Breed All About It--New York Family, 2010

BREED ALL ABOUT IT: ADVICE FOR DOG OWNERS IN NYC

An Interview With Famed Animal Behaviorist (And Frequent Television Guest) Dr. Nicholas Dodman About Finding And Training Your New Best Friend

By Amanda Ferris

For many families in New York City, deciding to get a dog in New York City can be a weighted decision, as many New Yorkers have small living quarters, long work hours and unpredictable schedules. What’s more, when you do decide to get a dog, picking a breed can be an undertaking in itself; how do you know which breed is right for your family and lifestyle? Where should you look for a dog to ensure that he is healthy and has been raised properly? Should you get a purebred or a mixed breed, and how do you know that a shelter dog will be a safe addition to your family? To answer these questions and more, we chatted with Dr. Nicholas Dodman of Tufts School of Veterinary Medicine (and a frequent contributor to the popular Animal Planet television show “Dogs 101”) for his expert advice on picking the right pet for your family and making sure your pooch is healthy, balanced, well exercised and stable.

What breeds would you recommend for families living in the city; specifically families who live in small houses or apartments?

It really depends on personality of the dog and exercise requirements, and not so much about the actual breed. However, I’d recommend [that families consider] mixed breeds; if you adopt a dog from a shelter you can save a life; 2.2 million dogs are put to sleep each year. Besides, purebreds can come with problems too—they can have physical issues and bad temperaments.

What’s more, a lot of people make the wrong decision when choosing a dog because they only consider one thing—exercise requirements. The well-adjusted dog for city dwellers would be a medium to low energy dog. Do your research and look up dog breeds to see which ones are low energy. You need a stable, well-balanced, well-socialized dog that is confident yet has low exercise levels.

But remember that it’s not just breed, it’s the personality too, and it’s really all about the individual within a breed. I would advise someone to look up characteristics of different breeds first, and then make list to see which one fits your lifestyle.

What sort of health concerns should families be advised about before they decide to purchase a dog?

Mixed breeds are by far healthier than purebreds; although it depends on how mixed they are, really. Let’s say you have a Labrador-Sharpei mix: you have a 50 percent chance of hip dysplasia and a fifty percent chance of skin problems. However, the more mixed a dog is, the less chance of recessive genes causing problems because they are “diluted” and first generation mixed breeds typically have “hybrid vigor.”

With a purebred dog, it’s your duty to find out about health problems that are common to the breed. For example, Dobermans can have compulsive disorders and hemophilia, while a German Shepherd is prone to hip dysplasia, a Saint Bernard is prone to seizures, etc. Every breed has its issues, so make yourself aware of physical problems by researching online or asking a knowledgeable person. If you buy a purebred, make sure to ask the breeder questions and make sure they answer honestly. I also recommend asking the breeder if you can see the mother and father of the puppies.

Many city families who want to get a dog are concerned that they won’t be able to provide the dog with adequate exercise. Do you have any suggestions on how to make sure you keep your dog healthy and exercised, even in a small apartment or if both parents work?

Most people don’t understand that a walk around the block doesn’t cut it, and it’s their duty as a responsible pet owner to find a green area where you can exercise your dog, and where they can go off-leash or swim to get proper exercise. Even using a treadmill indoors—if properly supervised—can work.

For people who suffer from allergies, what hypoallergenic breeds would you recommend looking into purchasing or adopting?

There’s really no such thing as a “hypoallergenic” dog. Allergies and shedding go together hand in hand—some dogs shed a lot while, while others shed very little. The allergy is to dander and the fact is that certain dogs who have a reputation for not shedding actually produce less of an allergen, and that’s related to an individual dog’s genetics and breeding. Standard poodles are the best for those with allergies, though.

Generally, which of the suitable breeds for city dwellers are the easiest to groom and to train?

I keep coming back to poodles. They are easy to groom, easy to train and they are low-key enough for apartment dwellers. They are terrific dogs; they are intelligent, they don’t shed very much and they’re not super high energy, but they will play with their owners.

Do you have some advice for city families looking for their new pet; especially for families who have very young children? 

I would say to look for older dogs in a shelter, especially shelters that match dogs with potential owners because senior dogs are usually quieter and have lower energy levels.

How would you advise them to go about obtaining their new pet: through an AKC-registered breeder or through a shelter? What are the pros and cons of each?

It depends on age; with a purebred, you know what they will turn into, but with a mixed breed puppy, you’re not sure what you’ll get. You can’t be sure about exercise requirements, shedding or temperament. Also with shelter dogs, some of them do come with baggage and have issues, and you have to see if those are issues are ones you can cope with. Still, older shelter dogs are not going to change, and what you see is what you’re going to get because they are in their “end-stage behavior”. Despite it all, any dog from a shelter is a good choice for a pet. Even purebreds can have issues, because while you can generally make a well-educated guess at what it will turn into, sometimes, physical temperament can unfold in a bad direction or turn into aggression. The buyer has to be very aware; choose your breed, your breeder and your lines very carefully.

Do you have any advice on how to choose a vet for your new puppy?

We wrote a book called “Puppy’s First Steps,” it’s a book put out by the faculty of Tufts University, and it includes advice on selecting a puppy and choosing a vet. However, the most important questions to ask are about their hours, their wait time if they have emergency care, as well as boarding, grooming and pickup/drop-off services. Above all, choose a vet that you feel comfortable with, don’t just pick one because they look and act like a TV doctor. Ask questions, talk to other people and get more information before you make a decision.

Are there any specific tips or bits of advice you can give for city families and their dogs?

The most important advice I can give is this—to make sure your dog receives appropriate exercise and mental stimulation, is fed a diet that is appropriate for its life stage and activity level, and that you communicate clearly with your pet, as dogs don’t speak human language, so only use one word commands. Finally, also make sure that you have a control system in place and research leash laws.

Do you have any tips on how to have a healthy, happy, well-socialized dog while living in the city?

You can read my book “The Well-Adjusted Dog: Dr. Dodman’s Seven Steps to Lifelong Health and Happiness for Your Best Friend” for more information, but the main thing is to make sure your dog is understood and that their needs are met physically, mentally and environmentally in order help them to fit into the family.

Do you have any advice for first time dog owners taking their pup to a dog park?

The first thing to do is train your puppy to accept a collar and a lead. Once that’s been accepted and they’re used to it, pick up the lead and train the dog to walk on the lead, eventually working up to bringing them to a park. It’s imperative to keep the dog on a leash and let get them used to park a few times. Keep them away from other dogs at first; also remain calm and show no anxiety—dogs will pick up on fear so be upbeat, happy and stay out of trouble. Eventually go on to using a longer lead and giving your dog much more freedom; let him get used to it and make sure that he’s still reliable. At this stage, you should also start training his recall as well. The next and final steps are to drop the lead and try his recall; if you finally have trust in your dog, let him go off-leash.

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