Training Your Mixed Breed E-Book

Miriam Fields-Babineau

• Herausgeber: CompanionHouse Books
• Kategorie: Lebensstil
• Serie: Positive Training
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 231

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2011

Beschreibung

From puppy to senior - and every stage of life in between - Positive-Training Series books offer fanciers savvy advice straight from the experts.

Das E-Book Training Your Mixed Breed wird angeboten von CompanionHouse Books und wurde mit folgenden Begriffen kategorisiert:

Leseprobe

The author, Miriam Fields-Babineau, with Golden Retriever puppies.

AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY

Miriam Fields-Babineau has been training dogs and other animals professionally since 1978. She has owned and operated Training Unlimited Animal Training and Animal Actors, Inc., for 25 years. She teaches people how to communicate with and train their dogs, of any age or breed, specializing in behavioral problem-solving.

Ms. Fields-Babineau has authored many animal-related books, including Dog Training with a Head Halter (Barron’s Educational Series, Inc.), the e-book How to Become a Professional Dog Trainer (Intellectua.com), Dog Training Basics (Sterling Publishing Co., Inc.) and many more. She writes numerous articles for trade magazines, such as the award-winning Off-Lead Magazine and Practical Horseman. She has produced the videos The First Hello, which addresses how to prepare a dog for an infant, and Dog Training with a Comfort Trainer, which demonstrates how to train a dog using her head-halter design, the Comfort Trainer.

Ms. Fields-Babineau also provides animals for television, film and advertising, having worked with National Geographic, Animal Planet, the History Channel, Warner Films, Orion Films, the Discovery Channel, CBS, the Family Channel and many more. When not training other people’s animal companions, she travels the country, performing in equine and canine competitions as well as exhibiting the skills of her trained felines.

Photographs by:

Mary Bloom, Bernd Brinkmann, Evan Cohen, Billy Deputato, Christopher Deputato, Tracey & Erik Erath, Miriam Fields-Babineau, Isabelle Français, Amy Gilbert, Mary Ieronimo, Carol Ann Johnson, Jose Martinez, Tammy & Rich Phelan, Dennis Spring, Penni Stagg, Donyale Testa and Alice van Kempen.

The publisher would like to thank all of the owners of the dogs featured in this book.

KENNEL CLUB BOOKS: TRAINING YOUR MIXED BREED

ISBN: 978-1-59378-957-2

Copyright © 2005 Kennel Club Books, LLC

3 Burroughs, Irvine, CA 92618 USA

Cover Design Patented: US 6,435,559 B2 • Printed in South Korea

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, by photostat, scanner, microfilm, xerography or any other means, or incorporated into any information retrieval system, electronic or mechanical, without the written permission of the copyright owner.

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

CONTENTS

The Making of the Mixed Breed

Learn the background of the mixed-breed dog and what traits a mix may have based on his lineage. Explore the general characteristics of the major breed groups and, more specifically, of popular breeds that are commonly seen in mixes to help you learn about what traits your mixed-breed dog might have or to help you determine his ancestry if unknown.

Selecting Your Dog

Discuss the process of finding a mixed-breed puppy or dog through an animal shelter, humane society or rescue organization. Learn how to interpret a dog’s body language to learn about his personality. Formal temperament testing exercises, scoring and interpretation are also presented, as well as the importance of socializing your new dog.

Caring for Your Dog

Acquaint yourself with the basics of how to keep your dog happy and healthy. Topics discussed include proper feeding, home safety, grooming, veterinary care, home healthcare checks, special needs of certain body types and how to keep your dog constructively occupied to promote good behavior.

Basic Training and Good Manners

Follow a plan for house-training success. Learn about common bad habits in dogs and how to prevent and cure them. Train your dog the positive way, using targeting and positive-reinforcement techniques to teach the basic commands and correct undesirable behaviors. Also discussed are working with a professional trainer and the proper use of a head halter.

Fun and Games

Training isn’t all work and no play! Discover the various competitive sports available to you and your dog through the clubs and organizations that include mixed breeds. Learn some fun tricks to teach your dog, including “shake,” “wave,” “roll over” and more, and introduce some games like retrieving and differentiating between toys.

