Adopting....A Canine Revolution

Dogs have had a place beside humans for at least fourteen thousand years. The evolution of the domestic dog is an incredibly fascinating journey to follow. Hundreds of different breeds were developed for hundreds of different uses or jobs. Throughout history, no dog was without a job or identifiable duties. Canine duties have ranged dramatically over the years but for every job there was a canine skill set to match. Selected breeding ensured that these qualities were retained and that dogs possess the task specific skill set to successfully carryout out its job. Humans chose their canines based on who was genetically best suited to fulfill certain duties (these became identifiable breeds). 

Working with the dog’s innate abilities and not against them allowed for a symbiotic relationship between man and dog. Where does that leave the today’s average dog owner? With over five hundred  breeds (and mixes of each) the majority of humans are no longer selecting canine mates for the specific purpose in which the breed was designed for. In most cases, preference is primarily identified by the dog’s physical characteristics, followed by it’s perceived temperament. Very little thought is given to the canine’s specific breed tendencies and needs. This often results in the mismatching of dogs in human homes. Behaviour and temperament issues quickly become too much for the owner to handle and the dog is often sent away. The unbelievable overpopulation of dogs and overcrowding in shelters and rescues has forced most shelters to make the difficult decision to euthanize a large number of the animals in their care. 

Reputable breeders work passionately to preserve the integrity and purity of specific breeds, and other (not so reputable) breeders cross any and all dogs that may produce a favourable pet. Of course, our human needs have also changed since the birth of the German Shepherd, Border Collie and Chow Chow. Most modern day dogs are brought into homes for the strict purpose of “pet”. 

The roles that humans and canines play in each others lives has changed. We no longer have to work as teams with our dogs to provide our families with safety, food, or income. Instead, dogs have become a personal choice and most are considered honorary members of the family. Unfortunately, without a “job”, most of todays dogs are overindulged and insufficiently challenged. Our relationship, although not lacking in love and good intention, lack in symbioses. We have become distanced from our once intuitive ability to interact and communicate with our canine counterparts.  As a result we are experiencing a Canine Revolution.

One way which this can been observed is through the application and adoption process at shelters and rescues. It was less than five to ten years ago when anyone interested in a dog could just walk in to almost any shelter and take a stroll through the rows of dog-filled kennels. The individual would then decide which one he/she wanted, provide some basic information, make payment, and leave with their new dog. As indicated above, many factors led to this change and others.  The dogs who live in shelters are often under-stimulated. Despite the best efforts of staff and volunteers the dogs can become highly stressed, anxious, frustrated and/or depressed. Allowing spectators to pass by their kennels all day long, only increases these reactions and elevates stress throughout the shelter. Knowing that the dogs in the kennels are under an extreme amount of emotional/mental stress, they are likely to misrepresent themselves to observers. 

For example: A quiet Beagle curled up on his bed giving puppy-dog eyes appears to be a low energy, mild-mannered dog. What his observers don’t know is that he is just not used to the loud bark of his neighbouring dog and he’s very scared. Once removed from the kennel area he’s a very busy boy with a tendency to jump-up and knock over anything in his way. This Beagle is not the right match for his inquirers, but a perfect match for the family who passed him by due to his apparent “quiet” nature. 

Had this dog gone to the home seeking a quiet dog, he would be forced to continually disappoint his owners and be classified as a “bad dog”. His new owners would also faced with only a few options: be continually disappointed and tolerate the dog’s current behaviour, attempt to resolve the behaviour through training and behaviour work (which they were not prepared for), return the dog to the shelter or rescue, or euthanize. In order to avoid situations like these from occurring a number of aspects has to be considered and changes need to be implemented. Shelter staff and Adopters must work together to do the following: 

• Both- Accept that not all dogs will have the right genetic make up to do the job (i.e.. be a pet in every family)
• Both- Define the adopters individual needs/wants clearly
• Shelter Staff- Identify possible canine candidates accurately (requires a educated assessment of every dog in the facility)
• Shelter Staff- Explain each dog’s specific needs (known behaviour/training, health and exercise requirements) and the resources that will be required to provide for them
• Adopter- Choose an appropriate match from the identified candidates (this is where the Adopter’s individual preference comes in to play)
• Adopter- Provide a mutually beneficial life for the dog and their family (this will address mental, emotional and physical aspects) 

It is only with the proper implementation of an adoption program such as this that most unsuitable situations will be avoided.

This is just one example of how the canine world is shifting and continues to evolve. As human needs and desires change, we are experiencing a canine revolution. The way canines have been effected by this change is not favourable. Dogs are having a difficult time understanding what their new roles are, and we have not yet taught them what is expected and how they fit in to our modern society. We must begin to set up our canine homes for success. With the implementation of new education and adoption programs such as above we are well on our way to securing a happy future for man’s best friend.