If You Had Only Known...

Cocker pups chew stuff....german shepherd pups EAT stuff...and I mean FURNITURE type stuff.  German shepherds need a JOB to do, and if they don't have one they'll find one of their own.....usually to my displeasure and the detriment of my home furnishings.
 
Would I have not gotten them had I known?  No, I still would have gotten them but would have KNOWN what I was in for and been better prepared to prevent some of the carnage.  The herding thing I didn't expect, but at least that was relatively easy to redirect.  I've gotta say that they've certainly taught ME a lot...and heck, growing and learning is what life is all about!

Pharaoh Hounds: 

a)Are very d0minant with other dogs.  They will use every trick in the book to d0minate non-aggressively.  When that fails they will resort to aggressiveness.

b)Are the barkiest dog I've ever been associated with.  They make a Pekingnese seem like a whisperer.  They bark at visitor, at shadows, at dogs on the street, at each other, at nothing.  And they will bark at the owner as well (they talk back.) As I'm typing this Xerxes is in the living room barking at Gaia because she has something he wants.

c) They remember everything.  They remember the dog harassed them 5 months ago, they remember where you hid the chew that you took away from them, they remember where the chipmunk holes are, they remember how to open the pizza box (it might be helpful next time to do it more quickly.)

d) Are super smart and good at manipulating situations in their favor and solving problems.  Ex:  Gaia wakes me up one night by barking in the hallway.  It was her alarm bark so I go check it out.  When I'm looking out the peephole I look down to tell her it's ok.  Hmmm only Xerxes is with me.  I go back to bed and Gaia is lying on my side, head on my pillow and has pulled the covers over herself. 

e) They work together as a team.  In the 8 weeks that I've had Gaia she has taught Xerxes how to be more of a scent hound and how to follow a live trail.  He has taught her how to use her eyes in a more discerning fashion.  Together the two of them open doors and have figured out how to open and get into the feed bin. 

f) I knew this before I got my pups but wanted to share it on here anyways:  PHs have an incredible prey drive.  They hunt by sight, scent, and sound.  What this means to the average owner:  You have a dog that can never be trusted off lead.  NEVER.  They can sprint at speeds up to 35 mph, they can catch almost any animal that they chase  And they will kill any small animal that happens to be caught.  They are also relentless in the chase.  They will not hear anything or see anything else other than their quarry.  You could run, scream, jump up and down or whistle.  They do not hear it and will not respond.  Some will go throught the "electric fence" to engage in pursuit.  Also, they are not like greyhounds: they can run at high speed for a long time and not get tired.  Then they can rest for 10-20 minutes and do it again and again.

f) Are not, as a rule, as affectionate as other breeds of dogs.  Some are, most are not.  A good cuddle is the best you can expect- some don't even want you to touch them.

I think that covers the majority of areas, if you want to know more, please PM me.

Spirit dogs….GREAT idea for a thread. I am sure it will be referenced for a long time to come![]  

There probably isn#%92t too much I didn#%92t realize about greyhounds before getting them years ago. This was ONLY because I spent some time volunteering in a rescue first and read 4 books on greyhounds first before ever adopting one myself.  I feel these are  INVALUABLE things to do with any breed you are considering owning.  My experiences at the rescue with lots of different greys helped me to solidify that “A greyhound was ABSOLUTLEY right for ME”.     The only thing that was a surprise to me after owning one was how little they bark   (I am not saying it was a BAD surprise). At the rescue usually one alpha female will start the whole kennel barking at nothing, so I thought that they were your “average barker”.  Turns out (apparently unlike the Pharaoh Hound []), many don#%92t really bark in a home environment.  My first female only barked 3 times in the 5-6 years I owned her. Although that is not to say that they are always quiet…sometimes they roo or make other “talkie” noises to communicate.  Actually they are also effective NONVERBAL communicators. As I am on the computer typing this, JJ has non-verbally informed me 3 times that the cats are getting into the chicken I crockpotted that is cooling on the counter for the dogs breakfast.  He never had to make a sound or even get up out of his bed to inform me of the cats mischief!  Needless to say, they are intelligent animals!    [8D]  

Here are some things though that folks should know about greyhounds before they ever even think of adopting one:  

1)      Like the Pharaoh Hound- NEVER, EVER let them off leash unless it is a completely enclosed area and has at least a 4-5 foot fence or higher (even 4-5 isn#%92t adequate for some dogs).  

