Kids and adults alike usually enjoy the antics of the dogs who have graced our movie and television screens for years. Most of us remember Lassie, Benji, and Rin Tin Tin from our childhoods. In more recent years, dogs have starred in movies such as “Air Bud,” “101 Dalmatians,” “Beethoven,” and in the sitcom “Frasier.”
While enjoying these movies can be a lot of fun, problems can arise too. For example, after the release of “101 Dalmatians,” there was a huge influx of people getting dalmatians as family pets. Unfortunately, this also resulted in a huge influx of dalmatians at animal shelters and rescue groups. Why? Because the dalmatian can be a challenging breed to own. Just because they’re so well-trained and cute in a movie, does not mean they will be an appropriate pet at home.
The same applies to any other “famous” breed. It’s important to remember that the dog stars we see in movies are not the average for that breed. These animals have had years of training, usually from birth, performed by professional trainers who specialize in animal actors. Sometimes, the very traits that result in their being a good “movie star” are the same ones that make them not be the best pets! (Such as a strong working drive).
Each breed has its own characteristics, and when it comes to being in your family, some traits are positive and some are negative. For example, the St. Bernard can be a very sweet breed for an experienced pet owner. On the up side, they can be loving, calm family pets who are also good watch dogs. On the other hand, the average St. Bernard will likely outweigh most husbands, will have droopy lips that proliferate giant strings of saliva that get on everything, and will require lots of leadership to ensure that their “watchdog” instincts are kept at appropriate levels so an aggression problem doesn’t develop.
All of the other “famous” breeds have their own traits to be aware of too. Golden retrievers can be loving and wonderful pets, but are also extremely energetic, tend to do a lot of chewing as puppies, and can be prone to hip displaysia. Jack Russell terriers can be sweet and fun pets, but also tend to be stubborn dogs who love to zoom around and ricochet off of furniture, and will likely chase small animals for their entire lives.
The Disney movie, “The Shaggy Dog” came to theaters March 10, 2006. Rated P.G., it was a cute family movie in which Tim Allen transforms from being the family dad, to being the family dog (a bearded collie).
There were many concerns throughout the pet community about the potential problem of thousands of people running out and getting bearded collies. Adorable dogs, these shaggy cuties might be the right pet for the right family. However, just like any time a pet is chosen, people also need to be aware of the breed traits that may be difficult. Bred for herding, these dogs may nip at the heels of children and will likely “herd” them when they run in the yard (by running by and knocking into them as if they were sheep). An intelligent breed who is meant to to a job, obedience training is paramount in avoiding behavior problems, as a bored dog will create his own mischief to busy himself, not to mention coat care which is extensive with this breed.
In short, if you decide to get a new pet for your family, it is very important to research the breed and make sure you’re getting the right dog for your situation. Just because it’s a cute dog in a movie, doesn’t mean it will be the right pet at home. As responsible adults, it’s up to us to make the right decisions for our families, as well as for the welfare of dogs in general.
