I've never read a book so fast! kzfaq.infoUgkx1_veP7CApJK_GWy_TczaMciuG64PqJeU Learning about his dogs and experiences was just the icing on the cake - bed this book through and through. We're working with our new pup and Brandon's advise was just what I needed. Wish he'd just come and train for me haha but it's good for us and happy to have this new set of tools to use on our pup.

Well said and spot on! My lab is shy and hesitant around people. Not so outgoing. She also hates water. My pit mix loves everyone and doesn’t have an aggressive bone in his body. The only time he will even bark at all is for a treat. I’ve raised them both from a puppy so I can definitely say every dog has their own personality.

I didn't want a Chihuahua, but the stray we found doesn't bark (more than necessary), doesn't bite, likes everyone in the family and is happy to meet new people. He's not hard to train or "stubborn" either, he's the first dog I've ever had, I barely know what I'm doing and he knows a bunch of commands already. Really made me rethink some of those breed stereotypes.

Thank you for dispelling the myth that poodles are just froufrou pretty dogs. I feel like so many people get poorly-bred doodles because they have this idea that the doodle is going to get the personality of the other dog with the coat of the poodle, but they are basically looking for a poodle that they don't have to call a poodle and can leave the hair on the face.

One of my local shelters is no longer identifying dogs by breed. Instead they list some of their personality. I love to know my dogs' breeds, but I train them as individuals. Sometimes I notice something that I wonder if it is related to a breed, so I look it up. I think it is important to know breed, but don't rely on the breed because they are individuals. My dogs are siblings from different litters, and they act so opposite. One is high energy and wants to play non-stop, while the other is perfectly fine to just chill on the couch. One uses her nose to push the potty button/bell, while the other prefers to use paw. One loves playing in the rain and mud, while the other would rather not. One loves using his paws to get attention, while the other just lays her head on me and stares. They are just so different. The one that prefers to use his paws, has more boxer in him than the other one, according to Embark, which I have heard that boxers do tend to use their paws more. I just believe it is important to consider breed and breed characteristics, but not rely on them.

Have mixed rescue dogs and personalities are wildly different from stereotypes. My lab mix is frightened of new people and dogs and likes staying home, my chihuahua mix loves hiking, the taller the mountain the better, and my pit mix was the sweetest, gentlest dog I’ve ever had. Loved the video, judging a dog by breed alone is a path to total frustration. It’s nice to hear a voice of truth and reason in a sea of misinformation, don’t let the haters get you down 😀

As usual, I completely agree with you, Zak. Dogs are individuals. My 9 month old Chow Chow absolutely loves every adult, child, and other dog he’s met.

My man... I think it would be physically impossible for me to agree with your training philosophy and overall opinion on dogs even more ❤ Your videos inspired me to get my own dog and even getting back to school to learn how to be a dog trainer 🫶🏻 ignore the haters and keep up the good job! We need more people like you 💕

A very good reminder for me. I'm planning to bring a lab puppy into my home, partially due to some general "stereotypes" of the breed. I have to make sure I don't slack off on the training and just expect all those good traits to magically appear

Aww this is a wonderful video. Can you make a follow-up video for those of use who decided to go to the local animal shelter instead of buying a purebred? What are some tests or activities we can do at the shelter to determine the dog's biddability/trainability and energy level? For me, I'm looking for a decently energetic dog who wants to please. I would like to do a variety of activities with my future dog, including off leash adventures, so that obedience piece is really key. Of course, I understand obedience must be built up over time, but starting with a puppy that is eager to please would be a huge boost!!

I absolutely agree. Every person needs to see this video. I have a pit mix and he is reactive. Everyone shy’s away when they see him barking at their dog whatcha causes more problems because he senses it. I really hope dog stereotyping stops.

I think you are fabulous Zack and I agree with everything you talk about and say on your KZfaq videos. Thank you for sharing all your thoughts and everything you teach.

Key words: "Dogs are not products" ❤

Boxer to Zach “you do you”😂😂😂😂😂😂 excellent video.

I think what you've left out are the physical genetic issues. In particular health concerns can be huge. I rescued a young golden. I'm aware of the big cancer issues with goldens, but seeing a friend's 7 year old, go from fine, in two weeks to having a large tumour and two weeks later being put down because of the speed of growth. Other breeds have other issues. These, unlike personality, are much more quantifiable and with new DNA testing could be eliminated, but careless breeding means they are still a huge problem.

