He was extremely mouthy, and would constantly bite at my hands and arms. He humped my leg, did extreme leash biting, and was very hyper around the house.

Then, I had a brainstorm; I could just hire a pet sitter/dog walker. In this way, I won’t have to deal with my devil dog all of the time, and someone else can train some manners into him.

I researched the dog walkers in my area, and picked one with seven years of dog walking, and dog training experience.

It took about a month and a half before Sephy got kicked out of his dog walking group. I also explored several different dog daycare centers, that declined to accept my money after meeting him.

But I do not think that Sephy, or even Shiba Inus are unique in this regard.

Many people probably believe that they have the most difficult dog or dog breed.

Most Difficult Dog Breed – Shiba Inu Sephy, part devil, part psychopath.

The most difficult dog breeds are simply the ones that do not fit our expectations, temperament, or lifestyle.

One man’s favorite dog breed is another man’s dog breed from hell. Some dog breeds, become more notorious for their “difficulties” because of popular movies or other media coverage. Dalmatians, for example, became very popular with the release of Disney’s 101 Dalmatians, and many owners were unprepared for the Dalmatian’s energetic nature.

While breed characteristics may predispose a dog towards certain behaviors, each dog is an individual, and each dog-owner pair is unique.

A difficult dog can come from any breed, when paired with an inappropriate owner, an inappropriate environment, or an inappropriate lifestyle.

Here we examine some of the key characteristics that make up the most difficult dog breeds.

Here we examine some of the key characteristics that make up the most difficult dog breeds.

Most Difficult Dog Breed 1 – Energy

Most Difficult Dog Breed 1 – Energy.

A busy dog is a good dog.

All young dogs are energetic, but some dog breeds are more energetic than others.

Just like us, dogs need both mental and physical exercise in order to stay healthy and happy. When we are away at work, it is easy to forget that our dogs are at home alone; getting bored and anxious. Bored dogs easily become frustrated dogs; and frustrated dogs, may become aggressive and destructive.

How to calm an energetic dog –

1. Walk our dog every day. At least one 30 minute walk per day. Some dogs may require two walks (mornings and evenings).
2. Train our dog every day. This could be as simple as asking our dog for an obedience command before we give him anything, including food, toys, backyard access, and walks.
3. Play with our dog every day. The flirt-pole is a favorite with my dogs. Soccer, fetch, catch, and tug can also be fun. Structured play sessions can help to make our dog more obedient, and enhance our overall relationship.
4. Make our dog work for all of his food; either through training, grooming, or dog toys.
5. Provide our dog with safe chew toys and food toys when he is home alone.

One of the most popular, energetic dog breed is the Jack Russell Terrier. Terriers are energetic as a group, but the JRT easily tops that list. JRTs are extremely intelligent, easily bored, and very independent, which make them a high maintenance dog breed.

Only get a JRT if we have a lot of time to spend with our dog, and if we have a very active lifestyle. JRTs require not only a lot of physical exercise, but also a lot of mental stimulation.

Provide our dog with safe chew toys and food toys when he is home alone.

Most Difficult Dog Breed 2 – Size

Some dog breeds are more difficult because they are large and powerful.

The American Pit Bull Terrier always comes to mind when we think of a powerful dog breed. Sadly, this breed has received a lot of negative publicity due to their use in dog fighting operations. However, as with any other dog breed, Pit Bulls who are properly trained, and managed by their owners, are loyal, friendly, and well-behaved.

Nevertheless, it also true that larger and more powerful dogs can do more damage than their smaller Chihuahua or Pomeranian cousins.

Owners of larger dogs must be more vigilant and more careful with their training, because large dogs can inadvertently hurt people just from jumping or playing.

Most dog attacks that occur, are directed at children, so it is important to always supervise our dog when there are children around. Supervision is a must for all dogs, even for small dogs. To prevent dog attacks, teach our children the proper way to meet a dog, and how to avoid loose dogs in the neighborhood.

