Are "dog people" born or made?

Question

You know when you meet someone, and they're just excellent with dogs, can read body language, they own dogs that are well behaved, and they just have a well of knowledge? Would you consider this person a work of art, or a born creation? What about those piss poor owners who blame their dog biting people on the dog, instead of the lack of socialization and training? Would you consider those people a work in progress, teachable and rehabilitatable? Or should they just admit they weren't cut out for dogs, and move onto the next species of animal??

Thoughts? Input?

Answer 1

People with a real gift for animals are born iwth it. They are more at ease working iwth even the worst animal that frustrates its owner to no end than they are with people in any form, even teh ones they love. They are at peace with thier dogs, cats, horses, what ever, than they are in any human-dominated environment. This is not to saay they are unsocial with other people, just more relaxed with animals.

Answer 2

I'm without a doubt a dog person. No one thing made me a dog person. I've been obsessed with dogs since I was very young. When I would spend a night at grandma's house my favorite game was "name that breed." I was too young to read, but I sure knew my dog breeds. She would get the encyclopedia off the shelf. I would open it to the dog section. She would point to the different breeds and I would tell her what type of dog it was. I still have a scrapbook I made when I was six years old, it's full of magazine and newspaper clippings. All are pictures or stories about dogs. I was born loving dogs. I feel that there are dog people and then there are people who have dogs. We'll call them regular dog owners (rdo.) There are some great rdo's. They'll do anything for their dog, they learn what they can , and they are responsible. But an rdo isn't a "dog person. (dp)" A dp is obsessed with dogs. A dp often has a dog related job (or had to bite the bullet and get a better paying job to support their dog habit), shows dogs, or rescues dogs. A dp basically eats, sleeps and breathes dogs. A dp's closest friend is usually another dp. That is the difference between a dp and an rdo.
Then there are the pet owners who have no business having one. I guess for examples I will tell you to check out the questions here on YA pet section. lol! " My dog just got hit by 47 cars. He's bleeding from every orafice on his body, plus some news one he just got from road rash. I done ain't not gonna take this dog to no vet, so how much ibuprofen can I give him? Can I use fishin' line to stitch him up real good?" Granted.. it's not this bad, but sometimes it might as well be. These people shouldn't own a pet rock. These people are not even worth rehabing. I do feel that plenty of people are teachable. That's part of being a dp. It's like being an alcoholic. If you do all of your dp stuff alone.. you may have a problem. But if you do it with friends you are just a social dp. lol. To wrap this up. I feel I was born a dp. I don't think every dp was born a dp. I won't say that you have to be born this way because that would take away the dp-ness of someone who mastered their art later in life.

Answer 3

That's a complex question and requires some thoughtful input. I think some people have an innate sense of how to relate to animals, or dogs in this case, but still don't have the best behaved dogs. Anyone can acquire knowledge about dogs and use and apply it correctly - they just need to be motivated to learn it. The people who blame their dogs for the dog's ill manners also come in several varieties. Some just need educating (they aren't malicious, just ignorant) and some just need castrating. Most are somewhere in between - doing the best they can with the limited information they have.
Personally I have grown as a dog owner from when I acquired my first dog and continue to educate myself on dog behavior, dog training, etc. I think I always tried to do the best I could, but didn't always have the best information to work with. I'm lucky - I volunteer in the behavior department of a shelter where the staff and other volunteers are extremely knowlegable and I learn something new almost every week!

Answer 4

I think dog people are born. I was never raised around dogs, some of my relatives had them, but never my immediate family, so I only saw dogs once or twice a year when we visited. Now, I'm a dog owner and professional groomer, and my dog is the sweetest dog in the world. I just naturally understand dogs and how they behave.

Now, my boyfriend on the other hand, grew up with dogs, and five years ago his girlfriend at the time brought home a puppy, which he kept after they broke up. Yet he's still not very good with animal behavior, his dog is not particularly well mannered or well trained, and he admits he never really wanted to own a dog in the first place and will never get another one. I would think if anything, a lifetime of living with dogs would definitely be able to 'make' a dog person if it was possible to make them in the first place.

As to the last part of your question, I think they should just give up and move on. If they've resorted to blaming the dog instead of themselves, they are clearly not dog people. Any true dog person knows the dog is ALWAYS the product of its owner. I don't think there's any way of teaching someone how to be a dog person.

Answer 5

Good Question! Not everyone is Ceasar Milan. Personally I had a really bad experience with a Rotweiler and a good friend of mine had one and got me used to him and now I am fine to be around a Rot. I think part of it is the humans personality. If you are an anxious person and high strung a dog is going to pick up on that and know that they can take advantage of it. if you are calm and assertive and let the dog know that you are in charge and you are the pack leader than you should get along well with any dog. I think that there are some people out there who just don't know any better, there are some that can be taught and treat their dogs like dogs and not like humans. Some people can be rehabilitated and others will just never learn. Those are the ones that you have to watch out for. I have seen dogs taken away from owners who have beat them and treated them terribly and as soon as they are in a loving caring home they are great dogs!