Another great educational video Zak. Thanks so much :)

Thank you for your insight in this subject! So many dogs are overlooked just because of their breed. My family loves to camp and a great majority of campgrounds enforce a list of dogs who are not allowed in.

I totally agree with everything you say, every dog is unique. I think some content creators just jump to trends or go back to a video structure that worked for them. But it's so important to keep in mind all the points you are making here!

I selected my current dog (4 month old whippet) on its energy levels and personality around families. I was told whippets were hard to train but this pup learns as fast as the 5 Dobermanns I've own previously. This video is a good reminder.

The majority of pure breed dogs will follow the standard “stereotype” but there are also dog considered “unicorns” where they behave completely different.

I completely agree. We have 3 poodles who are all extremely different personality wise. Two are super friendly, one is stand-offish and ignores anyone he doesn't know. Two are supper into sniffing/scentwork and one is into agility. I'd say they were all very very agile and intelligent, but their personalities and styles of learning and expressing themselves are all very different.

Train The Dog In Front Of You by Denise Fenzi really helped me accept the dog I'm training as they are in every training session. I say every training session, because my poodle is typically more of a learner than a performer, but some training sessions he really just wants to review familiar behaviors and will disengage if we try to train a less known behavior. Maybe he's tired or he only has his teenage brain.... whatever the reason, in that moment he's more of a performer than a learner. Just like how human beings' personalities aren't really prescriptive of every response to experience, but more of a general trend of response tendencies. When you're training/teaching, what matters most is who is front of you right now in this moment, rather than who they generally are or who'll they'll be in 30 minutes.

It is true that every dog within a breed can be vastly different. I agree with you to a point. I also think one needs to look at the breeding of that dog. Because if you are dealing with a puppy mill dog even though it is pure breed, it is probably not bred for temperament, health, and the traits we all seek in our companions. That doesn't mean that every dog that comes from a puppy mill or backyard breeder will be bad, but the chances are higher they will have issues (especially health issues). With every breed you need to check the puppy's energy level. That said, if you get a serious working dog breed and exercise is not part of your daily life and you think you can leave these dogs at home all day long, there is a high possibility that you will come home to your couch in pieces. Not all working dogs within those working breeds will be that intense and need that much work, but with working breeds you will more than likely be required to work them more than you would say, an English bulldog. That said, my Chihuahua was a hyper maniac when he was young. Breeds are not the end all be all to a dog's breed, but you do need to know what those breeds "can" be. Some breeds have selectively been bred to work and work hard, and it is rare to find a dog within that breed that doesn't have that go-go-go-go energizer bunny personality. Your border collies you select, and choose that breed because of some of those traits, and as you said you then test the puppies to make sure you are getting the puppy that you want. I do agree that we can't put too much weight into the breed, but we also can't disregard the breed. If you get a Malinois you need to test the puppy intensely to see how strong its bite instinct is, and it's going power is. This is a working dog and can be a very intense dog. You need to understand what this dog can be capable of and be prepared to give it jobs to do all day long or you could end up with an 8-foothole in your backyard that goes clear to China. Yes, you might find a Malinois that is a super chill dog, but you need to know this dog was bred to be police dogs and war dogs. That said, a lot of this breed fail the testing to become either war dogs or police dogs, you are still going to have to spend a lot of time with them. They do what they do to impress their small core family. There is a balance of breed, breeding, environment and human and I think all of those play into what the dog will be. The breed isn't a definitive of what the dog will be, and the breeder can make or break the dog in some ways, the human can be a huge part of what the dog can be. Then the environment comes into play. Too many dogs go untrained completely. Even the 8 lbs. of cuteness need to be trained. A bad trainer or technique or one with an ill intent can most definitely screw up a dog regardless of breed. Like a pit-bull in the hands of a dog fighter. Most pit bulls are angels and excellent family dogs. Yet in the hands of a dog fighter a nightmare dog is created. Some breeds also require more rigorous training, not harder techniques but schedule. Poodles were bred to be hunting/sport dogs and not fancy pretty dogs. Their fancy haircut was designed to keep the most important parts of their organs and joints warm while swimming to retrieve birds in cold Germany. They are just a German form of Labrador, which is why it is so stupid that people are breeding poodles with labs and other retrievers to make them better dogs. All they are doing is getting the worse traits of both breeds. Who wants a poodle that sheds? Poodles are excellent, smart, high-energy breed of hunting dog. People need to understand this because if you don't give them enough exercise, even your miniature poodle will destroy your couch while you are at the grocery store. I learned this one the hard way, with a couch and two chairs. This is a breed that is typically if in the hands of good breeders, trainers, and handlers, so smart you will only have to show it a new behavior once and it will know it forever and use it to show off for you and everyone around you. That said, any of the breeder, trainer, or human family can destroy this dog. Just like the Labrador they are bred to love water, so don't be surprised if you are soaking in a nice bath after a long day if your poodle joins you uninvited. And because of being bred to retrieve as a hunting dog they have a higher tendency to be total ball freaks. I mean never stop, if you hide the ball up high where they can't get to it, they will sit and stare at it. Some of my poodles also would put the ball at the top of a hill and then watch it role down and chase and retrieve it. All of this said, this is a guide and not the end all, and each poodle has its own personality, and every puppy born has different energy levels within a litter of puppies no matter what the breed is. That said, a poodle will be hypoallergenic for those like me who need a dog that doesn't shed because of allergies. My Chi/Pappi is a bit of a challenge for me in the allergy department, but I inherited him, so... LOL. Each dog within a breed will have various levels of the trait they were bred for. A good breeder will breed for those traits, and a bad breeder will breed for $$$$. Which is why, you should always look at the breeder unless you are rescuing. rescuing is great unless you have certain traits that you absolutely need, as in my next puppy will be trained to be a service dog for me. I haven't decided if it will be a poodle or another breed that doesn't shed but is big and strong for stabilization for me. Which is why I am not sure about using a poodle, even though they are my favorite breed so far.