In a dog attack, it does not matter who is right or who is wrong; our dog will always be the one to pay the price. If we love our dog, properly train and manage him so that he is not exposed to stressful situations that may cause him to resort to aggression.

All dogs are capable of aggression, and making excuses for bad dog behavior, especially people biting or nipping, will only endanger our own dog.

Most Difficult Dog Breed 2 – Size.

Most Difficult Dog Breed 3 – Dominance

Some of the most difficult dog breeds are the ones that are naturally dominant.

What is a dominant dog?

• A dominant dog challenges us more frequently and is constantly testing his boundaries.
• A dominant dog is more likely to fight when challenged.
• A dominant dog will likely respond with aggression when frustrated; and will frequently redirect that aggression onto us if we try and stop him.

Most Difficult Dog Breed 3 – Dominance.

The Shiba Inu is a naturally dominant dog breed.

Ancient dog breeds such as the Shiba Inu, Akita, and Chow Chow, have a greater tendency to be confident, independent, and stubborn. These traits make them more dominant, as they are more likely to do what they want, rather than what we want.

Protection breeds such as the German Shepherd, and Rottweiler, are bred to be loyal, self-assured, and strong willed, so that they may better protect their owners. These same traits also make them more dominant.

Dominant, confident, and independent dogs can be more difficult to handle, but with proper training, and a relationship of mutual respect, they can become our most trusted and loyal companions.

Indeed many German Shepherds and Rottweilers are used in law enforcement work where they must be focused and alert, take independent action when necessary, while remaining calm and responsive to their handler.

While my Shiba Inu is not as calm, nor is he greatly responsive to my requests, he is a most trusted and loyal companion.

Dominant, confident, and independent dogs can be more difficult to handle.

Most Difficult Dog Breed 4 – Maintenance

All dogs require a minimum amount of basic maintenance including:

1. Yearly vet visits for immunity shots, teeth cleaning, and a general examination.
2. Regular nail clipping (about once every month). Overgrown nails can easily break below the quick and cause our dog extreme pain and discomfort.
3. Regular hair brushing (about once every week). Regular brushing helps to remove loose dirt and hair from our dog.

While all dogs require some basic grooming, some dog breeds may require more grooming than others.

Long haired dogs, like the Afghan Hound, require more frequent brushing to keep their hair from matting. Matting or tangled hair can become uncomfortable and ultimately painful for the dog.

It may also take more time to bathe, shampoo, and dry long haired dogs. More frequent baths may also be necessary to keep their long coats clean, especially for light or white coated dog breeds like the Samoyed.

It is best not to bathe our dog more than once a month. Overly frequent baths may wash away essential oils from the dog’s fur and cause dry skin, skin irritation, and an unhealthy coat. Use shampoo that is specially formulated for dogs and not human shampoo.

Health is also a very important part of dog maintenance. Larger dog breeds tend to have more health issues including bloating, and joint disease (e.g. hip dysplasia). Dogs with shortened muzzles such as the Pug may have trouble regulating their temperature, and are more susceptible to reverse sneezing.

Regardless of dog breed, however, all dogs may fall sick, and become more vulnerable to cancer, and athritis as they age. To ensure good health and a long dog life, I keep up with yearly vet visits, provide daily mental and physical exercise, and feed my dog a balanced and healthy diet.

Most Difficult Dog Breed 4 – Maintenance

Most Difficult Dog Breed 5 – Noise Level

Most Difficult Dog Breed 5 – Noise Level.

The barking dog is the bane of neighbors everywhere. Forget the crazy kid parties, and the motorcycles without a muffler, it is the barking dog that causes the most number of neighborhood arguments, and noise complaints.

Dogs bark for a variety of reasons, including stress, boredom, excitement, and frustration.

Some dog breeds, however, have a propensity to be more noisy than others. Certain hunting breeds, tend to bark more because they are bred to find game, and then bark or howl when they find an intriguing scent. The Beagle is a popular dog breed that may do this.