Answer 6

I think we're made. My parents both love dogs, but they're not really the get down and dirty type pet people. I picked up a lot from my cousin, a huge animal lover. I started learning a lot when I actually got a good pet of my own, my guinea pig. I understand everything she says and does, it's like our personal connection. My mom is always puzzled when I tell her what my guinea pig's saying, like when she's squeaking because she's scared but my mom thinks she's enjoying a rub. You observe the animal and you learn.

My dog I can also understand. I've had him for a year and never got too close to other dogs. We look at each other and based on his exact body movements, I automatically know what he wants and what he thinks. He's bonded very close to me.

If someone never really knows an animal or their parents think they're bad and they teach them that way, they just go upon society that way.

Answer 7

I can't speak for everyone, but I was born an animal lover. As a child we never had dogs much, a few mutts, and a purebred collie that I loved so much and she was killed by a mean teenage neighbor who was also a cousin of mine. We had cats at times, I tried to make pets out of mice, rabbits, anything I could find. My dad shared my love of animals but he died when I was still very young and when my mother remarried, neither of them wanted dogs. Still we had a cat here and there. I bought a parakeet, had some goldfish, etc. When I was an adult I had dogs. Had always really loved dogs. Have owned many dogs over the past 37 years, some purebred, some mutts. We have also owned a wide variety of animals from farm animals including chickens, ducks, geese, goats, pigs, cows, horses, etc. Had several pet goats and they are quite the characters. Have owned parrots, hamsters, cockatiels, gerbils, etc. You get the frist. Animals have always been a big part of my life. When we owned farm animals, we raised their babies as well. It was hard work but I loved it. About 30+ years ago we discovered chihuahuas and my love affair with the breed is stronger than ever. For the past 9 years I have been raising chihuahuas and I devote my life to the breed.

I was a born nurturer. I was born to be a mother and would have had dozens of kids if we could have afforded it. Owning dogs or any pet is very similar to being a parent. You nurture them, teach them, raise them to be good and strong. They are raised with love and devotion, at least I know mine are.

Answer 8

Born. I think some people are born just naturally knowing how to handle a dog, and some aren't. I think the knowledge is learned, and usually results from their interest, but the "way" a person is with dogs is just born into them.

Example: I've always been good with dogs. For some reason I never thought it was okay to rush up and tackle a dog -- like a lot of people do. I always thought you stay calm, put out your hand for them to sniff and let them warm up to you. There's definitely been lots of things that I have had to learn along the way, but my instincts are good.

In contrast, by brother is horrible with dogs. He LOVES them, but he's hopeless. He thinks picking their front paws up and making them walk on hind legs is funny. He thinks tricking them is funny (he pretends to throw a ball and then hides it behind his back). He winds them up until they spazz out. He sits down with puppies and his way of playing ends up encouraging them to bite him. And no amount of explaining this to him does any good. And he's a smart guy! Physics major. But he just does NOT get dogs. And me and my brother are only a few years apart, but we're very different with dogs. Raised in the same family, same everything.

Answer 9

I think it depends on the dog and the type of dog plus yourself and where you are in life. The first dog I had was a basset hound. She was stubborn, unruly and could knock me down and she did. I lived in a place where she could only be on a leash and I believe she resented me for it and in return I resented her because she was bad and did bad things because she was unhappy. As a result I was not happy with her and cried alot. I decided to give her up and found her a great new home with a family with a backyard and I hear she is a great dog. Now I have chihuahuas and they (two) are great. I have taught them to go on potty pads in the house and they are happy when I come home and I adore them as if they were my kids. Taking care of the two is much easier than the one was because of the size and the type of dog. Depending on the breed each dog has a different temperament. Growing up we had alot of yard dogs and I didn't visit them much but now I love having indoor dogs. I had to grow up before being a better pet owner.

Answer 10

I did not like dogs before the right one came into my life. Now I love dogs of all kinds, not just my own. I guess it was kind of an "awakening" for me.

I was offended by dogs. Once a military police dog singled me out and "attacked" (the soldier had it leashed, but made it sound like I let off "bad vibes." That made me mad.)

But that changed. THis is a new era of my life, and I am discovering a lot about myself. Bringing a dog into my life was an impulse descision, but fortunately, it turned out to be a good one for myself and for three dogs.

I don't know if my dogs are well behaved or not. They don't come when they are called (hounds are notorious for this)unless I have food or we are leaving. They make a big mess (they destroy their toys, they don't "play" with them.) They are really noisy. So I guess that I am not a dog person because I don't know how to train them well, I learned to tolerate the crap they do. But I do love them very much and I know they love me. After all, they sleep in my bed every night and I have picked up every imaginable type of rubbish off my bed . Dog fur, bones, rawhide chewies, disemboweled dolls, the remote control to my tv--shredded by canine teeth, a duck's head (gross) plenty of water and soda bottles, some not entirely empty (that's from my puppy)

Anyone who lets dogs sleep in their beds has to be a dog person, because anyone who puts up with a breech of hygiene of this level and still loves their dogs has to love them a lot

Answer 11

I think some are born, and others are made.

I was born a dog person.

My daughter was born a dog person and because she was born into a family where this was prized, appreciated and nurtured, she is probably one of the naturally best dog handlers I've ever seen. She speaks dog.

My son is not a dog person- although he loves some dogs. He does not have the intuitive knowledge or ability his sister does. His knowledge is learned... he is, however, very good with dogs.