You’re right. For ex. my former dog was a husky who had been the best guard dog in all the dogs I’ve met. Never got over territorial, alerted me in all needed situations, protected me when I needed it but never over did it and caused any hurt on anyone else. She also wasn’t that friendly with strangers. Any “should I get a husky” video will tell you opposite of all this. Plus she was incredibly easy to train. That part is mostly thanks to you! You helped me have the best relationship with my best friend! I’m greatful! 🙏🏻

Breed stereotypes is a really interesting conversation. While I do think the same as 'focus on the individual and be open minded' at the same point adopt/buy aim to have a breed to suit your lifestyle with a small expectation of that breeds traits I.e Malonois will have high drive, huskies will be vocal, beagles will go off and explore, pitties can have a high animal prey drive. Then when you have the dog, mold your training down to the individual and support them as an individual not the breed. The biggest issue is inexperienced owners/guardians only looking at the appearance of the dogs and not the job they where originally bred for, which is why you have so many huskies in shelters in the UK. Interesting video

My shih tzu is independent and doesn't like cuddles or lap time. We have a belly scratch + pet session 1-2 times a day and that's it - that's all she needs or likes. I love her immensely bc my expectation was to love her as she is, not as I thought or wanted her to be. Great vid!

I hear about stereotypes so much as the handler of a Weimaraner. Everyone automatically assumes she’s hyperactive and has energy for days, but she comes from lines that are so laidback and calm. She’d rather sleep all day than go outside and play. She loves to go on walks, she loves hiking, but if we don’t make it outside on an adventure, she’s perfectly content to sack out on the couch and stay there all day.

I really appreciate the time stamps 🥰

I agree with you! I am always going to keep an open mind! I love all dogs!

I always have the same argument with my mother. She is in love with Bernese mountain dogs. We had them from puppy and they always would die at the age of 5-6 years old due to over breeding. She shopped at the best breeding facilities know in Europe, but still no luck. 7 dogs later she finally decided not to buy a BMD anymore. I have 2 mixed breed (husky X samoyed) rescues. I tell her to go to the shelter or ask around if there is a dog that would fit her lifestyle. She is convinced there must be something wrong with dogs if they were given up. And I keep telling her... You willingly paid for an over bred dog 7 times, just for looks! But you're not willing to meet a dog that is not a pedigree ( overbred) dog that needs a home to grow old with you? Why? She loves my dog btw, she is not afraid of them although they are rescues. The hang ups people have are weird.

Great comments on this topic, it really does need to be discussed more. Your not guaranteed a certain personality of a dog based on their breed. It's also heavy based on environment and upbringing as you said. My rescue beagle is not social and outgoing like most people would assume and that's because she had a real tough start in life. She has also become my own trick dog and is really smart, which is not typical for this breed. Lastly, she has no hunting bone in her body, which still surprises me.