To stop dog barking, I provide my dog with interesting physical and mental activity every day.

Scent hounds, like Beagles, will enjoy a Find-It game where we hide items around our house or yard, and get our dog to find them. Initially, I make the game easy by only hiding the item a short distance away from my dog, and letting him see where I put it.

I make sure to reward my dog with dog treats, dog play, and praise when he finds the hidden item. If my dog needs more motivation, I may also add scent or some peanut butter onto the Find-it toy.

Dogs bark for a variety of reasons, including stress, boredom, excitement, and frustration.

How Difficult is Your Dog?

If we want a dog, consider our temperament, lifestyle, and environment, and get a dog that suits us. Getting an inappropriate dog breed will result in:

1. An unhappy, and stressed out owner and family.
2. Property damage.
3. Loss of money.
4. An unhappy, and stressed out dog.

Dogs can be a real blessing, but they can also cause a lot of bad dog problems, emotional stress, and arguments within the family.

Think carefully before taking on the responsibility of caring for man’s best friend.

Dogs, however, make living in the moment seem easy, because that is what they naturally do, every second of the day.

I was curious to see if Martians and Venusians also have big differences in their preferences for dog breeds. Sure, there is the usual stereotype of men preferring larger dog breeds and women preferring smaller dog breeds but is this actually true?

To find out, I decided to collect top dog breed information from Yahoo! Answers.

Here are the five top dog breeds for women and the five top dog breeds for men.

Top Dog Breeds for Women 1

Labrador Retriever

Not too surprisingly, the Labrador Retriever is chosen as the top dog breed by women.

According to the AKC, the Labrador is the most popular dog breed in the United States, and has been so since at least 1997. The Labrador is also the most popular dog breed in the world according to Wikipedia.

This top place is well-earned because the breed is well-temperamented, enthusiastic, attentive, and willing to work. All these qualities make the Labrador a good family member, a loving companion, and a helpful hunting partner.

Photo taken by Elf October 2004 in Turlock, California at the Nunes Agility Field.

Top Dog Breeds for Women 2

German Shepherd Dog

German Shepherds are the third most popular dog breed in the United States.

They are self-assured, eager to learn, focused, obedient, and have strong guarding instincts. These traits make them a popular choice for law-enforcement work.

At home, they are a good and loyal protector, but must be carefully obedience trained and firmly handled. Otherwise, the German Shepherd may show dog aggression in his zeal to lead and protect his family.

A German Shepherd dog on a mountain. Photo taken by Flaurentine.

Top Dog Breeds for Women 3

Golden retriever

The Golden Retriever comes in at a close third after the German Shepherd. In AKC rankings they are the fourth most popular dog breed in the United States.

Like the Labrador Retriever, the Golden is a versatile dog with a gentle and eager to please temperament. Perhaps they are less popular than the Labrador because of their longer coats which need more frequent grooming.

A male Golden Retriever named Tucker. Photo taken by Edward from boston, usa.

Top Dog Breeds for Women 4

Pit Bull Terrier

American pit bull terrier (named Tuttle) seated. Photo taken by Dante Alighieri.

The term Pit Bull usually includes the American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier (#68 on the 2007 AKC rankings) and Staffordshire Bull Terrier (#85 on the 2007 AKC rankings).

Pit Bulls have gotten a fair amount of negative publicity which have contributed to their image as a dangerous, and aggressive dog breed. In fact Pit Bulls are banned in some cities in the United States and they are totally banned from some countries.

It is therefore somewhat surprising that Pit Bulls should come in at a strong fourth place, especially among women.

This ranking probably has a lot to do with the Yahoo! Answers population who are more online savvy and who are willing to do the research into the breed and discover that they are actually loyal, fun, and friendly dogs.