2)      If you don#%92t want an indoor dog- then stay away from the greyhound. These dogs need to be only indoor dogs. They have too little body fat and cannot handle temperature changes.

3)      If you don#%92t plan to include the dog in your daily life and in family activities…then a grey is NOT for you. They love people and if they came off a track then are not accustomed to being alone.  It causes then great stress to not be included in the family and they are intelligent enough to come up with some creative ways of letting you know their displeasure! 4)      They are very sensitive and need only minor corrections to learn you don#%92t want them to do a certain behavior. 

5)      They need patience when coming into a home because they have probably never experienced stairs, mirrors, windows and tile floors.

6)      And several popular myths I would like to DISPELL are:   they are NOT hyper, nor do they need a huge yard and tons more exercise than other breeds, AND  they CAN absolutely cohabitate with their feline friends![]

Sighthounds are truly wonderful dogs, but not right for every home.  That said...I think I would LOVE a Pharoah Hound...so Ed if Xerxes and Gaia ever need a home...let me know![]
   

I had done a lot of research about basenjis before I adopted mine, but there is one thing that still took me by surprise.  Well two things.  1) I had no idea how dominant those little females really are with other dogs.  Kiya has been very difficult to have around other female dogs.  She just goes on the offensive. 
2) They really weren't kidding about how mischeivous the breed is.  I knew they were, I had read about it and expected it, but the stories seemed so out there that I figured a lot of it was exaggerations.  So I can't claim I didn't know about it, I just didn't believe it to the extent it is true.

We have owned westies all of my life because my parents are involved in breeding and breed rescue, but some things that potential owners may want to now
 
1.) leave them outside alone even for a minute and you will have a hole big enough to bury yourself in.
 
2.) They will hunt down any small animal that they can find, I have been given gifts of everything from squirrels, baby bunnies, moles, a skunk (yuck), and a possum.... therefore having small furry animals in your house is going to be difficult, I currently have a hedgehog and the dogs aren't even allowed in the same room as her
 
3.) They are very independent dogs, especially the females, there is occasionally and exception to the rule, but not very often. They also aren't ususally cuddlers or lovers, if you want a dog that is going to love you unconditionally and no matter what you do to them, don't get a westie, they never forget, and will hold what you do against you
 
4.) they are stubborn and only do things when they want to do them. All of my dogs know multiple tricks, but getting them to do it when I want them to is difficult, they could really care less if they embarass you after you say what tricks your smart dogs can do.
 
5.) they think they are mastiffs, they tend to not like little dogs and are definitely a big dog trapped in a little dog's body.
 
6.) they can be barkers, and they don't have the little dog yap, they have a big dog bark, we have had westies that will bark at the TV, a leaf blowing, strangers, friends, the other dogs, and everything else that catches their attention
 
7.) electric fences DO NOT work for them.. they will run right through the fence if a small fuzzy animal is on the other side, and then they will not want to come back because they would have to be shocked again to get back in.
 
8.) even if your dog has a perfect recall, letting a westie off lead is a bad idea, if they see something small and it runs they will chase it, and they can run suprisingly fast and for long periods of time. They were bred to hunt, your few weeks of training on recall is not going to cancel out hundreds of years of very high prey drive

Wolfdog,Mid content.

1)  Shy of strangers,it is very important to socialize at an early age .We recieved ours at 5 months of age.(not knowing what he was before he got here).(He is now a year old and pushing 85 lbs)

2)Very intelligent and high prey drive.It is important that you construct a good containment.they are problem solvers and will resort to brute force if they want to get out of an area where the restraints are not strong enough.A hot wire around the edge of tall fencing(they can climb and jump fencing)works very well..I believe it is more important to keep people away from your dogs than visa versa.

3)VERY destructive if not given plenty of excersize...They also will chew holes in your furnature large enough to crawl through...They can dig a hole in the ground 3 feet deep in a matter of seconds..


4)Pack pecking order is important with these guys..Either will be Alpha or Omega,and you need to look for signs when reaching maturity(around 2-4 years).Interaction with these dogs is very important to create a bond that will get you through the transition into adulthood happily.(of course dog temperment is different with each animal,but it is better to be safe and look and plan for changes)

5)They are VERY perceptive to body language


6)These guys do much better in a pack environment.Dog companionship is important,especially if you cant be with your dog 24/7..

I am sure there is more,but as far as if i would have accepted him into the house or not,i am not sure..

