The 10 Canine Commandments

[karisu_sama]

The 10 Canine Commandments

Author unknown

1. My life is likely to last ten to fifteen years. Any separation from
   you will be painful for me. Remember that when you buy me.
2. Give me time to understand what you want of me.
3. Place your trust in me - it's crucial for my well-being.
4. Don't be angry at me for long, and don't lock me up as punishment

Comments

[karisu_sama]

Boldings are not mine, they are as on the site I got these from.

#1: I guess I don't read this as "people going to work each day", I read this as "permanent separation"; for example: "don't get a dog if you think you will be financially unwilling to care for dog health issues down the road". Or: "do not get a dog if you think a dog is just a fun possession to be unload at one's convenience later" (*coughParisHiltoncough*).

I am disturbed buy the recent story of a family who raised a sweet and excellent-natured dog from a puppy for 9 years, then turned her in to a rescue organization when they moved back (as planned) to their country of origin. It's not fair to a bonded dog to plan on only on adopting a dog for a limited time after which the dog will be given up.

#1 could definitely be better worded. And I have a rescue-dog with some separation anxiety issues - she mopes and lies by the door when I am gone, though she knows it's normal for me to be out sometimes. No dog I have raised myself has had this issue, but she was very neglected as a puppy.

(And I just spent $800 on a dental surgery for her due to an infection in a tooth with a very old crack - the vet thinks perhaps she chewed or bit things neurotically when left alone in a yard or garage at her old place, because she certainly is NOT a chewer since living in my house.)

#2: SPOT ON.

#3: I don't understand that myself. I certainly trust my new puppy to pee in the house when she wants to, because she hasn't yet learned that is ONLY to be done outside. :p And I do not trust my dogs not to run into the street off leash, because they simply haven't been trained to heel at all costs.

#4: I do not use a crate as a place of punishment, I want them to know being in a crate is fine and normal. Of course, being verbally admonished for wrongdoing usually works quite well with corgis, who are very desirous to please.

IMO #4 ought to be more about not expecting to be able to be gone all the time, leaving the dog alone in a house or yard with no companionship. That is called "neglect", and is not fair to dogs.

#5: SPOT ON.

#6: Forgive in advance - is this ALWAYS true? I don't know about abused dogs, who may simply endure. But yeah, for most pet dogs it probably is true...

#7: Yeah, most dogs learn not to bite as puppies. Then the behavior just stays with them.

#8: SO TRUE.

#9: I have taken care of 2 geriatric dogs so far (one of whom spent a while with a wheelie-cart due to a serious back injury in midlife), and one young cancer victim.

I think people who unload their old dogs because an elderly dog with issues is "too much bother" for them shouldn't have dogs in the first place. Dog comes into my house, I make a commitment to them to give them the best care I can for their whole life (including trying to find a good place for them should I become unable to care for them.)

#10: Of course it's not always possible, but when it is possible, I do believe in trying to do it. I'm a mom - I take the same approach with my young kids.

[furtech]

#3 is the one that makes me think the person who wrote it was a bit on the twee/bleedingheart side. Where "bleedingheart"=type of pet-person who, for example, believes that no dog should be put down, ever for whatever reason (including psychotic threat, pain-and-suffering, etc.). Brain not living in real world. It's almost like they put this one in here because they felt the word "Trust" needed to be included somehow to make it poignant.

#4: Yes: first rule of crate training is that the crate should -never- be used for punishment and that you never punish a dog that has retreated to his/her crate (ie, is inside their crate). As for punishment, different dogs have different needs. With some a verbal cue is enough; with my husky, a severe punishment was to be notably locked out of "the pack" for twenty minutes or so. Neglect is a totally different story (like those who adopt a dog and leave it locked in the yard most of the day and night). Alone isn't necessary bad, though: Frieda loved being the only dog. When I went to work, she'd happily snooze and patrol all day until I got home. When we pet-sat a pal of hers, she spent the entire couple of days pouting.

#6: Sometimes not true-- some dogs take a disliking to certain people for whatever reason (sometimes deserved, sometimes who knows) and never forget. Some rescue dogs (for instance) never like men. But isn't there an old saw that says, in effect, "a dog will forget a hundred stones and remember a single kindness."?

#9: The part of this that bothered me was the bit not in bold. It just seemed to vindictive or cynical a thought for a dog to hold.

#10: Right--as I said, any decent owner would know and do this; bad ones would not. As such, it lays open for unwarranted guilt to the good folks and flies right over the head of the bad ones. It's like they felt they needed to have ten...hence the vague or unnecessary commandments in the list. I think dogs are a simple enough case to only need four or so commandments...it's people that need 10+!

[karisu_sama]

#9: The part not in bold doesn't seem like a dog idea, but an admonishment from the writer to human dog owners/adopters to reflect on their own condition and be more sympathetic to dogs, in retrospect.

I'm fairly sure dogs have no concept of "everyone gets old" - nor that my very beloved Morwyn knew how long her life was actually supposed to be [16+ years! ;_;] (which makes it no less painful for me in losing her at age 5, but still...)

#6: Your response to this made me chuckle - Kaiya the rescue dog has An Issue with many men, particularly if they have beards or hats or both, or sometimes 'because'. However, if these people are guests in our house, she initially barks but soon gets over it and makes nice by the time they've been in a little while, especially once they get beyond the foyer. ^^ I think she finally gets A Clue that "these particular people must actually be OK; "they have been allowed in by My Mom".

#4: Am reminded I need to gently start with crate training for Leila - not least because it may help her decide to learn to hold her pee in a bit longer than "squatting anytime I remotely feel like it "... :p ( She is already pretty darned good about going "on cue" outdoors - just need her to get the picture that indoors is NOT an accepted option. I already take her out usually hourly or 2-hourly, depending on her nappiness and if I am running errands. :) Of course she IS still just 13 weeks old. ^^ )

Alone for a while isn't bad, of course, and many dogs take quite well to it. All Cardi Corgis I have known do seem social to the point of seeming to prefer, if they can get it, at least one reasonably "usually there" daily companion; human, canine or other. They are usually very adaptable, however, and can live as a working person's single dog (eg: my mom's Cardi), if need be.

(They do seem to be a breed that prefers some sort of companionship, and doesn't seem to make a huge distinction between species, as long as they get interaction with someone else. Herding corgis traditionally spent their days in the field and and their evenings and nights in the house with their human family. (Our first corgi seemed to be happy she had our house-bunny for company when we were at work. ^^ Bunnies are also social-minded beasts, so I guess it worked out.))

Good for our corgis that we usually work [day and night!] out of our house, I guess. Also, it seems to help with housetraining in that we can start fairly early. :)