Great points❤ Do you have any spesific videos about how to pick a new dog? If I want a puppy that is easy to train but that is also a coachpotato, what do I look for?

Thank goodness! I'm 65yrs and have been saying this for so many years. Yes we may like certain breeds but the individuals within that are precisely that - individuals. But so many people base their judgement on breed standards. Annoys the heck out of me!

110% with you. I have 2 Staffordshire bull terriers...got them purely because I know their bad rep. As a dog trainer I've always told people when they've asked in advance on "what dog is best (for whatever their situation)" and ive simply given them a few "stereotypical breeds" but I always point out that all dogs are like people. They all have different personalities...so whereas some "breeds" make great family pets, it doesn't mean that they'll necessarily choose a dog that is stereotypical. If they are after a really specific character in a dog, I'll normally point them in the direction of a shelter as they do the character assessments beforehand...and they'll normally have the basic training sorted like sitting and waiting, as well as toileting. When I got my 2 staffs I knew there was no way I would bring them up to be aggressive....and I certainly didn't have to train it out of them or anything. My 2 would literally make the worst guard dogs ever 😂

My Jack Chi puppy Caramel is the best! I'm so impressed with her drive to play fetch, totally focused. I am going to start crate training her this week. I wanted to wait until she could make the logical connections of my leadership. I've read and re-read your book Zak George: Dog Training Revolution!! Thanks to your knowledge I know this relationship with my puppy will be the most fulfilling relationship with a pet yet. Thanks Zak George!

When I first got my pup I was worried taking her on walks would be horrible because she's a beagle/walker. So I expected her to always be pure hound mode following her nose only. And while the first little bit, she did. But she's going on a year old now, she still loves to follow that nose but she's such a sweetheart and is amazing at " leave it " and " keep going ". She can be stubborn but no more than any other puppy. She's got so much personality, she's like a little person with the way she communicates with me

Love this - so true! Sometimes buying a dog sight unseen, without any personal interaction (so common these days) is unhelpful. Generalizing may be more appropriate around genetic features like coat type, size, ear type. But activity levels and personality or temperaments vary widely and thus require personal interactions. Maybe you could provide some ... how can an obedience prospect puppy be identified in a litter? Or which rescue will be right for small children? Signs ... not which breed. Natural retriever characteristic does show up in young puppies as they will chase, pick up, and return a ball/toy/crumpled paper to you. They like that kind of play. Thanks again for a much needed examination of generic breed info!

I have a cattle/sheperherd mix, and she is the calmest, low energy dog i have ever met. She also has never tried to herd anything. She did like to go for long walks when she was younger, but that was about it.

Totally agree. We have a 3 y/o border collie/Australian cattle dog/Australian shepherd mix and while I went into it knowing the general traits of those breeds, it has been interesting to see how they actually present themselves. We adopted her at about 1.5 years old, and since then, we’ve really seen just how athletic she is (LOVES frisbee), how smart she is (learned “leave it” after two lessons), and how her triple whammy of herding instincts manifest in her play style.

100% agree! My 7 year old shepherd is seen by people as this supposed “high energy, guardian that just wants to play and roll around all day” but for the last 4 years since I adopted her I have not gotten her to play even once with a toy, and I thought maybe it was just her upbringing before I brought her into the family, until I saw her playing by herself one day out of just sheer coincidence, that’s when I realized that she’ll only play with toys if she’s REALLLLY bored 😂, I have gotten others telling me I’m “not getting the right toys” even though I’ve searched up the best toys for shepherds period, none have even caught her interest for more than a few seconds, she’d much rather I give her belly rubs or make her chase me, and speaking of chasing I’m not really an athlete by any stretch of the word but I tend to have more stamina than her lol she’s perfectly healthy and hasn’t had any issues with heart problems or hip problems so far (as may be common) she’s just a very laid back sort of individual

We got an american hairless terrier primarily due to allergies in the family, and the low grooming requirements, and no one has had any allergy issues with him, so that was a win. Nash has some behavioral issues, but they are probably due to us being first time dog owners in the middle of the pandemic. The breed is ranked middle of the road in terms of being good with other dogs and strangers by the AKC. His mom and half sister were wonderful, so clearly there is a lot of variability even within the family. There are a lot of factors that go into matching a dog with a family, and I think our breeder put in a lot of effort to match individual dogs to individual people. We didn't end up with the confident dog we were hoping for (yet, we are still working on it), but we did end up with an absolute cuddle bug (one of the most important breed characteristics as far as we are concerned) that really helped us get through the isolation of the pandemic.

