Survey - What Level Owner Are You?

The shelter did not guide us, but we had already decided we wanted him and their concern (we learned later) was that he was a dog that would have attracted people with ill intent. So they were happy to see us take him. In hindsight he would have been too much for a family with young kids so it is better he came to us.

Wouldn't turn back the clock or trade him for anything but he is way more dog than I intended to get, way more in EVERY way

The shelter has a system of rating dog's energy and needs now so they are doing more than they did then

I would say I'm a L2 owner.  I've had dogs all my life; and have trained my dogs my entire adult life (cough...a long time)...BUT, the training is only for manners and communication.  Now, having raised Heidi the hellian/houligan who was THE most challenging for me ever.....I rate myself a 2.75. 

I would class myself somewhere between level 2 and 3. I consider myself a very skilled dog handler, having been involved in dog circles from a very young age. I purposely chose all of my dogs as they came from a breeder rather than a shelter. Having said that, two of them are special needs. Gaci was not chosen because of her special needs, but developed them because of her situation and experiences. Shimmer I chose specifically because of her special needs, and Zipper I chose specifically because of his total, utter stability to fit in well with the girls and assist them.

Gaci and Shimmer are rather high maintenance in some of their issues.....I would have classes Shimmer at about level 2 difficulty in the beginning, but now down to a 1.5 or 1 with work. Gaci used to be a 2.5-2.75 difficulty in the beginning, but has also changed dramatically with work. She'll always sit around a 2 though...LOL. The ladies are very high energy, and very intelligent, and will always keep me busy finding new ways to engage them and new problems to solve, and I do believe they will be that way till the day they pass on.

Even though I have been around dogs in my life, including my grandparents' poodles, when I got Shadow, I think I was a level 0 though maybe an almost level 1. But Shadow was unique, different than other dogs I had known. We've had some challenges, not mention a recent victory (Shadow got his vacc updates without a muzzle or logger's hitch, I know. Quit bragging, Ron.) I would say I'm probably 2. I'm not a professional dog anything but I know enough to be around a stranger dog that doesn't know me and not cause aggravation. Less is more. Too many people think they have to barge right in and do their special whisper techniques. Real whispering means being quite, calm, and letting the animal whisper to you, so to speak.

A few times, a person or two that I have met stated quite proudly they were special with dogs and understood them and proceed to just barge right up and try to pet Shadow on the head, totally ignoring the signs and not knowing the breed shyness. When a dog is backstepping and averting gaze to his owner or avoiding a head pat, that means leave him alone and he will approach as his unease goes away. I'm not a dog expert anything and even I know that. Those people would probably appraise themselves as a 3+ when they are barely a 1.

Rant off.

 I would have put myself at a level 2 before I got Crusher.  I realize now that that was a huge mistake.  I was a 1, though perhaps a good 1.  Dealing with him in all his huskiness, I think I'm actually up to a 2 now.  We've worked hard on getting him to be a decent dog, and even now, I'm not confident with him around others, especially kids.  I think though, that that is part of what puts me at level 2.  Realizing limits. 

I really have no urge to get to level 3, or even continue to practice a level 2 after Crusher is gone though.  I think, if anything I would love to be a level 1 with some attitude.  Or at least have a dog that only required a level 1 with attitude...hehe.  Onyx is a solid level 1 easy dog...go figure.

glenmar

I should add, even at the level I consider myself to be, I would NOT want a dog more challenging than a GSD.  They have taught me a great deal, but I sure am not up to one of the really tough breeds.

I'm also going to make the proviso that I wouldn't/couldn't take on a "difficult breed" mostly because of my physical limitations -- our stuff always centers on "hurt dogs" (hurt emotionally, I mean) and for me I can handle that "hurt" WAY easier than a dog raring to go. 