“A 2008 study of 6,000 dog owners who were interviewed indicated that smaller breed dogs were more likely to be “genetically predisposed towards aggressive behaviour.” Pit bulls were rated as “average or below average for hostility towards strangers.” ~~[Excerpt from Wikipedia]

Top Dog Breeds for Women 5

Chihuahua

Chihuahua long coat (Mali-PL Di Rio Galeria – Russian kennel “Ot Chempionov”). Photo taken by Tatiana Borisova.

Therefore, it is a bit surprising that the Chihuahua was picked as the most popular small dog breed by the women of Yahoo! Answers. We can only surmise that this discrepancy is due to the poor representation of Yorkie owners in the Yahoo! Answers community. Perhaps Yorkies are commonly preferred by more senior dog owners who spend less time online.

In is unexpected that only one small dog made it onto the top dog breeds for women list. I did not expect to find German Shepherds and certainly not Pit Bulls on the women’s top dog breed list.

The common stereotype that women prefer smaller dog breeds is certainly not borne out by this data.

Top Dog Breeds for Men

Male Rottweiler, 1½ years old. Photo taken by rostdi.

1. German Shepherd Dog.
2. Pit Bull Terrier.
3. Labrador Retriever.
4. Rottweiler.
5. Great Dane.

Surprisingly, the choice of dog breeds among men and women are not that different after all. The German Shepherd, Pit Bull Terrier, and Labrador Retriever made it to the top five in both lists.

Perhaps the most striking difference is that the top dog breeds for men are all larger dogs, whereas the little Chihuahua made it to number 5 on the top dog breeds for women. Perhaps it is not so much that women do not like larger dog breeds, but rather that men have a preference against smaller dog breeds.

The most manly small dog breeds are the Jack Russell Terrier and Beagle.

A “fawn mantle” Great Dane (a non-standard colour). Comb-Over Doggie. Edited by Pharaoh Hound.

Top Dog Breeds Data Collection

To collect the top dog breeds data, I did a search on Yahoo! Answers for the keywords “favorite” and “breed”. I then went through each relevant favorite dog breed question, and extracted the answers. When several breeds were listed, I simply picked the first one.

I collected a total of 1064 responses from Yahoo! Answers. 676 were from women, 190 were from men, and another 198 were undetermined because the names, photographs, and profile associated with the answer did not indicate gender.

For the purposes of constructing the lists above, I only used the clearly male and female responses. The undetermined answers were not counted.

An interesting statistic to note here is that the number of female responses is more than three times greater than the number of male responses. This may indicate that women are more active in discussing their dogs. It will be very interesting to see if more women than men own dogs.

My top dogs!

Many purebreds have horrible genetic issues that “reputable” breeders keep within the breed to meet standards. Look at the Rhodesian Ridgeback for instance; or how many German Shepherds who can barely walk because their legs are so malformed. And yet, they go on to win best in breed.

Mutts tend to live longer and healthier lives because of their mixed genetics. Most of the purebred populations don’t have enough genetic variability within each breed to insure a stable and healthy line in the future.
~~[ Cody ]

What do you think? Is it better for us to mix things up with our current purebred dogs? Should we stop breeding certain dogs because of health or temperament concerns?

What is the best dog breed ?

What Dogs Should We Breed?

New Dog Breeds

Some people argue that we have enough dog breeds. They say that we should just stick to what we have because cross-breeding new types of dogs is irresponsible and wrong.

However, such arguments fail under close scrutiny because it is not really the cross-breeding of dogs that is problematic, but rather the irresponsible breeding of dogs in general.

It is not really the breed of dogs that a puppy mill produces that is the problem, but rather the puppy mill itself.

If we stop all cross-breeding programs, irresponsible breeders will simply shift from breeding unsanctioned designer dogs into the sanctioned purebred market. Underground puppy stores will likely arise, to service buyers who are willing to pay top dollar for one of the unsanctioned breeds. Rather than reducing irresponsible breeding, such measures will actually create a better environment for unscrupulous people to make money by selling illegal puppies.

There is nothing wrong with new dog breeds. What we want to stop are the irresponsible dog breeders.