We have had 2 boxers and our new boxer is crazy, high energy, very playful. Our past boxer was a bit lazy, chill, and a little playful.

100% agree…says this did mama of the sweetest pup!! (American Staffordshire Terrier mix/adopted)

Are there specific temperament tests you recommend? I want to get a rescue for my next dog so I won’t have a choice of breed but still want to get the right dog for me.

My whippet is fearless and very outgoing 😂

We raised a westie, I had him from 4th grade until he lived with me in college. He was the sweetest dog I’ve ever met, absolutely loved humans, really didn’t pay attention to other dogs though lol. Everyone used to tell me how aggressive or aloof westies are and I never understood it. He was my soul animal, truly the best emotional support. He passed on my birthday two years ago and I miss him every day!

I'm interested in a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever for their energy and size because I'm getting into the sport of agility. I understand how much a single dog breed can differ in personality and I've been preparing to train a low drive dog, high drive dog, overly excited to meet new people dog, nervous and scared to meet new people and the list goes on. I do also look for any high energy dogs at the local animal shelter but we already have three rescue dogs currently and I have never owned a purebred before. My mastiff mix has done so well in agility but she still has very low energy.

I completely agree and I’ve always believed that. Is it possible you could make a video on picking shelter a shelter dog? Like what you should look for if you have kids or things to avoid if you have kids or what ever a persons life style is. How do you find a shelter dog that fits your lifestyle with something more than trial and error.

Agreed!👍 Thank you for sharing this video~🤗

For me it's because of my situation, my size, and how I will be living. I specifically want a duck tolling retriever because it will fit perfectly in my RV that I plan to travel in for a year, tollers are very loyal, very intelligent, sweet, and have all of the capabilities I need to home them, train them, and co exist with them. I'm very short and my RV is small (we will be spending a lot of time outside, but I'm not sharing my bed with a giant dog at night) so I will not be getting a big dog. Part of the reason I'm getting a dog is for emotional comfort too, so I need it to be a dog breed that works well for that, and I know what fur types bring me more comfort than others, and it's also for my protection since I am a short single women traveling. Tollers are hunting dogs, so that's more ideal than say a poodle, and a tiny dog can't protect me the way I need. I'm more than willing to love this dog, take care of it properly, train it, and mother it, and help it reach its full potential, so I'm kind of over the demonizing of people picking out specific breeds. Back when I was little it was completely normal for kids to say I want this specific dog breed just because I like how it looks and if the parents were willing to get a dog, they got the kid that breed or something similar. But now we are looked down on even if we have functional reasons. It's no different than picking out a dog breed because they are 'good with kids' or 'not prone to barking' when you live in an apartment.

As someone working at a vet, one thing about labs is that they tend to eat EVERYTHING 😅 so far all my colleagues agreed. Else all dogs are individuals just like us😊

My standard poodle is amazing. I have PTSD from military and she instinctively knows when I need her

Yes! This is the whole nature vs nurture debate. When I got my pitbull mix I had no idea what a pitbull even was or any of the stereotypes about them. I just knew he was scared and had a harsh life. I knew with my own ptsd I could connect with him! Dogs are individuals.

Hey Zak, what kind of tests would you recommend doing with a border collie puppy to get a good indication if it will be athletic/energetic/likely to be interested in frisbee etc? Just play around a toy and see the level of engagement? Thanks.

I'm the first! Haven't watched the video yet, but I want a poodle due to their stereotypes (biddable, energetic, and obedient). Let's see what the video has to say about this!

it's extremely difficult to get out of stereotypes my friend's dog got attacked by a labrador and yet he still thinks that all labradors are friendly and pitbulls are evil

Hey Zak! Why does my dog tend to have negative reactions towards people when I handle her but she’s a different dog when my parents handle her? @ Zak George

Agreed. Dogs are individuals. Just like my brothers and I are totally different but have the same mum and dad. We have a Golden Retriever and a Greyhound who both buck the general behaviours for their breed in different ways. Both are rescue dogs and their behaviours are a product of their background and conditioning, and both change over time. Just like people do!

