I am a dog snob

[Connie Swaim]

I have a new foster dog – Chippers. He is so much different than the last few fosters I’ve had that I am forced to examine myself and see myself for what I really am – a dog snob.

I’ve fostered a few dogs that were just, well, dogs. They were perfectly great dogs, don’t get me wrong, but for me, they just didn’t have that spark. I want my dogs to be fun, have tremendous play drive, be bold and intelligent. I want dogs that ask, “what are we going to do next?” rather than one happy to lay on the floor in front of the fireplace.

I realize lots of people want the dog that just lays there, which is great, because someone needs to love them too.

Granted, the dogs I love can be very problematic to own. Their intelligence and drive means they want to constantly be doing something. Condor, my 9-month-old Shepherd, seems to have no limit to the number of times he will retrieve a thrown object. When I get tired of throwing, he paces in front of me and whines. He then goes to find something else that I might like to throw better to see if that will help. The only thing that distracts him from fetch is seeing me strap on my training bag with my treats and slide the clicker over my wrist. He becomes such a wiggle worm. He knows we are going to do some training and good food will come his way. The only thing better than this is if I fill up his swimming pool and throw in a bunch of floating toys. So far, there is nothing better than this. He spends hours “digging” out the water, taking the toys out one by one, putting them back in, etc.

For the hours he spends in his kennel, I’ve given him a number of toys. When I come home he has them arranged everywhere. I have watched him spend hours trying to find the exact right spot to place a plastic bone so that it will fall onto the kennel floor with just the right “thunk.” He has a toy tire and a big plastic ball and he spends a long time seeing if they fit in his water bucket. I ended up giving him two water buckets, so that he can have one empty one to just play with. He also likes multiple metal food bowls to bang around.

And I couldn’t be happier to own this type of dog.

Despite the 50-pound difference in size, Chippers is just like Condor. He wants to be DOING something, especially something that involves a human as part of the equation. He loves tug, he likes fetch, he already knows that the leash means we are going somewhere good,
Maybe in reality, I’m just lazy rather than a dog snob. I think these dogs are so much easier to train as they WANT to do something. Some of the dogs I work with, I just look at them and say, “OK what can you do?” and they look back and say, “I wag my tail.” They look at a thrown ball and back at me as if to say, “well, that was interesting, I wonder what else the human can do?” When it comes to tug, or chasing a flirt pole, these dogs just go lay down in the sun. Of course they can learn sit, down, heel, and other good doggie manners, but it isn’t a big priority to figure out what earns the treat.

So, I’m a lazy dog snob. I guess that sums it up.

Don’t get me wrong, I like to work with all dogs, and actually, it is the “other” category of dogs that have helped me advance my training skills the most. I have to try new things, figure out new ways to engage the doggy brain. With Condor, all I have to do is let him figure out that if he does the behavior I ask for, then he gets his ball thrown for him. I guess if he had a throwing machine though he would probably just cut me out of the loop.

So, I’m now happily working away with little Chippers and thanking my lucky stars I found a place in life to fit in and be able to do something that is so fabulously fun and rewarding.

Here is a photo of Condor and Chippers:

[Amy Frazer]

Gee, Connie, as we have discussed before, these are EXACTLY the same traits I need to have in a dog who will be a lifetime companion for me. I can do foster dogs without the drive, fun, challenge, etc. but I'm perfectly happy to find more suitable homes for them. My 3 might drive many people crazy, but I adore them.

[Connie Swaim]

Also, I have LOTS of photos of Chippers. He is very photogenic.

[Connie Swaim]

Connoisseur is such a better word than snob. I wish I would have thought of that!

[Tristan Schmid]

First: CUTE PHOTO!

Second: I consider myself a dog connoisseur, Connie. Our family has had dogs ranging from complete angels, to some who seem demonic at times. But I appreciate each dog I've had as a companion, and each dog I meet, as a distinct individual worthy of appreciation. And I like to think they look at me in the same way.

I do, however, tend to be more like you than the majority of dog owners (or those who want dogs but don't have them): I like dogs who are smart, energetic, and provide a challenge to me to keep them occupied and happy. Sure, the "easy" dog who just wants to lay around all day is great - I think most people want a dog who'd function more as a doorstop than as a bundle of energy. But the bundles of energy keep life vibrant and fun!