22/03/2024
Dear Fellow Dog Lovers,
The touching narrative shared about the realities faced by 21st-century dogs has sparked an essential conversation that we, as a community of pet enthusiasts and professionals, must continue. Our dogs are more than just companions; they are living embodiments of their breed's history, with intrinsic needs and instincts that have been shaped over centuries.
As a pet groomer, I have the honor of interacting with a wide array of breeds, each with their unique story and disposition. My role goes beyond aesthetic grooming; it's about recognizing and respecting the individuality and spirit of each dog that comes through our doors.
However, the breeds highlighted earlier are merely the tip of the iceberg. There are many more breeds out there, each selectively bred for particular attributes, and who may suffer if unable to live out the lifestyle they were innately designed for. It's our responsibility to understand their needs above our personal preferences. Choosing a dog that fits into our lifestyle is far more crucial than selecting one based on their looks alone.
For example, while I am in awe of the Malinois's intelligence, the Husky's mesmerizing gaze, and the Tibetan Terrier's majestic presence, I must acknowledge that my current lifestyle would not meet the needs these breeds deserve. It wouldn't be right to bring such a dog into my life, knowing I couldn't provide the right environment for them.
In our heartfelt dialogue about purebred dogs and their specific traits, let us not overlook our cherished mixed-breed companions—the lovable mutts and crossbreeds who often combine the best of multiple worlds. These dogs, with their mosaic of genetics, bring a rich diversity to our lives and can sometimes be just as complex, with their own set of individual needs and personalities.
Mixed-breed dogs are like one-of-a-kind pieces of art, each with a unique blend of characteristics that can surprise and delight. They inherit traits from their varied lineage, which means that understanding and caring for them may require an open mind and a flexible approach. Like their purebred cousins, they too yearn for a life filled with purpose, play, and understanding. They deserve an owner who looks beyond their charming exterior to see the heart and soul of a canine companion who's eager to love and be loved in return.
Whether your dog is a purebred or a blend of many, each one requires a nurturing environment where they can flourish. It is our joy and our mission to discover what makes each dog tick—their favorite games, their quirkiest habits, and the activities that fulfill their innate desires. It's about creating a bond that respects their individuality and providing a lifestyle that fits not just their physical characteristics but also their mental and emotional needs.
So, as you consider bringing a furry friend into your life, remember that every dog, regardless of its pedigree, has a heart that beats for affection, companionship, and a sense of belonging. By embracing the uniqueness of each dog, whether purebred, crossbreed, or mutt, we ensure that the love we give is as unconditional as the love they offer us. Together, let's make each tail wag a testament to the joyful life every dog deserves.
This is why I wholeheartedly advocate for responsible pet ownership just as much as responsible breeding. By carefully considering which dog to bring into our homes, ensuring we can meet their physical and mental needs, we can foster even happier and healthier relationships with our canine friends. This approach also decreases the number of beloved animals that end up in shelters, often a sad result of unfulfilled needs and misunderstandings.
Before you decide to welcome a dog into your family, please take a moment to reflect on whether you can offer a life that not only includes love but also respects the animal's heritage and natural behaviors. Consider adopting two dogs instead of one if you can, to alleviate the loneliness they may feel during your absence. Remember, what is just a workday for you is an eternity for them to be alone.
Here at Sassy Fur, we see the beauty within each dog and strive to support you in providing the best care for your furry family members. Let's work together to honor our dogs' legacies and ensure they lead the fulfilling lives they so richly deserve.
With warmth and devotion to every wagging tail
Dodi
Everyone who is thinking of getting dogs should read this because you need to understand this reality:
***I am a 21st century dog.***
-I'm a Malinois.
Overskilled among dogs, I excel in all disciplines and I'm always ready to work: I NEED to work.
But nowadays I get asked to chill on the couch all day everyday.
-I am an Akita Inu.
My ancestors were selected for fighting bears.
Today I get asked to be tolerant and I get scolded for my reactivity when another approaches me.
-I am a Beagle.
When I chase my prey, I raise my voice so the hunters could follow.
Today they put an electric collar on me to shut up, and you make me come back to you - no running - with a snap of your fingers.
-I am a Yorkshire Terrier.
I was a terrifying rat hunter in English mines.
Today they think I can't use my legs and they always hold me in their arms.
-I'm a Labrador Retriever.
My vision of happiness is a dive into a pond to bring back the duck he shot to my master.
Today you forget I'm a walking, running, swimming dog; as a result I'm fat, made to stay indoors, and to babysit.
-I am a Jack Russell.
I can take on a fox, a mean badger, and a rat bigger than me in his den.
Today I get scolded for my character and high energy, and forced to turn into a quiet living room dog.
-I am a Siberian Husky.
Experienced the great, wide open spaces of Northern Europe, where I could drag sleds for long distances at impressive speeds.
Today I only have the walls of the house or small garden as a horizon, and the holes I dig in the ground just to release energy and frustration, trying to stay sane.
-I am a border collie
I was made to work hours a day in partnershipwith my master, and I am an unmistakable artist of working with the herd.
Today they are mad at me because, for lack of sheep, I try to check bikes, cars, children in the house and everything in motion.
I am ...
I am a 21st century dog.
I'm pretty, I'm alert, I'm obedient, I stay in a bag...but I'm also an individual who, from centuries of training, needs to express my instincts, and I am *not* suited for the sedentary life you'd want me to lead.
Spending eight hours a day alone in the house or in the garden - with no work and no one to play or run with, seeing you for a short time in the evening when you get home, and only getting a small toilet walk will make me deeply unhappy.
I'll express it by barking all day, turning your yard into a minefield, doing my needs indoors, being unmanageable the rare times I'll find myself outside, and sometimes spending my days sunk, sad, lonely, and depressed, on my pillow.
You may think that I should be happy to be able to enjoy all this comfort while you go to work, but actually I’ll be exhausted and frustrated, because this is absolutely NOT what I'm meant to do, or what I need to be doing.
If you love me, if you've always dreamed of me, if my beautiful blue eyes or my athletic look make you want me, but you can't give me a real dog's life, a life that's really worth living according to my breed, and if you can't offer me the job that my genes are asking, DO NOT buy or adopt me!
If you like the way I look but aren't willing to accept my temperament, gifts, and traits derived from long genetic selection, and you think you can change them with only your good will, then DO NOT BUY OR ADOPT ME.
I’m a dog from the 21st century, yes, but deep inside me, the one who fought, the one who hunted, the one who pulled sleds, the one who guided and protected a herd still lives within.
So think **very** carefully before you choose your dog. And think about getting two, rather than one, so I won't be so very lonely waiting for you all day. Eight or ten hours is just a workday to you, but it's an eternity for me to be alone.
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