That said, I have a pug who wants to leap tall buildings in a single bound ... *grin*

I've just gotta pick my situation usually

I put myself as Level 2, though I'd consider myself a low Level 2. I think Misha is either Level 3 dog (as an indoor, unfenced yard dog) or a Level 1 dog (outdoor, huge fenced area dog). Unfortunately... he's currently in the former situation. He is a rescue, though a personal rescue, not through a shelter or anything. I picked him out when he was 3 weeks old, so I really had no idea what I was getting size, temperment, energy-level wise or anything. I don't regret getting him (most if not all of his siblings from all 3 litters are dead, while he is alive, happy, and thriving), however, I wish that I could have given him more of what he needed and recognized sooner that he was not what I was expected and would never do some of the things I wanted for him. I'm fine with that.

Before Misha, when I was about 9, I had a dog that was the perfect match for me, a Chow mix I named White Fang. She was so intune with what I wanted, and was a really easy dog to train. Even if I had to tell her not to attack my brother one time. I doubt any dog will ever be that easy to get along with again, but after Misha, I'll be better prepared for a little more challenge (hopefully).

I say that I am a level 2 owner. I'm no where near a professional trainer, however I know what I'm doing. I have 4 adopted adult dogs that I taken through obedience classes, some more than others. Monte is my laid back level 1 dog, for sure. I've had him for 5 years and he's a breeze to care for. He graduated an obedience class months after I got him and that's all he really needs. With Chloe, I have worked so so so hard with her. I have taken her to multiple obedience classes, not because she is a bad dog, no she is a WONDERFUL dog, but because of her breed, I wanted to make extra sure that I could handle her. Enzo is a laid back dog as well, but very active. He has gone through both obedience and agility training. We didn't do agility this summer, just too busy, but next summer for sure he will be entered in competitions. He's a very bright dog, but needs to kept busy. Ophira is the dog I've worked with the longest and hardest. I've only have her for about 6 months, but they have been very hard working months. She came to me a very shy, nervous, scared and anti- social dog with very low self esteem. It's been tough, but I have gotten through her shell and she has blossomed into a playful young lady with lots of confidence. While she is still my most shy dog, she gets better and better each day and is gaining self esteem. Next summer I plan on training her on agility as well, maybe even flyball, to boost her confidence even more. 

I am about a 2.50 to 2.75,  When I lived in Hawaii,  many moons ago,  I did teach some obedience classes but that was so long ago.

I have to say I was a level 1 owner all my life, although we trained our dogs, we were a family with pets.  Many rescued and I am almost ashamed to admit a few purchased from BYB;s.  That is until we got Shadow.  Shadow taught us how to be responsible pet parents.  He was only here 4 short years but completely changed our ways.   We now have Rocky, gotten as a puppy and we have been able to train him ourselves.  Hot Shot however was 3 and terribly scared of everything.  At over 150 lbs we have had to earn his trust, this is a calm beautiful boy but he has required a whole different kind of handling.  I say we are a level 2 only in the respect that we now know, much in part to this forum, every dog is different and just because one reacts to training in one way, another can be totally different recognizing the difference is how we have grown.

ron2

I'm not a professional dog anything but I know enough to be around a stranger dog that doesn't know me and not cause aggravation. Less is more. Too many people think they have to barge right in and do their special whisper techniques. Real whispering means being quite, calm, and letting the animal whisper to you, so to speak.

I agree.

Chuck at one moment was a level 3 dog. Just like kpwlee, his size, power, independence, energy and intense drive made him a very challenging dog. He was testing his boundries and it took all my knowledge to make him be a probably level 2 dog now at 19 months. For sure he helped me to be a level 3 owner

Now I'd say level 2, before getting Sophie and Cruiser, Level 1.  They were our first dogs for an average run of the mill family.   I can see how a lot of people would have their level confused, I see it just with family and friends all the time. They just don't understand the work of dog ownership as it is, nevermind a rescue who comes with some issues and it doesn't end up working out.  I'd say we got very lucky, Sophie was definitely a Level 1 dog, she wasn't socialized to dogs though, so I had to really work with her on that ( I guess that could be going into Level 2 range).  Cruiser was probably just as good a fit, he is a little harder to train then Sophie though.

 I'd say level 2 currently, but I could see how it could easily drop to a 1 if i were to bring a breed into my life that is completely different than a pit or a lab....