I think breed or rather breed group is a good starting point to point you in the general direction of what kind of dog you want. Deep genetics are a thing. For example: i love training dogs, so id love a dog that is mentally and physically capable of doing lots of things like going on month long thru hikes, obedience, agility, heelwork. A pug would not be ideal for this, and many hunting dogs wouldnt either, but many shepherd breeds wil. Within those i have personal preferences, but there its more subjective. Then i look at health of the dog, if i want a specific breed, good breeders (and rescues) and then after all this selection ill look at individuals. Does this dog fit into the lifestyle i have and into the work i want to do with this dog?

I have a German Shepherd, and a Frenchie, and a mixed Frenchie ...... The pure bred Frenchie and my Shepard are both super stubborn........ The mixed bulldog is awesome

I really agree that awareness of the individual dog needs to promoted - especially concerning Real Estate and Property Managers, they stereotype breed types all the time, usually with a negative view, I faced it trying to find a home with my Tenterfield terrier X Chihuahua, the stereotypical response being that he'd be "yappy, because small dogs are yappy". He was not a yappy dog at all!

Hello...any advice for a dog who like to tear up mattress and bedsheets.

Breed does matter. When we bred dogs they were bred for a specific purpose. Not every dog is a pet dog. We have dogs for search and rescue, protection, police work, service dogs etc. breed is still important for a pet dog. If you don’t want to do any specific thing with a dog and then get a Malinois or a Shepherd - it is likely to go badly. Most pet owners aren’t going to want to put in the work to maintain a high energy and high drive breed like that.

I certainly agree with what you've said here. That being said, I do think we can use breed to make an educated guess as to what that dog may be like. For example, a Border Collie is "likely" to be more active and require more exercise than a Basset Hound. All dogs will sniff, but a scent hound will sometimes take the sniffing to a whole other level. Irish Wolfhounds are sight hounds and we had to assess the rescues very carefully before placing them in homes with cats, rabbits, and other small animals. We had to make sure the dogs weren't going to "hunt" the cats or other small pets in the home. Not all Wolfhounds would go after cats, certainly. But we had to be very vigilant about this because many WOULD go after cats. On the other hand, we weren't quite as vigilant about placing a Dane in a home with small pets. Certainly we made sure the Dane was okay with cats (or whatever animal was in the home), but Danes were (in general) less likely than Wolfhounds to have that genetic code that said "chase this furry little critter". So, yes, all dogs are individuals and now two are alike. Many "break" breed stereotypes. But we can use breed information to make some sort of guess based on probabilities. For example, which breed is more "likely" to herd children--a Sheltie or a Great Dane? My in-laws had a wonderful little Sheltie, but this little girl liked all her people in one place and if someone got up to go into the kitchen, the bathroom, or wherever, she'd follow you, nipping at your heels (not aggression) trying to put you back with the flock. It was terribly upsetting for her for her flock to be separated.

The dog's energy level vs your own is another consideration. In contrast to our older, smaller, dogs, our new standard poodle puppy is go-go-go until she collapses for a quick nap. I wasn't quite ready for that although she's proven very easy to train.

It's just entertaining information about the dog, just as knowing my own ancestral origins is interesting. It's also entertaining to see how close I got to discerning their true mix. I rarely meet a dog that is not amazing, adorable, and absolutely loveable. 😍🤩😍

I actually have a question about pupbox. If I go to the shelter and swoop up an 8 week old puppy, could I just use pupbox and then my local puppy kindergarten for socialization? Also ... if you get a puppy young enough (like right at 8 weeks) can you make any dog highly obedient just because of how you raised them? OR are some dogs always going to be not that willing to please no matter what they go through starting at 8 weeks? I guess my question is if the super young mixed breed puppies are blank slates that I can craft my dream dog from.

