Does Your Personality Really Match Up With the Dog You Choose?
Many dog owners would think they’ve got the personality match with their dog to a tee. Is it a wishful thinking? From what I’ve found 80% of the beginner dog owners, especially those who do little researching, don’t.
Most of us have a tendency to choose a companion dog that we feel reflect our personality, lifestyle, and maybe looks. Question is, what happens when we are mistaken about our real personality?
Example of Personality Mismatch #1
A woman who thinks of herself as a sporty, rugged gal may choose a breed of dog (i.e. Jack Russell Terrier) that is extremely active and requires plenty of daily exercise. However, if she isn’t as sporty as she thinks, she may fail to exercise the dog enough as a result of her own laziness and lack of fitness.
The dog suffers. The dog may then exhibit behavioral problems, mental distress, and poor physical health.
Example of Personality Mismatch #2
Or a wannabe macho guy believes that only a large, ferocious looking dog suits his “tough image.” But if he isn’t as firm as he believes himself to be, and selects a dog base on looks alone, he may have problem controlling an aggressive breed of dog like a Rottweiler. These groups of dogs need highly authoritative owner who are consistent with their commands and able to provide extensive trainings throughout the dog’s life or at least until he reaches the senior years.
Most probably, the macho guy’s dog will end up controlling him instead!
Adjusting Your Behavior To Meet Your Dog’s Personality
Can dog owners adjust their behavior so that their inactive lifestyle will be more active to meet their dog’s needs? Can an inconsistent individual learn to be more firm in order to be a pack leader of his dog?
Of course it’s possible. But it doesn’t always happen and when it doesn’t, the dog suffers.
When you can’t cope with the problem lies before you (which many brought it upon themselves 
) chances are you will give the dog away, or worse, abandoned him, or put him to sleep.
Sadly, it’s not the lazy or inexperienced owner who pays the price, but the dog.
Do you really have to risk a dog’s well-being just to find out if his presence is worth compromising for? If so, just how far the distance will you go? 24/7/365 for 15 years?
The Complete Series of Owner-Dog Match
- Do Your Look Like Your Dog?
- Does Your Personality Really Match Up With the Dog You Choose?
- Are You Choosing the Dog That Match Your Lifestyle?
Apr 2nd 2007
2:22 PM
Those of us with four dogs must have some deep seated psychological problems, hm?
Apr 2nd 2007
10:15 PM
Jan, you know I was not referring to people like us! Or maybe we do have some dark personalities that only our dogs know.