101 Things to Know Before Getting a Dog. Susan Ewing M.

breeds had their tails docked to prevent tail injuries in the field. Terriers frequently had their tails docked so that the remaining length would provide an easy handhold if the dog needed to be pulled from a burrow.

      Tails may be docked at various lengths. In the United States, Pembroke Welsh Corgis’ tails are cut so that very little tail is in evidence, Boxers’ tails are docked to a short stubs, and Poodles’ tails are docked to ½ to 2⁄3 of the original length. Breeders generally dock tails when puppies are just a few days old.

      These days, there’s no tax related to a dog’s tail length, and many people feel that a natural tail helps a dog with balance when turning sharply or when swimming. Studies have shown that dogs with shorter tails are at a disadvantage when interacting with other dogs because it changes their body language.

      Ear cropping is done to give erect ears to dogs with drop ears and was frequently done on fighting dogs so that there was less for their adversary to grab. Upright ears also tend to give the dog a more alert and, at times, more intimidating look. A Doberman with drop ears looks more like a lovable hound than an alert guard dog. Boxers and Great Danes are further examples of dogs whose ears are traditionally cropped in the United States. Ears are cropped between seven and twelve weeks of age.

      Many people today question whether docking or cropping is necessary. Some countries have banned the practices, and even some people dedicated to conformation showing leave tails long and ears natural in case they want to show in another country or sell puppies abroad.

      If you adopt through a rescue group or are searching shelters for your dog, you probably won’t have a choice when it comes to whether a dog of a particular breed has a docked tail or cropped ears. If you have your heart set on a traditionally docked or cropped breed but want a puppy with a natural tail and ears, you’ll need to find a good breeder who is willing to work with you, and you’ll need to make those arrangements before the expected litter is born. Whatever your opinion on docking or cropping, it’s another thing to think about when you’re choosing a dog.

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      Health Benefits for Dog Owners

      As you’re considering adding a dog to your family, do you realize all of the positive aspects of dog ownership? Your dog will never talk back, never crash the car, never borrow anything without asking, never want the latest in clothing or shoes, and never need money for college—and, with a dog, you will never eat alone. Those benefits alone should make it understandable why people have dogs, but there are also measurable health benefits to having a dog.

      Study researcher Allen McConnell of Miami University in Ohio was quoted in a July 11, 2011, article by Jennifer Welsh on LiveScience.com: “Specifically, pet owners had greater self-esteem, were more physically fit, tended to be less lonely, were more conscientious, were more extroverted, tended to be less fearful, and tended to be less preoccupied than nonowners.”

      A March 18, 2015, article by Katie Golde on Greatist.com titled The 11 Science-Backed Reasons You Need to Get a Puppy (Right Now) notes several benefits. According to researchers at the American Heart Association, having a dog can reduce your risk of getting cardiovascular disease. Part of this is probably because dog owners may get more exercise, and it’s also been proven that petting a dog lowers a person’s blood pressure.

      Because dogs are nonjudgmental and offer unconditional love, they make great therapists, whether by just listening to you vent about your bad day at work or in a formal capacity as therapy dogs, visiting hospitals, nursing homes, and schools as well as helping veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In her book Reporting for Duty: True Stories of Wounded Veterans and Their Service Dogs (Lumina Media, 2015), Tracy Libby documents case after case of veterans who, after the physical and mental damage inflicted by war, are able to live productive lives with service dogs by their side. Dogs help veterans with PTSD function socially by offering a sense of protection and by using their bodies to block people from coming too close so that the veteran doesn’t feel threatened. Many service dogs are trained to jump on or nudge their owners when they detect a change in breathing or heart rate that signals the onset of anxiety. In this way, dogs can end a nightmare or bring a person back to the present if he or she is having a flashback.

      Work Buddy

      An article in Time magazine, March 3, 2016, noted that people who took their dogs to work were much less stressed, but still got just as much work done.

      Many therapists have discovered that having a dog in the office helps patients open up. Even Freud had his Chow Chow in the office with him. In her article, Golde says that, at Miami University, “Students can take advantage of pet therapy that alleviates feelings of homesickness and depression. Dogs are on call during midterms and finals, when those feelings are at an all-time high.”

      Dogs may even be instrumental in helping people quit smoking. In the UK-published journal Tobacco Control in February 2008, a study indicated that if people were informed about the dangers of secondhand smoke to their pets, they would be inclined to stop smoking or have others refrain from smoking in their homes.

      Studies have shown that children with dogs in their families develop fewer allergies as they grow up and also miss fewer days of school (and they can always claim that the dog ate their homework!).

      Dogs also help their owners meet people. Going to the dog park can be a great way to meet other dog owners, not to mention joining a local kennel club or competing in a dog-related event. You may also make new friends in your neighborhood when you’re out taking your dog for a walk.

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      Working Dogs

      Some of the AKC’s Working breeds are:

      Akita, Giant Schnauzer, Portuguese Water Dog, Alaskan Malamute, Great Dane, Rottweiler, Bernese Mountain Dog, Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, Samoyed, Black Russian Terrier, Leonberger, Siberian Husky, Boxer , Mastiff, Standard Schnauzer, Bullmastiff, Neapolitan Mastiff, St. Bernard, Doberman Pinscher, Newfoundland, Tibetan Mastiff, Dogue de Bordeaux

      Most of the dogs in the AKC’s Working Group were bred to do a job. For the most part, they are large, big-boned dogs. Many have been bred to be suspicious of strangers, and they may also be fearless, ready to stand up to a charging boar or a wolf intent on stealing a lamb. German merchants used Rottweilers as “walking banks”—they’d tie their moneybags around their dogs’ necks, and it would be a very foolish thief who would try to steal that money.

      If you have very small children, keep in mind that a working-dog puppy could accidentally injure a toddler. Conversely, once a working dog understands his role in the family, he will be a protector. This can be both good and bad, as he can perceive other children as a threat when they are simply playing with your children. If you think you want a dog from the Working Group, study the particular breed(s) that interests you to make sure it’s a good fit with your family.

      Samoyed

      The Alaskan Malamute, the Siberian Husky, the Chinook, and the Samoyed were all bred to work in very cold climates. Their thick double coats keep them warm, even in below-zero temperatures. They are probably not the best choices for those living in southern Arizona, but they might be very happy in Maine. Also, all of these breeds need plenty of exercise and may also be happier outdoors than inside. These breeds are less likely to be as wary of strangers, but they can also be very independent. They were bred to run and pull, not to be attentive to human direction.

      The Anatolian Shepherd, the Komondor, and the Kuvasz are examples of dogs bred to guard flocks of sheep. Originally, they lived with their flocks and were fierce defenders of the sheep. They may be very wary around strangers. If you have lots of people coming and going in and around your home, and you choose one of these breeds, your dog will need to be well-socialized—even then, he may not greet strangers with a smile and a wagging tail.

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