Don't Choose a dog based on breed alone

Intro - You may skip to the next section if you just want to get to it. :)

When I was younger - long before I had joined the dog training world - my sister and I wanted a dog.  My dad didn't.  We knew he was going to be a hard sell.  But between my sister's cuteness and my "breed research" and charts detailing which dog would be best, how to train it and addressing all of my dad's primary concerns, we got a dog.

Dog #1 was a 50/50 Labrador Newfoundland mix named Lupin.  What I had read from books and online from the various breeder pages and breed standards told me both were good family dogs and I believed the Newfoundland would tone down the energy of the lab for a larger, more mellow dog. 

Lupin was something else entirely.  He looked like a shaggy black lab, had insane amounts of energy, was incredibly destructive, and the final straw was when he knocked me over and repeatedly ran me over without letting me up.  (It didn't help that the "research" on training I had done was nearly useless since I had found the outdated methods that don't work very well, especially for a child with a physical disability. Ever try alpha rolling a dog who's larger and more powerful than you when you sometime can't even walk?)
My sister and I protested, but Lupin found a home living on a ranch with a man who seemed genuinely thrilled to have him.

Somehow, we managed to talk our way into trying a second dog.  This time, I really researched.  My dad insisted on a small dog.  I wanted a dog that was easier to train and would be able to go on walks and runs (my sister was very active).  I found the rat terrier and it sounded like the perfect fit.  It checked all of the boxes and was easier as a first time pet than many other terriers.  Owner reviews were great.

Dog #2 was a purebred rat terrier named Scamp.  We got him from a backyard breeder (though we didn't know that at the time).  Scamp was a challenge to train (didn't help that I was still relying on outdated methods) and he never learned most skills.  He was an anxious dog, he bonded to my sister and didn't want much to do with most other people unless they were feeding him.  He was mostly a couch potato and didn't seem interested in learning. He enjoyed walks, but was not interested in exercise beyond that (unless he managed to bolt out the front door in which case he ran through the neighborhood quite happily).  He was scared of other dogs.  His only other animal friend was the family cat.  Learning didn't seem to come easily to him and he seemed most content with his routine.  Anything outside of that routine would cause him stress.  He had a multiple bite history.  He definitely didn't resemble the rat terrier breed I had learned about.

Fast forward about 10 years and I was now well into my training career.  I had worked with hundreds of dogs and many, many different breeds.  One breed that stood out to me as one I wouldn't want to have based on my experience with dozens of members of that breed was the miniature schnauzer.

They seem like sweethearts and I totally get the people who enjoy them as pets, but many of the ones I had worked with were very anxious, barky (oh that schnauzer bark), and they weren't very social with people or animals. 

One day, a client brought two mini schnauzers to my agility class.  I immediately started thinking of modifications we could do to make things as easy as possible since these dogs probably wouldn't be very confident and I put them near a door so they could step into the hallway if the dogs started barking and needed a moment to settle.  To my great surprise, these were the two best dogs in that class.  They were confident, calm, ready to try anything we asked, ignored the other dogs (even the dogs who were struggling), and never barked once. 

I was shocked.  I had never seen mini schnauzers behave like that - and these were young as well (I think one was a year and the other was a year and a half at that time).  I asked their owner where she had gotten them from and she told me about this amazing breeder who did health testing, titled her dogs, selected for temperament, then had an entire socialization program she started with the puppies and had the new owners finish with their puppies at home.

I knew about ethical breeders who did these things, but I didn't know until this moment, what a massive difference in behavior a good breeding program can make.  Check out my blog post on How to Find a Good Breeder for more info.

Breed Matters, BUT There's More You Need to Know

Pure Bred vs Well Bred

IF you have a reliable breeding program, temperament, health and structure will still show up as a bell curve.  You're still going to have outliers in an established breeding program with championship lines.  Some breeders have found ways to increase reliable results in one area, but that often increases flux in other areas.

In lines that aren't well established, like backyard breeders and puppy mills (which btw is where all those pet store puppies come from), you may have a pure bred dog, but it's very unlikely to be a well bred dog.  There's usually little, if any thought placed on temperament, health or structure, which leads to higher rates of behavior problems, health issues and structural issues like luxating patellas, arthritis or hip dysplasia.

Backyard/puppy mill breeders also don't typically raise their puppies inside the home or have a solid socialization program to give the puppies and their owners the best possible start in life.  See our blog post on socialization to learn what it is and why it's so important for a confident, well-adjusted adult dog.  They also often use cheap vaccines/dewormers that haven't been stored properly, making them ineffective.  Odds are good that if your breeder didn't take their puppies to the vet for treatments, you'll have to start all over when they come home with you.

Working vs Pet lines

Another consideration is what kind of lines are the breeder using? Are they focusing on dogs who are being bred to work?  Or are they breeding lines that are a little more toned down to be better pets?

There's a big different in temperament and energy levels of working line labradors (called field labs) and breeders who breed them specifically as pets.  You can find amazing, ethical breeders for both types, but you want to make sure your breeder is breeding the type of lines that will fit your lifestyle best. 

Join breed specific groups and talk to reputable, ethical breeders if you have questions about what would be the best fit for you.  It may turn out that another breed entirely would be a better fit. 

Mixed Breeds and Designer Dogs

Mixed breeds and designer dogs are always a toss up when it comes to what you'll get with temperament and health as an adult. It would be great to say "this dog is 30% great dane and 70% lab so it will act 30% like a great dane and 70% like a lab."  But that's not how genetics work.  You may get a dog like that, but most of the time you'll get a dog with random characteristics from both parents and then a few brand new things thrown in as well.

It takes roughly 50 generations to establish a breed and for specific temperaments and health traits to start to stick.  There are currently no designer breeds (sorry doodles) that meet these requirements.  You might be able to find a more reputable breeder for a designer breed who's breeding amazing dogs with great temperaments.  You'll likely still get a decent dog out of them, but be aware that it's still a larger gamble and you're paying more money for a lower chance of what you want.

Socialization Matters a LOT!!!!!

Run, screaming, away from any breeder who doesn't raise the puppies inside.  Who doesn't have a socialization program.  Who doesn't start potty-training and crate training.  Who hasn't introduced the puppies to new sounds, objects, textures, smells, movements, other people, kids, other animals, car rides, clipped nails, brushed them, bathed them, handled them extensively.

These are all things your puppy will need to accept if not master as part of their normal lives. If your breeder can't bother to help give you a head start during the easiest time to start this in your puppy's life, find another breeder who will.  You and your breeder are a team.  It's your breeder's job to teach you how to continue to socialize your puppy until that socialization window closes.  Your breeder is entrusting you with the care of this puppy and it is your job to do your best to set you and your puppy up for lifelong success.

For the record, I've seen some dogs from amazing lines really struggle because they didn't get good socialization during their socialization window.  I've also seen plenty of mixed breed and backyard bred dogs who are pretty rock solid behaviorally because they had amazing socialization experiences.  It counts for a lot.  Genetics, training, health, enrichment and environment make up the rest.

If This Seems Overwhelming...

That's ok.  We all started there and felt some degree of panic.

Take your time to stalk breed-specific Facebook groups.  Personally, I always look at the group files (if there are any) and just observe conversations fly-on-the-wall style for a while before posting.

Narrow down your breed options and contact a few breeders for that breed.  Again, check out the blog on how to find a good breeder. Ask questions.  A good breeder will expect you to vet them as much as they vet you.  If they aren't a good fit, they should be able to recommend a breeder or another resource who is.

Contact a trainer (hi).  Many trainers are more than happy to help you find a good fit.  We'd love to see you have a positive relationship with your dog and start off on the right note.