These are all great points, and conversations that I think all Doug people should be having. I personally do not share all of your philosophy, though I do think that you are doing great work. And I don't think that it is inappropriate to not be on the same page as someone but also still have the respect for their work. I do resonate more with people like Cesar Millan and Patricia McConnell (I'm not interested in anyone's thoughts about how much they dislike Cesar Milan by the way. You do you.) But back to conversations about people over fixating on dog breeds. I have seen people get a dog simply because they like the particular look of a breed, and then they are in over their heads because they did not do research on the breed, nor do they understand that every dog is as you said, and individual. It's great to have a breed preference (I am a huge fan of the working line German shepherds), but breed does not define everything. I think understanding the breed standard can help in that it can give you a general idea of what the breed was developed for and what to expect, but always look at the dog as an individual. I have had four German Shepherd's, and each one of them have been as different as night is from day. My current boy is not at all aloof, absolutely adores people, but can easily refocus when I ask him to. My previous two shepherds were both very aloof and could care less about people. One liked to do things at her own pace (she had a ho-hum attitude), and the other was What I would call a peacemaker. He had this incredible energy that calmed both people and dogs, and he adored puppies. He could take or leave people. On a note about pitbull type dogs, I have met five pets. Three of them became service dogs for people (fantastic service dogs by the way), the fourth one is a therapy dog, and the first one is actually in training to be a guide dog right now. These dogs are all with very skilled and dedicated people who have taken the time to build relationships with them and to celebrate them for who they are. And yet it deeply saddens me to know that when they go out in public, they are faced with a lot of discrimination simply because their dogs are Pitbulls. Anyway, this was a fantastic video, and I'm glad that you brought all of these wonderful points to light. I think you laid out everything in a sensical, logical, and intelligent manner. It is very clear that you are a gifted teacher. Keep up your fantastic work, and thank you for helping thousands of humans and dogs alike.

I agree that dogs should be judged first as individuals, however, after 65 years of dog obsession, I know that breed traits should not be dismissed when evaluating a new dog. I have shared my life with a variety of breeds but mostly border collies. My Afghan hounds (3), Chihuahuas (3), Chinese cresteds (3), mixed-breeds, and border collies (9) each had very distinct personalities but each one also shared traits common to their breed, especially the border collies from working parents. Whatever the breed or mix, positive methods yield the best results! Thank for all your wonderful videos.

Zak, I love those provocations! As the owner of a beagle who think he’s a Labrador, I’m all onboard the individual dog argument. However, I think it’s important to acknowledge that many of the videos that you are reacting to are often there to warn people away from certain breeds that would be dangerous or irresponsible for them to have. For example a first time owner with a Cane Corso or a workaholic with a Malinois. I recognise that this can lead to breed stereotyping, and that’s a tricky situation but is it worse than uninformed owners rolling the dice that is unlikely to be suitable for them? I suspect that there are no easy answers to this one.

I love you. youre correct.

I think it would be fair for dog professionals to admit they do not know as much about genetics as they seem to think. It's a complicated subject

It's true I have a catahula and tree hound mix and he's stubborn but i can tell he's smart as well. He tries to go after deer or squirrels but is great with our cats. He follows as many stereotypes as he breaks.

I have a poodle, and he is the most huskylike dog I’ve ever had (and I’ve actually had a husky). He lays outside in any wheater, sings and can pull anything if he wants to. The craziest dog I’ve ever met and most certainly not a lot like any other poodles I’ve ever had😂

I agree with you, but I use a walker and have diabetes I need a dog I can lift would a pappion or chi be good for that or am I missing to boat?

Yes! Thank you! I’ve had so many people turn their noses up at my dogs because they’re mixes. 🙄

Awwww I love this!!! Yes, just love your doggie & let them be.

I agree totally. Every dog is an individual, despite breed or mix.

I have a Samoyed. The Breed is known to be great with kids, dog friendly, eager to work, highly intelligent but strong willed, mischevious, loves to bark, and want to be with their people at all times. She is all of those things, except she is dog-reactive which we are always trying to work on! (Recently with some screensaver training outside of a dog park!) So I'd say she's pretty typical as far as her breed stereotypes. However, I fully believe what you are saying Zak. I've met so many pit-bulls who are just the most happy friendly dogs. I've always believed that a dog is a product of genetics, environment, and upbringing just like you said!

I have 2 rescues - a Miniature Schnauzer (my failed foster) and an Alpine Dachsbracke/ beagle/ balken hound mix. The only 'well known' traits my Schnauzer has is his mouth and obsession with food🤣 My Dachsbracke mix doesn't show any of the standard stubbornness you get from the hounds in her mix and has been insanely easy to train so far (which I was advised training was going to be difficult due to her breeds). I have fostered multiple dogs of different pedigree breeds and mixes, and not one of them have displayed the so called standard traits. They have all been individuals. I understand people opting for selective breeds when it comes to allergies and dog size (not everyone's homes are suitable for every breed). But honestly, working with rescues and fostering has opened my eyes to the horrors of selective breeding and 'in fashion' dogs. I don't know what it's like everywhere else, but here in the UK it has caused puppy farming to go through the roof and bad breeding practices all in the name of money. It also causes so many of them to end up in rescue shelters because they don't display the traits they are known for. It really is sad state of affairs right now. So if you can please adopt don't shop and treat every dog you adopt as their own person. Thank you Zak for sharing this video, it's about time somebody addressed this.