But as Cody points out, what about the so-called responsible breeding that produces unhealthy dogs? Is that truly responsible?

What type of dogs should we be breeding?

What type of dogs should we be breeding?

What Dogs Should We Breed?

Shiba Inus were bred to hunt.

In the past, many dogs were bred to help us with various tasks, including hunting, herding, pulling, and protection.

Through time, we have devised new ways to perform these tasks, so the dogs of today primarily fulfill the role of our companions.

Some of these work characteristics still carry-on as part of a purebred dog’s conformation standard, but even these show dogs do their best work while providing companionship to their families.

Most dogs today do their best work while providing companionship to their families.

The three key attributes we breed dogs for today are appearance, health, and temperament.

However, as was pointed out by Cody, breeding for appearance may sometimes compromise health. For example, it is well-known that short-snouted dogs tend to be heat-intolerant, and may develop breathing issues.

Similarly, large dogs tend to have shorter life-spans, and are more likely to develop bloat, as well as joint pain.

Does this mean it is irresponsible to breed short-snouted dogs and large dogs?

It is true that the health of a dog is very important, that is why we take our dogs for yearly vet check-ups and teeth-cleaning. However, to best fulfill his new role as our companion, the temperament and appearance of the dog are also very significant.

To best fulfill his new role as our companion, the temperament and appearance of the dog are also very significant.

Shiba Inu Sephy producing much joy and laughter.

Humans and dogs share a mutually beneficial relationship. Dogs get healthcare, shelter, food, exercise, and companionship from us. We get joy, laughter, a way to relieve stress, love, friendship, and much more from our dogs. Part of what we get from our dogs is based on their appearance.

Many of us choose dogs and cats as our companions, in large part because of how they look and how they feel. In contrast, there are much fewer companion lizards, crabs, or snakes.

Some people go absolutely nuts and start foaming at the mouth when they hear the term “hybrid dog” or “designer dog“. They start shouting about health issues and condemn others for choosing dogs based on appearance.

This is not helpful. The truth is to some degree we all choose dogs based on their appearance. It is human to do so.

Certainly purebred dogs go to conformation shows where they are judged based on how they look and how they move.

Dogs are expensive and a whole lot of work – so it is important that we get a dog that suits us in terms of temperament, health, and also appearance. Each person will have different tastes and different priorities when it comes to choosing a dog.

I am good looking and I *know* it!

My Dog Breed Is Better Than Your Dog Breed

Of course when there is choice, there is also judgement.

• My Shiba Inu is better than your Siberian Husky.
• My German Shepherd is better than your Labradoodle.
• My Pomchi is better than your Cockapoo.

The truth is, the dog breed of my choice is better for me, but most likely not better for someone else I see on the street.

My Shiba Inu is better than your Siberian Husky.

A Shiba Inu is a very good looking breed, who is very healthy, and has a relatively long life.

A Shiba Inu is a very good looking breed, who is very healthy, and has a relatively long life. However, they also have a quirky personality and a stubborn disposition that may not suit many people. An unsuitable dog will likely get abandoned or surrendered.

That is clearly not the better choice.

As long as we are responsible care-takers, and properly manage, train, and fulfill our dog’s needs, we will give him a rich, full, and happy life.That, I think, is what matters.

• Should we breed short-snouted dogs?
• Should we breed large dogs?
• Should we breed Shiba Inus? [ Probably not Shiba Inus! ]

What dogs should we breed?

We should breed dogs that have the best chance of living a happy life, with good, caring, and responsible caretakers.

We should breed dogs that have the best chance of going on to have happy lives with good, caring, and responsible caretakers.

Do we have enough dog breeds?

Some people argue that what we have today is enough, and we should not be creating new breeds of dogs.

What do you think? Is 493 the correct magic number?

Do We Have Enough Dog Breeds?

Why Did We Start Breeding Dogs?

