THE BEST PERSON TO MAKE THE PICK MIGHT BE SOMEONE ELSE
By Kim Campbell Thornton
Would you let someone else choose a dog for you? I have done so twice, and both times I hit the proverbial jackpot.
The first was when my family purchased a tricolor cavalier puppy from a breeder overseas. She emailed us photos and then shipped Darcy to us. We loved her. Her only flaw was succumbing too early to the heart disease that stalks her breed.
The second time was last year. When our black-and-tan cavalier Twyla died last November, I wasn't sure I was ready for another cavalier just yet. The two shelter dogs I inquired about through Petfinder didn't pan out. Fostering for my friend Maryanne Dell, who does rescue through her Shamrock Foundation, seemed like a good compromise.
"Do you want me to look for one that you might potentially adopt?" Maryanne asked. "Tell me what you're looking for, in case I run across a dog that might be a fit."
I asked for a dog that was 4 to 6 years old, so our 5-year-old cavalier, Harper, could have a playmate. As far as size, I was interested in going a little bigger than a cavalier, say, up to 30 pounds. Our rule is that we have to be able to carry the dog up and down the stairs in the event that it becomes sick or injured or is debilitated in old age. I preferred a spaniel type, but I didn't want a dog with a really heavy coat. And in a perfect world, the dog wouldn't be much of a barker, since we live in a condo and stay frequently in hotels with our dogs.
What she brought us was a six-pound ball of short black fur with a long, narrow bare patch on her back, a pointy gray muzzle and a howl that suggested she was part banshee. Labeled a Pomeranian-Chihuahua mix, she had been pulled from the shelter in Riverside, Calif., and was estimated to be 12 or 13 years old. She was a doll, though, and I told Maryanne I would be happy to foster her for as long as necessary.
Gemma, as I named her, arrived on Jan. 23. By Feb. 8, she was sleeping on the bed. Her fur started growing back, and we soon discovered that she had a beautiful long black coat with a ruff around her neck and pantaloons on her legs.
My friends, I suspect, were taking bets on how long it would be before we adopted her. We made it official on March 19, signing the adoption papers that made her ours.
"Who didn't see that coming?" one of my friends remarked.
What are the advantages of letting someone else choose your dog? It can be a good idea whether you are purchasing from a breeder or adopting from a shelter.
--A breeder has been watching her puppies for a minimum of eight weeks. If you accurately describe your personality and lifestyle, she is going to be able to tell you which puppy is upbeat and active and will make a great jogging buddy, and which one is easygoing enough to enjoy being a couch potato with you.
-- Shelter employees, rescue volunteers and foster owners have been observing their charges for weeks as well. Tell them what you want in a dog, and they can often steer you to the one that will suit you best.
-- And sometimes, what you think you want and what turns out to be perfect for you are two very different things.
I've told Maryanne that she can pick a dog out for me any time.
Q&A
Hypoallergenic dogs:
myths vs. facts
Q: Where can I get a hypoallergenic dog? -- via Facebook
A: It's one of our pet peeves that certain breeds and mixes are described as "hypoallergenic," meaning they don't cause reactions in people who are allergic to pets. In truth, there's no such thing.
Poodles are the original hypoallergenic breed, touted as such because their curly coat has a long growth cycle and thus takes longer to shed. For that reason, poodles are often crossed with other breeds to create dogs that are believed to be hypoallergenic, such as goldendoodles, Labradoodles, and Maltipoos. It's not shedding hair that causes allergies, however; it's dander -- dead skin cells shed naturally by all mammals, including humans.
Peter J. Ihrke, V.M.D., a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Dermatologists and professor of dermatology at the University of California, Davis' School of Veterinary Medicine, says: "To my knowledge, no scientific data support the claim that crossbreeds or any other breeds are less or more allergenic than any other dog. All evidence suggests that allergy to dogs in humans is associated with a reaction to dander. All dogs shed dander, and I can think of no scientific reason that these dogs would be less likely to induce allergy in humans."
A study published in the July-August 2011 issue of the American Journal of Rhinology and Allergy found that the level of dog allergen in homes with dogs described as hypoallergenic did not differ from that in homes with non-hypoallergenic dogs.
People and dogs are individuals, and there is anecdotal evidence that some people with allergies react less severely to some dogs, but responsible breeders of crossbreeds and purebreds never guarantee that a pet will be hypoallergenic. If you have allergies to dogs, visit several breeders or people who have the breed or crossbreed you're interested in to make sure you can live comfortably with them before committing to a puppy. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Kim Campbell Thornton
THE BUZZ
Going the extra mile:
Pets make amazing trips
-- We often see news stories of pets who have trekked hundreds of miles to get back home after becoming lost. How do they do it? Science is still trying to answer that question. Migratory animals use magnetic fields, scent cues and orientation of the sun, but the navigational ability of dogs and cats has been little studied. It's known, however, that they have mental mapmaking skills, good observational abilities, and fantastic senses of smell and hearing, and those capabilities no doubt play a role in allowing them to find home, even from someplace they've never been.
-- Researchers at Emory University used functional MRI to capture brain images of 13 alert, unrestrained dogs. During the scans, the dogs, who were trained to willingly enter the MRI machine and remain still, watched a person giving hand signals indicating whether the dog would or would not receive a treat.
According to the research, published by PLOS One, most of the dogs had a positive response in the caudate region of the brain -- associated with decision-making, motivation and processing emotions -- when signaled that they would receive a hot dog. The research lays the foundation for exploring canine neural biology and cognitive processes.
-- Got separation anxiety? No, not your pet -- you. If you miss interacting with Rover or Ruffles when you're at work or on vacation, the PetChatz two-way petcam is for you. The unit, which should be available in early 2014, allows owners to "call" pets, talk to them and even dispense treats from a hidden compartment. Pets can learn to respond to the ring, but whether they recognize the person on the screen is a matter of conjecture. But Lisa Lavin, a veterinary technician and co-developer of the device, says what's important is the boost to an owner's emotional welfare. -- Kim Campbell Thornton
ABOUT PET CONNECTION
Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by "Good Morning America" and "The Dr. Oz Show" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Kim Campbell Thornton. They are joined by professional dog trainer and behavior consultant Mikkel Becker. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.