Why is it that

misstrouble

I agree, knowing more about the dog is more important then knowing the breed.

IMO it is very important to know as much about what breed the dog is in terms of placement. Different breeds have different needs in terms of activity, general care and grooming, etc. If a low energy person ends up with a high energy dog, that can be a huge problem. In many cases these dogs are returned and the cycle continues because people don't take the time to learn more about that particular dog. Staff, volunteers and the potential adopter.

The shelter here has a breed book, but I only saw it in use once the whole time I volunteered there. I think that if it were used more often there would be more successful adoptions and less returns. I realize that sometimes it's impossible to know for sure, but a lot of times you can look at a dog and tell the predominant breed.

Additionally, if a dog is part "Amstaff" and the shelter is not diligent in contacting the adopter's landlord, most times, that dog is returned. I saw it happen time and time again. The shelter was so determined to get that dog out the door that they didn't even make the call. That is doing a disservice to that animal. I'm not saying that this happens at all shelters, but this is my experience with this particular shelter.

It's not a perfect system and I do give credit to these organizations, sadly, certain people think they can play god and the animal pays for it in the end. If some of these people were more open minded to suggestions from volunteers about the implementation of certain practices, they might have better harmony in all areas.

Sunshinegirl

I agree, knowing more about the dog is more important then knowing the breed.[/

It's very hard for most shelters to have any real grasp of a dog's personality based only on it's behavior in the shelter environment.  That is why it is important for shelters to make a real effort to educate themselves and the potential adopters about the possible breed traits of the dogs.  I think it is very hard to tell what a dog will be like once it is settled in a new home just based on it's behavior in a shelter. This is excluding the really extreme behavior but hopefully those dogs don't get adopted into the average home.

Good point JackieG. Shelter environment's are extremely stressful. A stressed animal will not act like it normally would. Knowing both breed and personality is important. Shelter workers would see alot less dogs being returned if they took the time to do a little research on the breed, and helped find a home to match it's needs.

Agreed.  The bottom line is that the shelters do a very difficult job and usually on a shoestring budget.  Where would all those dogs be housed if we had no shelters?  I got my last two dogs from two different shelters and both those dogs would be dead if they hadn't had a temporary safe haven. 

Sam would be dead too. Either by car or shelter. He was 3-ish months old when a family found him on the side of the road....they found him the same day Tucker died(I had art class with the girl that found him). My Mom and Dad picked him up from they're house about a month later. He was going to the shelter if they hadn't found him a home....

We have one shelter in our county. The old-timers around here may have gotten the gist that my favorite breed is Siberian Huskies. Suffice it to say that I have spent some time studying and looking at lots of them and can fairly well identify their physical characteristics. Anyway, the local shelter had an all white dog in there listed as an unknown mix simply titled "mix." One of the shelter workers was walking by and I pointed out to him that dog.  I said, "I can tell you one of the breeds in her mix. She is at least half Siberian Husky."

He replied, "No, the fur's all wrong."

"Trust me," I said. "She's part Siberian. It's not just the fur, it's the structure and the eyes, the color and shape of them. And the stop on her muzzle. In fact. most of her structure says Siberian."

He chose to ignore me. I let it go. He was of the opinion that if a dog wasn't filled up with winter fur like "Maya" in "8 Below," she couldn't have any Husky in her. Side trivia, "Maya" was played by a male dog. He was so furred up and neutered as well, so you couldn't tell she was a he.

JackieG

I firmly believe (and will take all the flaming directed my way) that some dogs would be better off dead than living in a small kennel their entire life.

I'm with you on that because you said "some".  But I also think of this dog - who has lived at the rescue where my dog came from... for, hmmm... well, he was there before my dog was even born, so it's at least 5 1/2 almost 6 years.  But he absolutely loves where he lives, he suffers none of the typical neurotic mess that most Dobes suffer when kenneled.  He thinks he is the king of the castle and he lives as comfortable life as can be provided for him.  Plenty of outdoor time, training, one-on-one time with staff - he even has a special person at the shelter whom he attached to years ago... sometimes I think he is the main reason she comes to work even when she is sick, etc.  They know that most Dobes don't do that well, but he is the exception and they are happy to have him happily living there for as many years as he graces this planet or until some miracle adopter comes along for him.

ron2

We have one shelter in our county. The old-timers around here may have gotten the gist that my favorite breed is Siberian Huskies. Suffice it to say that I have spent some time studying and looking at lots of them and can fairly well identify their physical characteristics. Anyway, the local shelter had an all white dog in there listed as an unknown mix simply titled "mix." One of the shelter workers was walking by and I pointed out to him that dog.  I said, "I can tell you one of the breeds in her mix. She is at least half Siberian Husky."

He replied, "No, the fur's all wrong."

"Trust me," I said. "She's part Siberian. It's not just the fur, it's the structure and the eyes, the color and shape of them. And the stop on her muzzle. In fact. most of her structure says Siberian."

He chose to ignore me. I let it go. He was of the opinion that if a dog wasn't filled up with winter fur like "Maya" in "8 Below," she couldn't have any Husky in her. Side trivia, "Maya" was played by a male dog. He was so furred up and neutered as well, so you couldn't tell she was a he.

And, the workers probably know that you are a Siberian fanatic....right? I'd trust someone if they had experience with the breed. I don't have experience with a lot of breeds, but Husky-like dogs have a certin look that even I can recognize(with or without correct fur). I've been on petfinder basicly all day....I've seen so many 'Collies' that it is unreal. Any dog that is medium to large sized with yellow and white long fur is a Collie, if it's a short haired dog, its a Hound. *sigh* I'd call most of the flat out Mutts or Chow/GSD/Husky(or something similar) or Lab/Hound. I've seem 3(I think) brindle Huskies....the only think Husky-like about them is prickears and a slightly fluffy coat. I'd call most of those as Pit/GSD or somthing like that, I can't tell size from a picture....LOL...

It doesn't matter what you call a breed, but when you lable it - people expect certin things, and when the dogs do not meet that, people bring then back. It's not the stress on the dog. Lable it's 'breed' as best you can the first time. Hopefully that will help out potential adopters.....unless they're like me an very willing to change a lot of they're lifestyle to suit a dog. Many people are not.

misstrouble

I've seem 3(I think) brindle Huskies....the only think Husky-like about them is prickears and a slightly fluffy coat.

Kyda

 Huskies can be brindle in color. They can be any canine color, really. ;)

Really? I didn't know that.....That's cool. Ok, only thing Husky-like about them was brindle color, prickears, and slightly fluffy fur. =]