An adorable young terrier mix, Willi, is enjoying a sunny day.

IN THE MIX

According to the Mixed Breed Dog Clubs of America, a mixed-breed dog is the offspring of two pure-bred dogs of different breeds. The pairing of a pure-bred with a mixed breed produces mongrels and, if both sire and dam are mixed breeds, then the offspring are mutts. Regardless of definition, a dog that is not identifiable as a pure-bred is not allowed to compete in events offered solely for pure-breds by the American Kennel Club (AKC) and specialty clubs. However, there are several national and international clubs devoted to furthering the sport of mixed-breed dogs. These include the aforementioned Mixed Breed Dog Clubs of America, North American Mixed Breed Registry and various local and regional mixed-breed dog clubs. Several pure-bred dog clubs do allow mixed breeds to compete at their events. These clubs include the United Kennel Club, North American Dog Racing Association and Australian Shepherd Club of America. All of these organizations recognize that mixed-breed dogs are able to train and compete on the same levels as pure-bred dogs.

Bella is a Beagle/Coonhound mix, pictured here in her new home just a few weeks after being adopted from a shelter.

Mario is a Chihuahua mix whose small size belies his huge personality.

One cannot state that a mixed-breed dog is any more or less healthy, intelligent or long-lived than a pure-bred. These factors depend more on the dog’s genetics and lifetime care. However, it has been noted that mixed-breed dogs are less likely to contract some of the common hereditary problems that can be seen in pure-breds. These problems occur sometimes as a result of poor breeding and sometimes because certain conditions are difficult to detect no matter how careful the breeder. Common hereditary disorders include hip and elbow dysplasia, retinal atrophy and heart defects, among others. A mixed-breed dog may draw strength from the background of one of his ancestors to overcome the weaknesses of another. He also may gain certain propensities from both sides of his lineage. He may be able to show the abilities to both herd sheep and find lost people, instead of the specialized abilities of the herding dog who is bred solely for herding or the working dog developed solely for search-and-rescue.

All dog breeds were developed for specific tasks. There are breeds that guard, breeds that herd, breeds that have specialized hunting skills and breeds that were meant to warm the hands and feet of their human companions. Your mixed-breed dog is a combination of one or more of these, making him unique unto himself, a pawprint of individuality. Unlike with a pure-bred dog, you will not be able to foretell his exact size or personality until he is fully developed. You will be able to tell certain things, like whether he has long fur or a short coat, floppy ears or erect ones. He may end up weighing 25, 55 or over 100 pounds! Knowledge of who his parents are and how big he is as a pup will give you an idea of eventual size, but there is still no guarantee. Most owners of mixed breeds have no idea of parentage, so the best means of knowing is by learning about the attributes of pure-breds and applying them to observed behaviors and appearances in their mixed-breed dogs. Their genetic codes contain similar information. Size, conformation, coat coloration and even some similarities in behavior can be noted. However, this can often be difficult to decipher while your mixed-breed dog is young.

This dog, an interesting mix of Airedale Terrier, Doberman Pinscher and Schnauzer, grew up to resemble a wiry-coated Doberman.

Knowing more about pure-bred dogs will aid you in better understanding your own mixed breed. Will the dog be suitable in a home with a family that works long hours? How will he get along with young children? Will the dog have a tendency to be hyperactive? Even though the behavioral tendencies of a pure breed can be more predictable, there are individuals that often vary from the norm.

If you know something about your lovely individual, such as the breed(s) of one or both parents, you will have some idea as to what to expect throughout his development, leading to a better understanding of his overall behavior patterns and physical attributes. If you do not have breed specifics, then you hopefully will at least be able to determine to which group of dogs one or both parents belonged, such as the terriers, sporting dogs, hounds and so on. For explanation purposes, we will discuss the breed groups according to AKC classification.

Perhaps the most universally loved dog in the world, the Labrador Retriever.