We got this 5 month old furball driven up to us.Had i known he had Wolfy issues,then at the time i may have said no.My wife was the one who wanted him.Strangely enough though,about a year before we got Kuruk brought to us,we adopted Kovu,who had issues of his own,and we had been studiing wolf behavior to try and understand him.

It was almost as if it were meant to be.We have brought in a wolf behaviorist to our home and she  gave us advice and it has really paid off along with alot of reading.

And how could we refuse a safe haven for this boy who was going to be put down for him just bieng what he is.


then

now

{Quote:} 3)      If you don#%92t plan to include the dog in your daily life and in family activities…then a grey is NOT for you. They love people and if they came off a track then are not accustomed to being alone.  It causes then great stress to not be included in the family and they are intelligent enough to come up with some creative ways of letting you know their displeasure!{ Quote}

  That was a great statement...My brother has a  neighbor who has a beautiful Greyhound rescue,and they do everything with that guy..It shows to,his butt is always wagging and he is always smiling..

Absolutely not!  Had I let myself be bombarded with the negative hound stereotypes, my expectations of Dodger would have lowered and it would have been all to easy to blame his breed for my inadequacies as his teacher.
 
From my point of view, knowing about potential breed characteristics doesn't matter nearly as much as your level of commitment.  All dogs IMO need the same things: hysical and mental exercise (to avoid boredom), clear boundaries (to avoid confusion) and "controlling" their environment (to avoid self-rewarding). 
 
 
 
 

I have a cocker spaniel/poodle mix and I did not realize how much exercise she would need.   I'm incredibly happy that she is as active as she is, but I didn't anticipate that she wants to run around and swim and hike and wrestle with all kinds of dogs.   We're signing up for agility in the spring!  While it worked out great for me, it does worry me when I see people chosing small dogs because they underestimate their exercise and stimulation needs and are not able or willing to accomodate them.

Also, she loves flushing out birds more than just about anything and has a pretty strong prey drive, which both poodles and cockers are known for (although in the case of poodles, it is of course the standard that is most notable for it, not the miniature).  Again, a lot of people tend to not think about these instinctual aspects of poodle mixes like cockapoos.   It presents some challenges in terms of leash pulling and being able to call her off squirrels.

Another nice surprise for me was that she loves swimming which both cockers and poodles are known for, unbeknowst to me.

well i have had a blue heeler before and really liked them
now i have one mixed with a catahoula

1)she is a very mouthy dog,i know cattle dogs nip, but she just wants to lick and have everything in her mouth
2)she is a scrounger, i have never owned a dog like this, where she will eat anything
3)she is a very,very physical dog and has alot of weight behind it (and shes only 6 months)
4)she loves collecting items (sticks,bones,buckets,horse poo.....)
5)she will test you alot to see what she can get away with and will do it over n over n over
6)being she is a cattle dog she definatly needs a job
7)a very dominent type dog,very bossy,loves to harass the crankiest of animals

she is a handful but she is the most entertaining dogs ive ever owned,she is very smart (maybe too smart) and is very loyal and protective

i would never get rid of her, she has tons of growing up to do and i can see the great dog she will become

You said it jetty!
 
When we got Conrad, the pound had him listed as a GSD mix, so I did zero research on hounds until I began to realize that actually Conrad's dominant breed is bloodhound and its just the coincidence of the black-and-liver saddle pattern present in both breeds that gave the AC staff the impression he was GSD. What I then began to learn about bloodhounds that has helped me understand him.
 
I think the biggest thing I've learned about is their emotional sensitivity. Bloodhounds are ridiculously sensitive but at the same time incredibly selfish. If you hurt their feelings, they are not a dog who's going to say, "OMG What did I do? How can I make it up to you? Huh? HUH?!?" No, they just sulk off and pout. Whatever it was you were doing or trying to accomplish is over and done with while they go and have their private pity party.
 
I have to add at this point that Conrad's snoring on the couch next to me is pretty much shaking the walls.
 
Both my hounds are scary smart, especially Marlowe. This of course totally flies in the face of that dumb hounds-are-morons myth. Conrad is an escape artist par excellance and learned how to lift the gate to his outdoor kennel off its hinges in about two days of being in there. Once we had that secured, he figured out how to shimmy under the fence. That's how I know he likes his crate--if he didn't, he'd be getting out of it faster than you can say "seperation anxiety".
 
