05/18/2026
Which one is perfect for you?
As you can imagine, we get emergency calls from struggling families all the time. Every now and then the problem comes from a mismatch or unrealistic expectations. People fall in love with a dog’s looks or a cute puppy face only to find out that love sometimes isn’t enough. So – here some tips to select a good fit.
For many generations we have honed dogs in general and certain breeds specifically to become dependent on us while also becoming extremely good at doing certain jobs. The required behaviors are now more or less hardwired into their brains. Raising them a certain way or training will try to push against that but won't change those tendencies completely. Odds are guard-dogs will bark easily, retrievers will die to put things in their mouth, and terriers will dig and play hard. There are breeds designed to work with the military and law enforcement who often make very poor family dogs even if they look really cool on social media. There are always exceptions to the rule – and we have met many - but disregarding a breed’s background means you are gambling against the odds.
Dogs go through stages of life just as we do. Puppies are cute but when they are not sleeping, they tear up your house and skin. They bite and bite and bite and have accidents and then bite some more. Puppies are hard, teenagers are harder. Typically, around 6-7 months puberty hits. Teenage dogs lack impulse control, but they are packing on muscle. New personality traits can emerge suddenly. Dogs’ personalities don’t settle until they are over 2 years old and until then anything goes!
Pick your dog like you pick a car. You may love flashy muscle cars or cute convertibles but for an active family the sturdy SUV will be the better choice. If a caffeinated toddler who randomly stabs you with scissors or a changeable teenager without any impulse control is not someone you would like to hang out with every day, look for a mature dog. The argument that you should get a puppy because you “never know” with an older dog simply doesn’t hold up. In our experience, the older the dog, the easier they are.
Questions? We have tons of experience working with all kinds of dogs. And we are just an email away...