EXPLORING THE BREED GROUPS

SPORTING GROUP

Two of America’s most popular breeds belong to the Sporting Group: the Labrador Retriever and the Golden Retriever. Other popular breeds in this group are the Cocker Spaniel, German Shorthaired Pointer, English Springer Spaniel, Weimaraner, Vizsla, Brittany and Chesapeake Bay Retriever. Among the less common breeds seen in the group are handsome pointing breeds like the German Wirehaired Pointer and Wirehaired Pointing Griffon; terrific retrievers including the Curly-Coated Retriever, Flat-Coated Retriever and Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever; some elegant setting dogs like the English Setter and Gordon Setter; and, of course, those wonderful spaniels—the Clumber Spaniel, English Cocker Spaniel, American Water Spaniel, Field Spaniel, Irish Water Spaniel, Sussex Spaniel and Welsh Springer Spaniel. Any of these breeds would be less likely to be involved in a “mixed marriage” than the more popular and more numerous breeds.

The Golden Retriever is not far behind the Lab in popularity, known for his beauty, zest for life and gregarious personality.

The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is a top-notch field dog with a more aloof personality than the other retriever breeds.

Sporting dogs were originally bred to aid hunters. From flushing and fetching to pointing and chasing, sporting dogs are bred for specific hunting conditions and types of game. These breeds have lots of energy, are very loyal and are eager to please. They love people and activities. Most sporting dogs make great family pets because of their trainability and love of family social events. They do not do well in homes with children under five years of age, for they are very active and may inadvertently knock small children over, but they can keep up with older children and stay active well into their senior years.

Sporting breeds are usually very friendly and eager to be part of the family unit. They do not do well if cooped up in small areas for long periods of time or left alone without a chance to play with people and other dogs. They require lots of exercise and do not care about the weather conditions as much as some other breeds. Most, in fact, have been bred to retrieve from the water, so they don’t understand why they cannot go out to play on a rainy day. Should your mixed-breed dog contain sporting-dog traits, be sure to pay attention to these traits and how strongly they are expressed. For example, a dog that is half Labrador Retriever and half Dalmatian (classified as Non-Sporting but an extremely active breed derived from pointing dogs) may be all black but have the long legs of the Dalmatian. This will be a high-energy dog. He also may be very demanding of your attention.

Since Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers are among the most popular breeds of dog, there are many mixed-breed dogs whose lineage has some percentage of one or both of these breeds. Luckily, Labs and Goldens have many desirable qualities. They are easy to train and care for, and they are great with people of all ages. Goldens tend to be a little more sensitive than Labradors, and therefore should never be dealt with harshly. Labrador Retrievers require owners who are persistent and patient, but not overly harsh. Goldens stand up to 24 inches at the shoulders and can weigh up to 75 pounds, while Labs can be a little taller and somewhat heavier. Goldens have medium-length coats with feathering on their legs, tails and necks. Their coats range from buff to dark gold or red, whereas Labradors are seen in black, chocolate and yellow and have short coats. Regardless of their coat lengths, both breeds shed significantly.

In the last few years, people have been crossing Standard Poodles with Labrador Retrievers and Golden Retrievers. The result is a fabulous mixed-breed dog called the Labradoodle and Goldendoodle that is intelligent, sensitive and affectionate, very much like the original retriever, the Curly-Coated Retriever.

Lab/German Shepherd mix Daisy and Pit Bull mix Misty are frequent playmates and two of the sweetest dogs around.

After the Lab and Golden, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever is the next-highest retriever in AKC registration numbers. Chessies are rugged and powerful. Their curly coats are waterproof and range in color from sandy to deep brown. They can weigh up to 80 pounds and stand up to 26 inches at the shoulders. Chessies also have the classic retriever attribute of webbed feet. These dogs are great hunting partners but do not normally fit in as well in urban or suburban environments. They can be very protective and sometimes aggressive with other dogs. This is not the best breed for a family with young children.

The Brittany is a friendly, active, naturally appealing spaniel.

The German Shorthaired Pointer is a skilled hunting companion, striking in his liver coat, which often has white markings.

Overall, pointing breeds are long-legged and lean of torso. Most have pendant ears. They tend to stand “frozen” in position with their tails straight out and a forepaw lifted when confronted with game or something new. One such pointer, the Brittany, friendly and happy, has a medium-length, slightly wavy coat that varies from orange to liver on white. The breed can reach up to 20.5 inches at the shoulder and can weigh up to 40 pounds. Brittanys adore interaction with family members and thrive on direction.

