Do Bad Dogs Exist?

It has been said that there are no bad dogs, only bad owners.  True of false?   Well, in my educated opinion there are some schitzo dogs out there that even the most experienced, loving trainer cannot fully control.  Some breeds are bred by careless and unethical breeders for one or two salable attributes.  As an example, many  Rottie breeders choose to husband animals based solely upon size and aggressiveness, ignoring such critical elements as propensity for hip dysplasia and gentle temperament.  They know there are large numbers of redneck owners out there who will pay extra for a huge, mean dog solely as a method of proving to their neighbors how large their balls are.  Owning an animal like this is akin to running around with a grenade in your hand with the pin pulled.

Breeding operations which concentrate on quality are few and far between, but they DO exist.  Contact your local AKC operation for the number of the breed-specific club in your area.  They should be able to point you in the direction of an ethical breeder.   Also, ask if there is a rescue organization in your area for the breed you're interested in.  Rescue organizations take in dogs of a certain breed that have been neglected or abused. Better yet, ask  yourself why you need a specific breed in the first place..  My animals have always been rescue or pound animals, and I've never regretted it.  Never once have I thought that I'd love any of my pets more if they'd had papers.   If you're thinking that you're going to make your first million dollars raising puppies, think again.  After factoring in Veterinarian bills, special foods, registration fees and the like, you'd be lucky to realize 10% of the sale price in profits.  And with the stress that pregnancy puts on a dog, is it really worth it to put your beloved pet through it?  I don't think so.  And forget about "showing the kids the miracle of life".  Great, now they know.  Now what do you do with a dozen unwanted puppies?   Don't be stupid.  Get a great dog from the pound and save the world a lot of heartache.

#define rant_mode OFF

Right now we have two girls - Ginger, who is a Chinese Shar Pei, and Carly, who is our Chow Chow.  Ginger came to us as a gift from a friend, and Carly is a former show dog (a champion, no less) who has a genetic skin defect, so she's not showable now.  Since there's no place else that this might go, here's A Doggie Dictionary

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