to feel uncomfortable about 'trendy dogs'

[wintersocks]

Currently pugs for example. seems wrong.

I have a trendy dog. He's a shiba inu, a type of Japanese spitz that looks like a fox. He's one of the most beautiful dogs I have ever seen. People stop us in the street to take his photo.

But.

He's a rescue, and when we adopted him had some significant behavioural problems. He's nervous, can be aggressive and is as stubborn as a mule. It's not just him either- this is what shibas are like, they're primitive hunting dogs with wild tendencies who need careful training otherwise they can go pretty feral. We've had to do so much work with him over the past few years to help him to be calm and less reactive - he's a great dog and we love him to bits, but oh my god I would not wish some of the past times we've had with him on anyone.

So when people start gushing at me about how beautiful he is, asking where they can get one, telling me all about how they've seen shibas on the internet and they want one, it does make me uncomfortable. People want a dog 'like him' because he is beautiful, and it worries me that that's the primary concern.

glitter

Shiba Inu's are such beautiful dogs! I was very tempted to get one a few years back but after doing research came to the conclusion it would be the right breed for me.

Have a...wilful rescue dog now, breed unclear. Everybody thinks she's so pretty so I hear on finding it frustrating to hear. She's very loving and loyal but difficult, stubborn and occasionally erratic. Suspect she's a chihuahua/Pomeranian/something bigger mix.

*wouldn't be...

Shameful -I think we have the same dog! . She is EXACTLY the same. She will have fantastic recall for months and months and then have the odd willful moment where she won't come back. She won't run away, she will just deliberately stay just out of reach until she is ready to go home shitbag. The saluki is fab, will always come back UNLESS something small and furry is spotted. Then she goes selectively deaf. They both have strong prey drives, but she was used for hare coursing before we rescued her, so she wants to chase everything (inluding hedgehogs). Thus the muzzles for running off lead! My lurcher is a soppy sod and although she would chase she would undoubtedly be terrified of whatever she caught up with. Once she came across an injured bird and I was panicking thinking she was going to bite it as I ran as fast as I could. She stood next to it, looked mortified and backed off with wobbly legs.
Both have been very trainable generally though, never have been to the toilet in the house, both sit, paw, lay down. They know a lot oh words (particularly biscuit funnily enough!). They are such a fab breed group.

This thread is not doing anything for my current state of really, really, really wanting a dog.

I want a dachshund - not because they are trendy, but because DH had one when he was younger and they are fab dogs. I also want a deerhound/wolfhound/saluki but I have a cat and not enough time and space, so that is on the list for retirement.

I did have beagles and oh my God they were fabulous. Very, very, very hard work though.

Alisvolatpropiis shibas are amazing creatures, don't get me wrong, we love his independent nature and intelligence. Basically you need to think of them as more like cats, rather than dogs - kind of unpredictable and wild, not motivated by any of the stuff normal dogs are into.

That's why I decided against in the end glitter, because they're so independtly natured. God I sound needy

But I should add whilst my jrt is very loving and well,dog like, my rescue is very much like a cat in nature. I'd love to know what mix she actually is, looks like a fox.

Meh. I have a miniature Australian labradoodle. I chose her not because she was some trendy dog but after ten years of being in contact with a reputable and truly excellent breeder, I was ready for one! I had researched at length a dog that would suit us - non allergy, smallish, lively, great personality, good with children, no hair loss!
She's great and we of course pay for her to move around the world with us as she is part of the family (although she visible shudders when she spots her airline crate in the shed!)
I can 100% guarantee she will never end up abandoned.
And I don't care what friends make fun of her or query her "Labrador" heritage. She is sweet, affectionate, full of energy and family.

I know what you mean. In my lifetime I've seen several dog trends come and go: Irish setters, Afghan hounds, Airedales, Akitas, Dalmatians, Sharpeis, Pekingese.... Main problem (as a PP already pointed out) is that there is usually a concurrent rise in irresponsible or ignorant breeding and also a surplus of dogs that end up needing to be rehomed. I love dogs, have had dogs my entire life, currently live with two, and would never want a particular breed just because it is "fashionable."

This thread has been a bit of a coincidence with me, as I said up thread I have two wonderful little Pugs Wilma and Arnie (the asbo Pugs as I call them) I have been on the 'list' to rescue another little Pug called Princess 8 years old and put into the Dogs home when her elderly owner died. Princess is overweight, has a heart condition and had been neglected, her face was sore as the folds hadn't been attended to, bad eye infection (common with Pugs) and manky ears (poor love) all sorted out now apart from the heart

When it was found out that the home had a Pug, they were inundated with people desperate for a Pug, they interviewed several prospective owners who had no clue how to look after a Pug, let alone an elderly one.

When I showed interest they were only worried about the asbos as Princess is very elderly and it would like putting a pensioner in the same home as a couple of boisterous teenagers.

After a few meetings where all dogs met ( got along fine) and a thorough home visit, got the call this morning she is OURS picking her up tomorrow.

well done, Oldsu! You have a big heart, and Princess is a lucky girl. Her owner would be so happy to know that Princess will be with you now.

Alisvolatpropiis not at all... it hurts my feelings sometimes when I go to pat my shiba and he moves just out of reach of my hand and sits glaring at me huffily, like how dare you presume to touch me!

He's been super sooky since I got pregnant though, and basically wants to sleep on me all the time. Weird little creature.

I have to be honest and say I have a problem with all pedigree dogs. These dogs have been bred to conform to a human notion of how they should look, regardless of whether it's actually beneficial for the dog. The Kennel Club is a disgrace and doesn't have the best interests of dogs at heart.

As far as I can see breeding is almost always about money and that makes me really sad.

Both our dogs have been rescue crossbreeds and they were/are both wonderful. It's mutts all the way for us!

Pugs make me feel sad. They're obviously very trendy these days but all I can see is an ugly little dog with major breathing problems.

I know someone with a pug whose breathing problems are so bad it cant walk more than half a mile or so. They have to push it in a buggy beyond that. That's just not right.

Poor dog. Something's gone very wrong when a young dog can't manage more than a half mile walk.

Tatler have suggested that whippets are replacing the pug as the new trendy dog among the very fashionable - good thing too - whippets are much less prone to health problems.

Squoosh not all have major breathing difficulties my asbo Pugs are very active they run everywhere in fact they are chasing each other round the room as we speak, very rarely get out of breath.

And they are NOT UGLY they are beautiful.

Now if a concerned dog lover really wants to put people off owning a Pug just mention the FARTING its horrible even with a good diet, it can make a grown man cry

I'm sure your energetic pugs are beautiful Oldsu.

But some of the sadder really inbred looking pugs have eyes that protrude so much it makes me feel a bit queasy.

We're totally on the same page JohnCusacksWife. I detest the Kennel Club. I read that the BBC don't show Crufts anymore because of the controversy over its breeding standards being based on the look of the dog not the health.

Haha wit I think we do! :)
My dog has chased rabbits but purposely never caught one as he hasn't got it in him (or a clue!)
He also walks in to stuff alot! We call him the worst sighthound ever :)
He knows lots of commands such as sit and bow but only does them if there's something in it for him!
I used to think he knew a lot of words but it's the way I say it :).... Regulalry I say lampost instesd of walkies in an excited way and he gets up ready to go :)

Oldsu, I'm glad someone else suffers from the pug farting....I've had to leave the room on some occasions!

Similarly our pug loves running about all over the place, rarely out of breath and is in good weight proportions for his breed.