Pets Lover's Centre

I wish dogs could live the same length as humans

Yesterday we chatted about behavioural euthanasia and based off some of the responses we think it would be beneficial to repost the following.

Over the next few days we are going to talk about the six most common mistakes we see advocates making when posting on social media. Please see Wednesday's post for the full background, and yesterdays post on inflammatory and defensive responses.

Today we are examining a statement we see a lot: “it’s all how you raise them”.

Here are some actual comments we read online in response to a recent dog bite fatality:

"It's all how you raise them 100% we have 5 pit bulls and they are big babies but if provoked like any animal they could do damage yes!!"

"Dogs are 80-90% how their human owners treat them and train them. The humans responsible for that dog should be held fully accountable for that attack."

"It's all about how they're raised, my dog is a rescue and has bad traits due to this. A dog is a product of their environment."

This seems to be an appealing sentiment, because it allows us to believe that we have full control over our dog’s behaviour. Unfortunately, it’s simply not true.

A dog is a product of both nature (genes and heredity) and nurture (environmental and external factors). Both factors play a significant role in all beings, not just dogs. Scientists have been unable to give a percentage as to how much influence both nature and nurture play. This is a very complex issue that is specific to the individual.

A dog can be raised in a home environment that has done everything possible to ensure a happy, healthy, and well-mannered dog. But despite these efforts they still end up with a fearful, anxious, unstable or even aggressive dog.

Why? Because genetics are real. A predisposition towards anxiety and fear can develop at the time of conception and can imprint a puppy from this moment. The mental and physical state of the momma dog during pregnancy has also been shown to affect the puppies for life.

On the flip side a dog could be raised in an environment that does everything wrong, and once removed from that environment that dog can flourish. You would expect this particular dog to never recover from the way it was raised but some of them certainly do.

We don’t know the exact balance of nature/nurture in any creature, but we know that temperament is ALWAYS a combination of both. That goes for good temperaments as well!

Some dogs have naturally stable and resilient personalities. These are the ones you see rescued from abusive or puppy mill seizures but go on to make fantastic family pets, even therapy or service dogs. If it was “all how you raise them” there would be no hope for these dogs, but there are a ton of these examples.

By denying the reality that a dog’s behaviour (like ours) is dictated by a combination of genetics, brain chemistry, environment – and probably a number of factors we don’t even know about yet – we aren’t giving them the respect they deserve. They are not blank slates or robots. They are complex, sentient, emotional animals. And that’s why we love them.

We suggest that we stop using “it’s all how you raise them” and refer instead to proven risk factors for behaviour. You could also talk about the responsibility of an owner to use behaviour modification and responsible management if their dog does show concerning behaviour. You can find information on both topics on our website.

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The hardest part of our life😭
Rest in paradise jokoy...🙏
Tnx for the memories 😭😭😭
He Hit and run by a pick up...😢

Dearest friends on the internet,
It is now time to celebrate! Friday is packing up its stuff and will be leaving very soon. I looked out the window and saw Saturday standing on the sidewalk just waiting to come in!

All is well here. Oliver seems to have finally understood that the woman’s pillow is off limits for him. He did not intrude on my territory last night. I hated to have to pull out the big guns regarding him crapping his pants but sometimes a man has to do what a man has to do.

Today the woman once again came running into the house after being in the garden. “Bob! Come look! I found a visitor!” I figured it was the cucumber fairy spreading cucumber blossoms all over the yard. Thankfully I was wrong.

The woman said, “Look!!!” Then she held out her phone for me to see. It was a photo of a dragonfly with blue pants and a green head. I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to say...then she said, “Well...don’t you know who this is????” I just sort of looked at her terrified as to who she thought it was. “It’s Mazie Grace, Bob! She has come to pay us a visit!” I just sort of stood there dumbfounded. Mazie was a beloved vile beast who passed away 3 years ago. “Everyone knows that dragonflies represent loved ones who have passed paying a visit. She’s coming to tell us she’s still with us,” said the woman.

I’m thinking possibly she had been in the hot sun too long. She’s getting kookier by the day.

I hope you all have a lovely night of rest and wake up to lots of sunshine and...clean face masks, lots of soap to wash your hands, and plans to stay home or plans to stay 6’ away from others if you must leave home.

Very truly yours,
Bob

Dear Oliver,
I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to follow-up on the note I sent you dated August 12, 2020.

As I shared with you yesterday, Oliver, it has come to my attention you are continuing to infringe upon my God-given right to occupy the woman’s pillow during bedtime hours. As her soulmate, I am first in line to occupy any and all real estate within her proximity.

