Do people prefer male or female dogs as pets?
T4A2A, June.That's easy: everyone wants both.Some generalizations I've established in the course of my training are:Male dogs are generally quicker to be triggered to become aggressive than female dogs.Male dogs are generally more quickly triggered into claiming weak, human pack members than female dogs are, and it's often the female humans that get claimed.Female dogs seem to take longer to get them to voluntarily submit than it takes to get male dogs to voluntarily submit.—The DOuGTrainer
How to chose between two dog breeds?
I agree with most everything that has been posted before me. Questionable temperament is indeed a heritable trait in Saints, it's important to choose an experienced reputable breeder that knows their lines well. http://www.saintbernardclub.org/2008Rede... Scroll down the page a bit. From what I know about Saints, it's not aggression toward people, rather they need socialization with other dogs at an early age. Also, I have never met a Saint with a bad temperament, and I know several of them. Choose someone who has been breeding Saints for years, someone who does all of the health testing and posts the health results in an open database, (at the very least, they can show you health clearances, and pedigrees) a breeder that shows their dogs in conformation to ensure what they breed meets the standard set forth by the breed club. You probably know all of this already, the upfront cost of buying from a BYB is tempting, but purchasing from a BYB could cost you thousands more down the road in health problems. Same goes for Newfies. My Vet was raised with St. Bernards, he always joked that it was up to their dogs whether they would let the visitor out of the car when they pulled into their driveway. Not a temperament issue, but their Saints were somewhat protective. If everything else was equal, how much grooming do you want to do? Even if you chose a rough-coated Saint, Landseers still require much more grooming. Their white coat is silky and mats easily, they will need to be brushed at least a couple of times a week - at least. Both breeds require socialization and lots of it and both breeds require ongoing training classes. I think the price of a Landseer from a quality breeder is about 1/3 more than the price of a Saint from a quality breeder. If I were making this decision, I would definitely want to spend some time with each breed and the breeder(s) of your choice. You can always look into the National club's breed rescue, too. Fosters in Newf rescue usually know the dogs very well, I assume it's the same for Saints? Saint Rescue: http://www.saintrescue.org/dogs_availabl... Newf rescue: http://www.ncarescue.org/pages/rescuemap... Good luck, for me it's a no-brainer, but for others, I can see the difficulty in the decision. Who doesn't love that big ol' smooshy mug on a Saint, lol?
In your opinion, are cats or dogs better? Why?
It really depends on your lifestyle, what you value in a pet, your time commitment, etc.... Some people decide to get both. Here are some things to think about. (I'm not a big cat person, so I may have some cat facts wrong).Advantages of Dogs:Dogs are always happy to see you. They yearn for your affection, will follow you around the house, and will come when called. They are loyal and really enjoy your company.Dogs are more trainable. Teaching them to do tricks is fun, although it does take some time investment.Dogs are great activity partners. You can take them running, hiking, and walking in off-leash areas (some beaches and parks allow your dog to roam free). It's awesome having a running partner who's ready to go whenever you are.Dogs can be hypoallergenic. If you have allergies, you can find breeds of dogs that don't shed. Cats like to clean themselves a lot, and the saliva dries up and turns into allergy-inducing dander.Dogs are good alarm systems. I feel safer knowing our dogs will alert us if there are intruders, especially the evil possums and squirrels. I think I read a study somewhere that said neighborhoods with dogs have a lower chance of break-ins.Puppies are cute.Advantages of Cats:Cats are lower maintenance. You don't need to take them on walks or runs to keep them happy and healthy. You can also leave town for a weekend, and the cat will feed, water, and clean up after itself. You'll need to board the dog if you're going anywhere.Cats don't require training. If you don't have time to teach your dog good behavior, you're going to have a tough time with bad behavior. Cats, on the other hand, naturally do the right thing (in general). Also, cats aren't really trainable, so it's a moot point.Cats don't smell bad. Most dogs do (not our labradoodles -- they usually smell like teddy bears).Cats don't need a yard. Having a yard and doggy door is more convenient for dog owners. Cats are good to go with their litter boxes.Cats don't bark. They do, however, have a wretched meow when they're in heat.Kittens are cute.
Do you prefer Eagle Pack or Royal Canin for your dog?
i gave my dog other brands but she only likes royal canin