The German Wirehaired Pointer is not as numerous as his shorthaired cousin, but is equally as talented and handsome, with trademark facial furnishings.

German Shorthaired Pointers are very energetic dogs that prefer being out in the field to being cooped up indoors. They do not do well in urban or suburban environments. They need room to run and roam or will otherwise become difficult to handle. They can be stubborn at times and reserved but, if socialized early, will fit into families with older children and active lifestyles. They stand up to 25 inches at the shoulder and can reach 70 pounds. Their short coats can be solid liver or liver with white patches and freckles.

Setter breeds have long silky ears that hang down beyond their chins. English Setters are mostly white with orange, lemon, liver or black markings, the latter sometimes with tan points. They are high-energy dogs that require persistent training and lots of exercise. They stand up to 25 inches at the shoulder and can weigh up to 70 pounds. There is a difference in type seen between show and field English Setters. The field dogs are smaller and lighter, with shorter coats. The English Setter is fairly often seen mixed with other breeds.

Irish Setters are high-energy dogs that stand about 25 to 27 inches at the shoulder and can weigh up to 70 pounds. They have medium-length coats with feathering at their legs, tails and chests. Their coats are silky, in shades of red from light chestnut to dark mahogany. These dogs do well with people and other dogs but require consistent direction or they can easily pick up on bad habits. This is another popular breed, but rarely found mixed with other breeds due to careful breeding practices.

Spaniel breeds come in all shapes and sizes. The ever-popular Cocker Spaniel is often purposely bred with the Poodle to produce the Cockapoo, a pleasant mix known to be cute, cuddly and intelligent. Cocker Spaniels have been quite popular among dog owners since the 1960s and their favor continues today. Due to the poor breeding practices of unscrupulous, profit-seeking, backyard breeders, the normally intelligent and friendly Cocker can turn into a dominating, aggressive dog with severe behavioral problems. Reputable breeders, of course, strive to preserve the best qualities of the breed. Cocker Spaniels range from 13.5 to 15.5 inches at the shoulder and have long coats that require regular grooming. Cocker Spaniels can be parti-colored (white with another solid color) or solid-colored, with or without tan points. Common solid colors are black, buff and brown, although others are acceptable.

Two English Setters, one liver and one black, on either side of their Gordon Setter pal. English Setters are white with markings seen in various colors, while Gordons are black and tan.

The Cockapoo, generated from a Cocker Spaniel and a Miniature Poodle, is the most popular “designer dog” in the world.

A mixed-breed dog of retriever and setter lineage, on the job and showing the skills of his ancestry.

English Cocker Spaniels (simply called Cocker Spaniels in England, where they are very popular) stand a little taller than the American breed, reaching up to 17 inches at the shoulder and up to 34 pounds in weight. Their muzzles, ears and legs are longer than those of their American counterparts. Their coloring includes blue and brown roan, solid colors, black and tan and black with white (or with tan and white). This breed does well with youngsters and is very adaptable to most living situations; however, they can be headstrong and require consistency and companionship. In Australia English Cockers are commonly crossed with Miniature Poodles to create a delightful mix known as a Spoodle.

English Springer Spaniels are currently very popular hunting dogs. They have lots of energy, talent and intelligence, adapting well to any environment. However, if poorly bred, they can, like Cocker Spaniels, become possessive-aggressive and distrustful of strangers. They stand 19 to 20 inches at the shoulder and weigh 40 to 50 pounds. Their long coats require regular grooming, including some trimming, but should look natural. The most common colors are black and liver, both with white markings; blue and liver roan are also seen. Some black/white and liver/white dogs have tan points over their brows, on their cheeks and on their legs.

The Vizsla is gaining popularity as a pet but is not too often crossed with other breeds. Vizslas may look like hound dogs but are actually part of the Sporting Group due to their pointing and retrieving abilities. They can stand up to 24 inches at the shoulder, making them a medium-to-large breed. Their short coats are burnt orange to light brown in color and their weight ranges from 50 to 60 pounds. These are high-energy dogs that require a lot of exercise and regular obedience training sessions for many years. While they are not often seen within a mixed breed’s lineage, it does happen on occasion.

