What makes a good dog? Nature/nurture/hormones ...

TGM

TGM

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Just wondered what factors people thought were most influential in making a good, easy, pet dog? How much is due to the way you raise the pup, how much to the innate character of the dog and its breed characteristics, and how much due to the sex of the dog, and whether or not it is neutered?

I must say my current dog is the easiest one I have ever had! She is (usually) obedient, she was incredibly easy to house-train, is not destructive, doesn't suffer from separation anxiety, never steals (even if a full bin bag is left on the kitchen floor) and is totally non-aggressive towards family, friends, strangers and other dogs.

I'd like to think it is all because we raised her from a young pup and I had done my research and tried to do everything with her as perfectly as I could. But it could also just be her innate easy temperament - she is collie x lurcher and I wonder if it is the collie temperament that makes her so good?

I have also noticed that most of the questions about dogs with house-training problems on this forum relate to males. Do people think that bitches are inherently 'cleaner' and easier to house-train than dogs?

Would be really interested in everyone's thoughts!
 
I think bitches on the whole are far easier than dogs. I've had a couple of dogs in my time....only took them as they were rescue dogs and although they were lovely, they weren't anything like my bitches! Bitches are generally sooo much more loyal, smart and quick to learn on the house-training learning, obedient once they are over the puppy stage, rarely destructive.

I love bitches....none of mine have ever been spayed but ALL without fail have been totally loyal. Most are/have been collies or shepherd though, so as you say it could just be that working instinct which keeps them sharp.

Apparently my Belgian Shepherd I have right now, was bred from a nasty bitch and a super-mean huge dog........well my Daisy dog is wonderful! Not a mean bone in her body and definitely is going to be my second "dog of a lifetime".
 
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I think bitches on the whole are far easier than dogs

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I've seen the opposite, actually. My bitch, though incredibly loyal and sweet, has the independent streak seen in a lot of female Boston Terriers, whereas the males tend to be a bit clingy. I know many people who've owned more than one female BT and had shocking fights break out, wheras the males are generally more placid. Could just be a bull breed thing, though.

I think the ratio of nature/nurture is about 50/50. Certainly, I think it helped enormously that my dog stayed with her mother until she was 15 weeks. She reads other dogs really well, whereas many pet store dogs I've seen -- taken from their mothers at 5/6 weeks -- haven't a clue how to politely interact with other dogs. As for my girl, she has never chewed anything, she hardly barks, she loves all strangers, kids, dogs, cats etc. and is sweet, but by god another dog had better not challenge her -- then her alpha side comes out all guns blazing
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I've read that alpha dogs make the best pets because they're so self-assured and relaxed in themselves, resulting in a biddable, sweet-natured dog. Anyone else heard this?

I did plenty of obedience training, too, which definitely helped but no trainer has ever been able to cure her of her strong desire to play "keep away" with the squeaky ball i.e. she drops it, picks it up, drops it, teasing the hell out of me and everyone else.
 
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what makes a good dog?? The owner
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I had my dog board with a well-known trainer for four days last week and she said that my dog was "so easy, friendly, intelligent, and the kind of dog that reminds you of why you have dogs in the first place".

So, I definitely agree
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Must say my personal experience agrees with yours - have always find bitches easier. Interesting what you say about collies and shepherd dogs - my parents currently have a collie x GSD bitch and, despite being a rescue, she is a fantastically loyal, obedient and affectionate dog. Her only failing is being rather vocal
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Im with you on the bitch preference. We had male dogs (GSDs or Akitas'/Inus') as working animals but all our 'pets' bar two have been bitches and no matter the background or the breed they all seem to turn out the same way. (Soft, devoted, happy and loyal).

I suspect some of this is to do with breed (collies and spaniels of differing variety) but an awful lot is down to nurture.
 
I've only had dogs (all neutered) and have found them loyal and loving. My terrier's parents were awful; the bitch was very snappy and the sire just as bad. He's very loving and not aggressive at all.
 
I agee that the owner is what makes a good dog, I have never paid money for/bought a dog from breeder all of mine are rescues, I have a mixture of a Rotti, Akita, Whippets, Deerhound, Shepherd, (Lhasa-apso)"DONT ASK" and saluki as well as non permanent rescues coming and going, everything that crosses my door is NEUTERED...... they are all a mix of male and female, I can honestly say they are a pleasure to own..... all of my own are good as gold, and the rescues fit into the routine after about a week without any major probs!!!! (I LOVE MY LITTLE WHIPPEYS)
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....however I do think that some innate traits are found in certain breeds ....almost all the Spitz breeds love the sound of their own voice and will bark for England !....hounds will chase anything small and furry and usually have terrible recall - sheperding breeds have a strong desire to circle (watch a collie out with it's family - it will spend all it's time 'herding' them together) plus a low boredom threshold ...etc etc. Yes the owner will play a huge part in how a pup develops but no matter what effort you put in you cannot change the inherent characteristics of the different breeds ...which is why in obedience and agility special ABC classes are put on to give other breeds a chance of winning ! (ABC =anything but a collie)
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The problem comes when a breed's instincts do not fit in with the way we live our lives today ...and the deliberate misuse and abuse of some guarding tedencies by those who think this reflects on their own 'hardness' ...

There is also an expectation that the same type of training will suit all breeds of dogs ...it does'nt... some can take a harsh training regime others can be ruined by it.


I think it is 50:50 between nature and nurture when it comes to influencing the way a pup develops.
 
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(watch a collie out with it's family - it will spend all it's time 'herding' them together)

[/ QUOTE ] That's exactly what our collie x does! She hates it when we split up on a walk!
 
I def prefer bicthes as well but all my friends say the opposite - I guess the interaction between owner and dog and the expectations of owner have a huge effect, but I'm a great believer in that your genes have a huge influence over who/what you are. So I guess in answer to the original question all of it lol!

Emma
 
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