Having hounds forced me to reconsider my previous stance (my first dog was an Akita X GSD--hellooo night and day!) that dogs should obey you because you're the alpha and dominant. Clearly, the hound group did not get this memo. Trying to train a hound using positive punishment or praise-only was like pounding my head against a brick wall, repeatedly for years. Why. Does. This. Dog. Not. Listen. To. Me?!?!?! 
 
Before I brought Marlowe home I did research on coonhounds. I have to say that I was not prepared for what "high prey drive" really means. I mean, I knew theoretically that coonhounds are prey driven, but what that translates into as the owner of such a dog is another thing entirely.
 
I think the biggest thing on a macro level to deal with in hounds is the apparent paradox of their high pack drive coupled with their independence and lack of natural handler-focus. It's a weird thing to deal with. My dogs are up my butt on a constant basis, but that up-my-buttness does not translate into ease of training or flawless obedience. Aloof these dogs are not, but also labs they are not.

I had studied Am Staffs and Pitties for years, so I had a pretty good idea of what to expect. I knew about their high pain threshold, their love for people, that they could get along with other dogs (contrary to popular mythology) and their muscly good looks.  I was NOT prepared for the snotty teenage stage mixed with their incredible strength! My prior dog was never a snot when she was  a teenager and much "softer" than Gypsy. A stern tone was all that was necessary to correct Sasha.  Gypsy needed a firmer reprimand as a teen.  As an adult, she still requires an occasional reminder that I (ME) am the pack leader.

Am Staffs should NEVER, ever be off leash in an area where there are other dogs.  Why?  Gypsy has never started a fight, but guess who would be blamed if something happened  and the other dog was hurt? She loves other dogs, but is definately an Alpha bitch.  She plays well with puppies and other dogs, but will never give up her Apha status. Most dogs are fine with this, but one dog (ironically a male Lhasa) wants to eat her every chance her gets.  Gypsy just stands there and grins benignly, which infuriates Mick all the more!

I didn't deal with prey drive before.  Sasha would chase cats, but never bothered anything else.  Gypsy wants the "tree rats" (squirrels) in theWORST way. She has climbed trees to try to get them.

Also, electric fences are not worth even READING about in an Am Staff household.  They will go through anything they want to to get at something they MUST have--a squirrel, another dog, a cherished toy, etc. Their pain threshold must be seen to be believed.  Gypsy ran headlong into a steel support pole outside the local elementary school many years ago.  She did this at a run. If you or I had done this, we would have been knocked out and on the ground.  Gyspy didn't EVEN SLOW DOWN. She didn't yip, stagger or anything else to indicate anything had occurred.

I did plenty of research on huskies before we got miya (she's a husky/gsd mix) but i had no idea to the extent of her escape artistry.  she's very emotional and has a separation anxiety, so when i left her in her cage one day for a few minutes and she knew i was still home (she has to be with me if i'm home), i all of a sudden heard noises coming from the guest room (where her cage is kept) that i shouldn't have been hearing.  she'd found a way to pull down one of the walls of the cage, scooch and squeeze herself into a small space to be able to let the wall all the way down so she could climb on top of it and got out of her cage.  we've since had to put cable ties on the cage.  []
 
and i honestly didn't realize that she'd be such a strong puller when we're walking to the park.  her being bred to pull a lot of weight is really in her, it's hard to keep at a walking pace with her sometimes unless she's had her exercise. 
and i hadn't heard anything about a prey drive with them, but she loves to chase squirrels.  if she sees one, i'll be half on the ground trying to keep her near me. 
 
i think i need to start going to the gym lol
 
but none of it makes me regret getting her, i love her to death and she is seriously the most comical and quirkiest dog i've ever seen. 
it does kinda suck though that she's not a cuddler, other than with my chi.  but it's ok, i got my chi to cuddle with, he's my heater.

NEVER LET A SHIBA INU OFF LEASH!!!!
No matter how often I say that to people, no one will believe me.  I let mine off now, they are 11 years and 9 years, they dont take off most of the time, but they also dont come when called, I just kind aherd them in the right direction.  But honestly it took all of those years for them to get to old to just take off in a strait line.  They also are not the most loving dogs in the world.  In truth mine are mosre likly to woowoo and love a stranger up than me.  It is just the way they are.  I love my dogs, and I love the breed, it destroys me to see how downhill it has gone in the last 10 years because of how popular they have become.  I am not getting another on either, at least not anytime soon.