dog.com breed descriptions?

New Topic

dog.com breed descriptions?

Posted : 10/26/2007 12:33:20 PM

Okay, I'm sure this is just a bee up my personal bonnet, but the breed description for the black and tan coonhound, while largely accurate as far as I know, has one line that is just kind of chafing my fanny.

Very active dogs
Consequently do better in the country
Friendly and even tempered

Contrast that to the description of the border collie, a dog a million times more active than the black and tan:

One-person dogs that are intensely loyal and protective
Super intelligent and trainable
Does not tend to wander and doesn't like owner to wander off property either
Reserved with strangers
Needs room to run; becomes hyperactive if not give exercise daily

Can we PLEASE stop perpetuating this idea that hounds can't live in cities? Any active dog needs a dedicated owner and some room to stretch his legs, period, full stop. That does not have any bearing at all on whether you live in the country or in the city or the suburbs. In another dog forum that shall remain nameless there was a long discussion about why hounds, especially large scenthounds, can't seem to get adopted when they wind up in shelters. Part of it is because people have this strange notion that of all the active working dog breeds out there (of which the coonhounds are in the low-to-middle spectrum as far as exercise needs go), hounds only belong way out in the sticks. Why? What is it about a scenthound that requires being in the country? Considering many people in the country don't have fences and coonhounds need fences if they are going to be kept from going stray or meeting an untimely end, I'd say there are distinct advantages to city life for a hound.

So, dear dog.com can you please change that line in the black and tan breed description? And any other place where the breed description presumes to tell someone that the location of their home has anything at all to do with their fitness for caring for the dog? It's really not that relevant if you are a caring, dedicated owner.

calliecritturs

Posted : 10/26/2007 1:25:25 PM

My Luna would tell you that it is simply because the stress level of the hound in the city is so much more ... I mean that leaves it to HER to do ALLLLLLL the worrying for the other two and of course, in the city there is MUCH more trouble that the other two 'mere' dogs can get into so it's more worry for LUNA to keep everbuddy else out of trouble.

Then of course she has to tell ME all about that worry, worry, worry, and then she has to tell the idiot neighbor (the one who stands out his back door and GLARES at the dogs with his hands on his hips before they ever utter a sound just to get them all riled up) so then she has to worry about that and try to tell HIM that if he'd just be nice FIRST everbuddy would be nice thim ...

Anddddddddddddd (whine, moan, moan, little sigh) you just know that these city drivers squeal around and then you hear BIG NOISES and stuff ... why ... what DO the dogs in the country do without all this STUFF to worry about and who on earth takes CARE of them.

bottom line, Houndlove, Luna would tell you that the cities badly NEED more hounds so that there are other houndly-intelligent dogs TO take care of the rest of the world. I mean, these city dogs just don't have the nose for news she does! HOW do they cope??

I'm giggling because you are absolutely 10000% correct ... she does FINE in the city. And with the cities pressing all the suburban boundaries we've even got lots of critturs around (possum, coon, osprey, buzzards, wood ducks, and zillions of gekkos!!!)

She's in her heights of glory -- she gets to 'worry' about all of them. She's such a natural 'communicator' -- -there is never one doubt as to what her feelings are about an issue!! LOL

Chuffy

Posted : 10/30/2007 7:00:37 PM

houndlove
....while largely accurate as far as I know, has one line that is just kind of chafing my fanny.

Surprise Big Smile Stick out tongue Embarrassed

Where is that rolling on the floor laffin smiley when you need it???!!!!! That just tickled me!!!