English Springer Spaniels are active sporting dogs that also make wonderful family companions. Guinness enjoys all the comforts of home.

The Weimaraner is often seen in mixes, as the breed has become fairly popular in recent years. With his silver-gray coat and matching gray (sometimes amber) eyes, regal appearance and high energy level, he makes a great companion for an active family that has time to spend working with him. Weimaraners were originally bred for hunting big game. This is a large breed that can stand up to a maximum of 28 inches tall and can weight upward of 75 pounds, depending on height.

HOUND GROUP

Hounds were some of the first known hunting dogs developed. They have been specialized into trackers for locating prey and are rarely used in flushing, retrieving and pointing. Hounds will often follow a trail regardless of any distraction, even that of their owners calling them to come. These breeds can be energetic, bold and stubborn, a combination that often means “difficult to train.” It is rare, however, to find an aggressive dog in this group. All hounds require consistent and patient training and must learn at an early age to always come when called, regardless of an interesting scent (something hound owners will attest is easier said than done).

One of the most well-known scenthounds, the Basset Hound is a true charmer... just look into those eyes!

Divided into two categories, hounds hunt by scent or by sight. The most commonly encountered hounds include the Beagle, Dachshund, Basset Hound, Greyhound and several breeds of coonhound. Other less commonly seen hounds, though certainly recognizable, are the Bloodhound, Whippet, Afghan Hound, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Basenji, Borzoi, Foxhound, Ibizan Hound, Irish Wolfhound, Norwegian Elkhound, Otterhound, Saluki and Scottish Deerhound.

The Basset Hound is one of the more popular scenthound breeds and is often seen in many mixed-breed combinations. With his very long ears, short legs and long nose, a Basset can worm his way into anyone’s heart. However, Bassets can be very stubborn, willful and difficult to train, but will easily train their people. Bassets have loose skin and short coats that vary from white with black, brown or tan patches and freckles to tan with black patches. They average 14 inches at the shoulder and 40 to 55 pounds. If you see a mixed-breed dog with short legs and long ears, it’s a good bet that he’s part Basset Hound.

Also scenthounds, Beagles are also very popular and seen even more often in mixes than Basset Hounds. The reason is that many people who hunt with Beagles lose them in the woods and then go home, hoping that their dogs will turn up a few days later. Meanwhile, their Beagles are having a grand time with the neighborhood canines! Beagles can be stubborn but are very intelligent. Once they catch a scent, however, there’s not much that will distract them from pursuing it. They come in two size varieties: 13-inch, with an average weight of 19 pounds, and 15-inch, with an average weight of 25 pounds. Beagles’ short coats are usually colored in combinations of white, shades of brown and black, sometimes with freckles. They have droopy ears and straight tails. Their personalities range from inquisitive and friendly to demanding and phobia-prone.

Beagles are true pack dogs and are seen in two sizes, both shown here.

All of the coonhound breeds are great scent-hunting partners or companions for people who enjoy the outdoors. Some might be timid around strangers and/or aggressive with other dogs. They are high-energy dogs, requiring a lot of exercise. They stand from 21 to 27 inches at the shoulders and weigh anywhere from 40 to 90 pounds depending on breed, sex and height. Like the Basset Hound, coonhounds have loose skin and short, coarse coats. They all have long ears and long tails with heavy bone structure. The Black and Tan, Redbone and Plott are registered by the AKC, but there are other very popular coonhounds, such as the Bluetick, English and Treeing Walker, that are not yet registered with the AKC but are recognized by the United Kennel Club (UKC). The AKC and the UKC both offer coonhound-only performance events.

Bloodhounds are mild-mannered scenting dogs that are renowned for their tracking abilities. They are generally great with people, but can be aggressive with other dogs. They can be stubborn and strong, requiring persistent, patient human companions. This breed stands up to 27 inches at the shoulder and can weigh up to 110 pounds—a very large dog, indeed. They are loose-skinned with short coats in either black and tan, liver and tan or solid red. Some are flecked with white spots or have some white on their chests, feet or tail tips. Their faces are wrinkly and the jowls hang low. Their ears are very long and, when pulled forward, reach beyond their noses, similar to the Basset Hound. Though the breed is not uncommon, it is rarely seen in mixes.

