If anyone has read a blog or two here, it becomes pretty clear how much I love animals, especially my dogs. So I write about them again because today is the date, May 8, 1877, when the first Westminster Dog Show was held.
By watching that prestigious dog show, only for a few moments, it is apparent the competition is steeped in tradition. In fact, It is America’s second-longest continuously held sporting event. The Kentucky Derby is the oldest. It surprised me that it started in America, because there is always, always, a British announcer at the desk — sounding all steeped in tradition.
The show allows dogs from all backgrounds to compete. Each year, nearly 3,000 dogs from the U.S. (and around the world) come together in New York City for the big competition. Busy hydrants. I should add this. The AKC’s mission is “to celebrate the companionship of dogs, promote responsible dog ownership, and breed preservation.”
Breed preservation. According to the AKC, there are 190 registered dog breeds.
But here is the thing.
There is an entire movement against “buying” a dog breed. You see, there are as many as 70 million dogs and cats who are homeless in the United States alone. (This is an estimation.) Sadly, of those 70 million homeless pets, only 6.5 million of those make it to a shelter. And that doesn’t assure they’ll find a home.
The cause? It is called human irresponsibility. People can be stupid. They are often selfish and neglectful. We see this clearly when it comes to the homeless population of animals. So those people who do not take care of their duties when getting a pet, then rely on others to clean up their mess. Once again.
Certainly, then, there is a great need for adoption in this country and worldwide.
But, there are many other people who prefer to get a certain breed of pet. And it is fully their right. They are the ones who will become responsible for raising that dog, and if they want a certain kind, who can fault them. They are minding their p’s and q’s. Hopefully. Those who prefer a certain type of dog have also said that their breed has certain characteristics they are looking for in a companion.
Well. There is new research published in the journal Science. It claims that every dog is truly an individual. It asserts that breeds provide very little in predicting what behaviors and personality a puppy may develop. Things like friendliness, cuddliness, and even aggression. Researchers looked at the genes of more than 2,000 dogs paired with more than 18,000 survey answers from dog owners about their pet’s behaviors.
They maintain that the behavior and personality of dogs are greatly impacted by their environment and life experiences, rather than what’s passed down in their DNA.
Breed accounted for just nine percent of behavioral traits, according to them. But, they say, no trait was unique to a single breed.
Now, I am a woman of science, but I think that number is probably a lot higher than nine percent. OR. I think that there may be more variables to be considered in their study, which may affect the outcome of that number.
I did not grow up around dogs, despite my every effort. My first dog came into my life when I was 30 years old. But for the past 28 years, I have had one to four dogs in my house at all times. Actually, the correct number is one to sixteen dogs if you count Frances’ thirteen puppies.
As such, I am familiar with dogs. I pay attention to their world.
And I’ve noticed this. Since the study has come out in the news, every dog owner of a “breed” has said this, either to me personally, or on the news. “My dog must be one of the nine percent because my little Ernie….. “
Every single one.
So, with all this in mind, what do we do? Get the dog breed we want from a breeder, or adopt from a kennel or rescue group?
And I’ll tell you. We should not play judge and jury in life, I think. For anyone getting a dog and a cat, there should be only one requisite. No matter where it comes from, we should love them with all our hearts and take care of them in every way.
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“Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.”
― Anatole France
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“I care not for a man’s religion whose dog and cat are not the better for it.”
― Abraham Lincoln
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I hate to be obvious,” added the Scarecrow, “but you’d have saved yourself a heap of trouble if you weren’t too cheap to invest in a leash, Dorothy.”
― Gregory Maguire, Son of a Witch
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The breed, or not the breed. That is the question.
