One of my many interests (as my wife gives me the side eye) is watches. There are basically two types, mechanical and quartz. Mechanical watches are either hand wound or wound by the natural movement of your wrist. Quartz watches run on a battery. Quartz watches are the most accurate. To most watch aficionados’ mechanical watches are preferred, not because of a change in looks but because of a romantic appreciation of the history and mechanics of the watch. Here is the catch that those who fail to do their research fail to understand. A $200-$300 Seiko dive watch will eventually need to be serviced, and that will cost sometimes up to twice as much as the cost of the watch. A quartz watch needs to have the battery replaced every 2-3 years and can be done at home with very inexpensive tools. My watch collection is made up of quite a few watches, several mechanical and several quartz. Most of my mechanical watches need to be serviced. When I start to think about taking them to a watchmaker or sending them out, I typically end up purchasing a new quartz watch for the price of the service.
If you have read up to this point, you are probably wondering what the hell watches have to do with dogs. Well, if you have followed me for any period of time you know that I like to use metaphors to explain the complex. I am not a breed basher and love all canines. The truth however is that some breeds have a high cost of ownership that people fail to take into consideration before adopting or purchasing. Herding breeds such as German Shepherds and cattle dogs are like mechanical watches. People get so wound up (see what I did there…watch reference) about their aesthetics and romanticizing about the role that breed played in their childhood they are often blind to the difference of wanting the dog vs the reality of owning the dog.
When I discuss the cost of owning a dog, I don’t include the cost of the dog, because what you pay is over and done with once you pay it. The true cost of a dog is paid in time, energy, and often anxiety. For every aggressive Pitbull I have worked with, there has been 5-6 aggressive German Shepherds or cattle dogs. It has little to do with the breeds and all to do with foresight and understanding of what the breed will require of your time and energy. Lack of consistent time and energy by at least one person always results in anxiety. I can tell you personally and professionally that few things fuel anxiety like a dog that you do not fully trust, or a dog you know you cannot trust. If there is any chance of changing it will be based on the money, time, and energy you put into correcting the behavior. As with all things in life, actions are proof that words mean nothing. People say they are going to do something in front of other people, often to make themselves believe it, but few follow up with new behaviors. So, the problem just gets worse until the dog bites another dog or person to the extent that it is reported outside the family and the state becomes involved. The truth is that most of the time it manifests into the dog destroying property causing money and peace within the family.
Dogs are only like automatic watches when we fail to understand and act on the needs of the breed or individual dog. Dogs are more like quartz watches, very reliable once you “set” them (early training) and when they are not acting right you may need to replace the battery. In order to know a watch or dog is “off,” you must have the knowledge of how reliable it usually is. After you recognize it, if you don’t do anything, nothing will change. The watch cannot change its own battery, and the dog cannot change its own behavior. It’s the owner’s responsibility.
One more dog / watch metaphor. You don’t wear a dive watch with a tux and you don’t wear a dress watch to the woods. Pick a dog breed that matches your lifestyle. Investigate the breed and get early training to avoid very costly service.
Thank you for reading my ADD ranting.