Even though I have asked you to cease and desist your pillow-hogging actions, you have continued. In addition, after I shared that I would escalate this issue to Miss Elsie Fallulah Graves to mete out the appropriate punishment (whoop ass can opening), you have opted to cozy up to Miss Elsie in the hopes she would be lenient.

I must be honest, I have never in my entire life witnessed such vileness and corruption. Oliver, if you do not change your vile ways, I will have no choice but to tell the woman I witnessed you crapping your pants underneath the dining room table...you know the time...when she couldn’t figure out who did it.

Now, let’s just put his ugliness behind us, shall we?

Very truly yours,
Bob

Dearest friends on the internet,
I hope this message finds you happy and heathy. All is well in my house today.

We have been in celebration mode all day. Today is Joey Cartwright Graves III’s 11th birthday. Joey got to eat his favorite supper and the woman gave him free reign over the nip. He tries to act tough but he is a lightweight. He has already passed out from his nip over-indulgence.

Joey came to live with the woman when her boss at the time found him in her yard when he was only a few days old. His mom must’ve been spooked when she was relocating her litter. She dropped him and never came back. The woman took him in when he was about a week old.

Joey is a little bit neurotic. When the woman brought him home as a tiny baby, our dear Mazie Grace adopted him as her baby. She mothered him from the beginning...bathed him, played with him, napped with him, and even swatted him on the behind when he became rambunctious. He loved her with all of his heart. But then one day Mazie Grace died. Joey hasn’t been the same since she left us. He spent months roaming the house, looking for her. Then I suppose he realized she was not coming back. Now he is a sad little cat and only wants to be around the woman.

The woman told him today that she is pretty sure the dragonfly that visited us yesterday was Mazie Grace coming to wish him a happy birthday! It seemed to make him happy.

I hope you all have a lovely evening with lots of rest. Please be sure to wash your hands, wear a face mask, and stay 6’ away from others if you must leave home.

Very truly yours,
Bob

Dearest Oliver,
I hope this message finds you well. I am writing today because I must address an on-going concern.

As you are aware, the woman and I are soulmates. That means I am her #1 go-to man. Long before you came to live here, I established ownership of her pillow as my nightly resting spot. This is prime sleeping real estate that is reserved for me.

You attempted to weasel your way into my spot night before last. I recovered my position on the pillow and had hoped I sent a very clear message to you to stay in your own lane. Clearly I was mistaken.

Last night I was awakened by your loud snores. Once I was fully awake, I could not believe my eyes. There you were with your head on MY pillow, your body under the blankets, fully engulfed in the woman’s arms.

Oliver, that takes some nerve to try scheme your way into my special spot right in front of my eyes. You must stop this vile and uncouth behavior immediately! Consider relocating to the spot at the foot of the bed. This is another highly sought after position. Or, even the spot behind the bend in the woman’s knees. Regardless, stay away from the pillow and the woman’s arms!

If this issue continues I’m afraid I will have no choice but to escalate the problem to Miss Elsie Fallulah Graves. You have witnessed her ability to open cans of whoop ass on people who are not in their assigned spots on the sofa. Please consider the ramifications of your on-going vile conduct.

Please let me know if we should discuss further.

Very truly yours,
Bob

There are no bad days when you come home to a dog's love ❤️

A face that will literally melt your heart 😘

My gosh what a precious picture!❤️❤️❤️

Adorable😍🐶

Long haired dachshund puppy!😘🐶

Blue Heeler pupper

This Photograph is wonderful ❤

Those eyes 🥺😍

11 day old baby bunny...😍😍

9-week old Maine C**n kittens, waiting for their vet check

Red-legged Honeycreeper🐦😍😍

A white family 💕

Such a cute picture 💕

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I'm 1 today! 🎂
Had pressies this morning and having Venison for tea 😋 🐾

Happy new year from me and my bros 🐶

Hey everyone,
Im so sorry i haven't been on here since my new year post, the thing is i has been a poorly doggy. I had to leave my mum and dad, my hooman brother and my furry brothers to go and stay in the big vet hospital. My nana took me there with my mumma and dad. I lubs my nana. But im back home and completely on the mend. I habs to take little tablets but it means i get cheese with them 😋
The first vet i saw misdiagnosed me which meant i got very ill extremely fast.
Luckily mum found moorview.
Moorview Veterinary Practice and Moorview Referrals saved me and looked after me and for that my mumma and dad are eternally grateful. They fixed me real quick ♥ thank you moorview.
Lubs kev ♥