Dachshunds are very popular and their attributes can often be recognized among those of mixed-breed dogs. Their short legs, long bodies, long pointy snouts and silky ears are unmistakable. They are intelligent, stubborn and clever. They are quick to learn their owners’ weaknesses and exploit them to their own advantage. They come in three coat varieties—longhaired, shorthaired and wirehaired. There are also two sizes: Standard, at 9 inches tall and weighing 16 to 32 pounds; and Miniature, at 5 inches tall and under 11 pounds in weight. Common Dachshund colors are solid red, chocolate, black and blue, some with tan points, and the attractive dappled pattern.

A hound fancier’s delight, this adorable Black and Tan Coonhound pup has the signature scenthound traits of long ears and loose skin.

The Bloodhound is a large scenthound whose scenting ability is legendary.

From the scenthounds, we move on to the sighthounds. Greyhounds have been hunting dogs since their development in ancient Egypt. As a sighthound, and the fastest dog alive, the Greyhound has been used in the dog-racing industry and often discarded when past its prime, usually at rather young ages. Fortunately, there are many active organizations promoting the adoption of retired racing dogs. The Greyhound is a very sensitive breed and generally easy to train. Retired racers can present certain challenges, but most are sweet and docile.

Smooth Dachshunds in two of the breed’s color patterns: solid red and black and tan.

Greyhounds are large, standing up to 30 inches at the shoulder and weighing up to 70 pounds. Their long legs, lean frames and slender necks hold small heads with long pointed snouts. They are extremely aerodynamic. Their short coats come in a variety of colors, including white, gray, fawn, black, brindle and patched. Their ears fold back against their heads, but perk to half-mast when the dogs are interested in something.

The Greyhound is perhaps the most well known of the sighthounds. He is a tall, lean dog, renowned for his keen eyes and quickness.

Rhodesian Ridgebacks are gaining in popularity and may be seen sometimes in mixes. The ridge along the back is a dead giveaway! The Ridgeback’s short coat ranges from light tan to dark red, sometimes with white on the chest. His ears hang down and his eye color ranges from brownish yellow to dark brown. The breed can stand up to 27 inches at the shoulder and can weigh upwards of 75 pounds. Ridgebacks are high-energy dogs that require consistent training and lots of exercise.

Whippets are similar in build and appearance to Greyhounds, only smaller. Whippets stand around 22 inches at the shoulder and weigh 24 to 36 pounds. They can be timid with people they don’t know and should be obedience-trained to help build their confidence and control over their sighthound instincts. They too are high-energy dogs that need lots of exercise. Their short coats are varied in color, as all colors and patterns are acceptable. They have large dark eyes and long slender tails.

WORKING GROUP

These breeds were developed for a variety of tasks from guarding, herding and pulling to carrying loads and search-and-rescue. They can adapt to any temperature and exhibit extreme intelligence and working abilities. Working-breed dogs can make great pets if fully integrated into their family packs. However, if left alone for long periods, chained up or constantly kenneled without any interaction, they can become dangerously aggressive. Some of these breeds were originally bred as fighting dogs, making them risky to have around children or small pets.

A handsome Rhodesian Ridgeback/Bull Terrier mix.

Among the most popular dogs in the Working Group are the Boxer, Rottweiler, Siberian Husky, Doberman Pinscher and Great Dane. Some other relatively common breeds in this group are the Mastiff, St. Bernard, Akita, Newfoundland, Bullmastiff, Great Pyrenees and Bernese Mountain Dog. The less common breeds in this category are the Alaskan Malamute, a breed considerably larger than the Siberian Husky, with which it is sometimes mistaken; the Giant and Standard Schnauzers, the latter being less common; the massive corded Komondor; the handsome all-white Kuvasz; the versatile, curly-coated Portuguese Water Dog and the solid-white, long-coated, ever-smiling Samoyed.