deal of friction before they settle into a routine together. Introducing a puppy less than nine months old to an existing pack is, in relative terms, a straightforward process. But here, too, you must bear in mind that placing a nine-month-old puppy in a home is the equivalent, in dog years, of introducing a hyperactive twelve-year-old to a human household. People always talk of one dog year being the equivalent of seven human years: in the case of the dog’s first year, however, this is more like sixteen years. Look at it this way: by nine months old, a bitch is physically capable of producing and raising children. Emotionally, however, she is nowhere near ready. You should always bear in mind the effect a newcomer like this might have on the chemistry of your existing pack.
If you already have dogs, I therefore suggest you do two things before expanding the pack. Firstly, I recommend you introduce my method to the existing dogs first. This makes obvious sense on every level: the influence the existing dogs have on their new companion will be immense. If they have learned to live a fulfilling life by accepting you as their leader, the chances of the potentially disruptive newcomer accepting the status quo are hugely increased.
Secondly, I also advise you to introduce the new dog to its prospective pack as soon as possible. The ideal option is to take the existing dogs to the breeder or rescue centre where the new dog is. This has several obvious advantages. In territorial terms, it is neutral ground. The new arrival will also