To answer this question, we consider the origins of dog domestication and dog breeding. According to Wikipedia, dogs were domesticated by 7000 BC and could have been domesticated as early as 30,000 BC. This is in contrast to horses that were domesticated at approximately 4000-3500 BC, and chickens at approximately 6000-4000BC.

In short, dogs have been man’s best friend for a very long time.

In short, dogs have been man's best friend for a very long time.

Since then, we have bred dogs to help us with a variety of tasks including hunting, protection, rescue, law enforcement, guiding the blind, and as our life companions.

We create new breeds of dogs to …

• Better help us with new and existing tasks.
• Better fit into our lifestyle and location.
• Better appeal to our sense of aesthetics.

However, some people argue that cross-breeding dogs just for their appearance is wrong, and somehow work dogs are more worthy.

They argue that cross-breeding dogs just for their companionship is misguided, and new breeds should only be created for ‘work’.

They argue that dogs should not be cross-bred at all. We have enough dog breeds and any further innovation on our part is irresponsible.

In truth, I fail to see why breeding dogs so that they can help us kill other animals is more worthy than breeding dogs for their looks or for their companionship.

Different people value dogs for different purposes, and my purpose is not more worthy than yours or vice versa.

I fail to see why breeding dogs so that they can help us kill other animals is more worthy than breeding dogs for their looks or for their companionship.

What about the argument to stop cross-breeding and just stick with the breeds we currently have. Do we have enough dog breeds? Is the cross-breeding of dogs irresponsible?

Is the Cross-Breeding of Dogs Irresponsible?

Any type of breeding can be done responsibly or irresponsibly.

Any type of breeding can be done responsibly or irresponsibly.

Responsible breeders …

• Only breed dogs with excellent health, temperament, and physique.
• Ensure that there is enough genetic diversity in their breeding pairs.
• Properly care for all of their dogs and take the time to properly place all of their puppies with good homes.

Irresponsible breeders are in it primarily for the money.

As a result they have little regard for all of the above and focus on breeding as many puppies as they can per time to maximize profits.

Irresponsible breeders breed dogs that are in the greatest demand, whether they be purebred dogs, designer dogs, mutts, or whatever name we want to use.

To stop irresponsible dog breeding we want to target its actual source – profits.

• We can share information about irresponsible breeding practices, such as those carried out by puppy mills and the pet stores that support them. This will reduce the demand for puppy mill puppies, and make it more difficult for them to profit from selling unhealthy puppies.
• We can enforce more stringent laws on the proper care of dogs, especially in breeding facilities. This will ensure that breeders provide a better level of care for all their dogs and help prevent unscrupulous breeders from cutting corners just to make a buck.

Since the source of irresponsible breeding is largely an economic one, economic related solutions will be more effective at curbing the problem.

Responsible breeders properly care for all of their dogs and take the time to properly place all of their puppies with good homes.

Is the Domestication of Dogs Irresponsible?

It is not the cross-breeding of dogs that is irresponsible, but rather that all dog breeding can be carried out in a responsible or irresponsible manner.

If we ban all new dog breeds, the demand for dogs will simply shift to the sanctioned breeds and puppy mills will continue to produce those dogs in an irresponsible fashion.

As such, a more interesting question is this –

Is all dog breeding and indeed dog domestication itself irresponsible?

Should it be stopped?

Many good arguments can be made against dog domestication, but dogs also gain many advantages by living with us.

Is all dog breeding and indeed dog domestication itself irresponsible? Should it be stopped?

Do We Have Enough Dog Breeds?

As long as we practice breeding in a responsible way, cross-breeding can be a very good thing. It helps to enrich the genetic pool of our current purebred dogs, and can create new breeds of dogs that fulfill new tasks or more effectively fulfill existing tasks.

Breeding dogs that better fit into our human lifestyle is also a very good thing. It will lead to fewer dogs being surrendered to a shelter or simply abandoned.

What do you think of cross-breeding and new dog breeds?

As long as we practice breeding in a responsible way, cross-breeding can actually be a very good thing.