29/05/2025
Why does breed matter? 🐕
Knowing the breed of your dog is incredibly helpful to knowing how to fulfil their needs.
When I first got Kuki, I didn't know his breed. I was walking for him for an hour THREE times a day 😮 But still, he had excess energy.
In fact, he was overtired, over stimulated, and therefore showing signs of hyper arousal like:
● Tugging the lead
● Jumping up at me
● Grabbing my sleeves
● Hu***ng
(I just didn't know what these signals meant at the time) 😵💫
More exercise wasn't what he needed at all. When I did his DNA test, it helped me learn he's a livestock guardian dog. He's 50% Sarplaninac, so has quite a solid percentage that I can learn about and understand.
I watched endless videos on YouTube of how Sarplaninacs work, live and play. I used this new knowledge to create a daily routine and set of activities that is SO much more in tune with his needs.
Now, we walk for 20 mins in the morning, and about 40 mins in the evening - way more manageable!! 😌
He gets plenty of sleep around those walks, and we have a few activities in his day that are much better for him than endless, endless walking!
❓️ OK, so what if you dont know your dog's breed?
Look for telltale signs and use some gut instinct. Which country did they come from? This can automatically give some clues - check out the common dog breeds in that country.
Then you can use appearance to help you narrow it down.
Personality and habits can also be a huge giveaway! Are they vocal? Do they like to follow you, or walk ahead? Do they chase and catch, or prefer to watch carefully?
Knowing breed can help you understand your dog SO much better, and fulfil their needs throughout their day 🐾