My lab is quite shy and low energy. Mixed with (we think) coonhound. He's the goodest boy.

My bichon frise doesn't fully fit the profile He's very smart and playful but is not friendly to strangers or other dogs He's currently fast asleep in his bed 🥰

I agree. My standard poodle is friendly but shy and is very territorial and protective. His barks sounds as scary as any guard dog breed. Hes very very strong can probably drag me if he wanted to Chase something.

My Belgian Tervuren was a couch potato! He also didn’t bark, and I guess that’s not exactly the breed standard. I train a frenchie who is supposed to be “stubborn” but he isn’t. He’s smart and happy and will do anything for his favorite treats. The breed I think provides a basic foundation but how a dog is raised, how the dog’s parents acted, how much you engage with your dog, how much enrichment you give…that is often so much more of a personality decider than breed.

Breed isn't everything but sometimes it can give you an idea what's going on, especially if you are looking to adopt. I did look to adopt last time (I don't mind skipping the potty training phase of a dog's life 😅) but where I live it's mostly adolescent BC mixes people give up on. I love BCs but a high drive working breed wasn't really what suited my situation so I ended up getting a dog from a breeder. That dog is a Whippet and she is fairly stereotypical. But it has been interesting to find out what training a "couch potato breed" is like and she's actually very quick to learn. It's just that there is also a lot less drive and you need to have the sense to quit training before she loses interest. I do Nosework with her and we both enjoy it and she's very good at it. I have had a terrier and a GSD before. I totally see myself getting another terrier at some point in my life. I also love my whippet, it's such a weird type of dog. I have a cat and she's more of a cat than my actual cat sometimes 😂

I think purebreed only matters if you plan to get a working dog to help you with farming/guarding/herding extra or a show dog. Breed or mix definitely matters though. Like lets say a small dog breed that gets cold easy in the Arctic or a big super furry breed in the middle of death valley wouldn't really work or a super active breed in a tiny studio apartment in a city that's not very walkable. Dog breeds is also important when it comes to breed specific illnesses/injuries as well as behavioral problems like a herding dog herding small children or a hunting dog with a high prey drive going after your smaller pets sometimes you have no clue what to expect when you adopt a mixed breed(always worth it with hard work and love) UT it's nice to know about what their mix is so you can have a little more understanding of your pooch and knowing may give you more of an idea of games/ training you can do with your dog like find it with a scent hound or a tunnel maze for your westie or weiner dog

I agree to a certain point. You shouldn’t exclude certain breeds because of stigma etc. but certain breeds do (in my personal opinion) fit better for certain people. Mainly due do two things: grooming needs (not everyone has the money or time it takes to maintain a long haired coat) and 2: energy. certain breeds DO have a lot of energy and needs a lot more stimulation and exercise compared to other breeds. like i would never recommend a border collie, heeler, husky or any other high energy breed to people that don’t have an active lifestyle or is willing to put in a lot of physical and mental stimulation. Another mistake I see people make is “I’ll get a small dog because they don’t need much walks”, and then they get some sort of small terrier like a Russel terrier which is very high energy 🙊

Could not agree more. Our obsession with dog breeding leads to some very unfortunate consequences like abusive puppy mills and treating dogs like things to be sold for profit.

Personally, I agree. However, as a member of a society that doesn't agree - we did scratch breeds off our list of options when searching at shelters for a dog. I know that many home insurance policies (mine included) have exclusions for specific breeds in their policies and some might even cancel your homeowners insurance if you were to file a claim with a dog breed on their list. They create these exclusions based on which breeds they typically get a higher amount of claims for. (In 10 claims, if 6 are for breed A, 2 for breed B, and 1 each for breeds C and D - they're going to exclude breed A). I was also terrified that many cities, neighborhoods, etc have bans on breeds such as pit bulls. Our city does not - but what if 5 years into the future, they do? We could be stuck deciding between moving or keeping our dog. I don't think it's fair, but I would hate to be faced with that decision. We ended up with a beautiful mixed breed of everything! Shelter told us Boxer/Dachshund/Chihuahua - but I'd be shocked if beagle wasn't #1 in his DNA and if there's chihuahua, it'd be very low.

I do think categorizing dog breed's characteristics are extremly important in a sense that you should not get a working dog if you don't have an active lifestyle of some sort. Breed characteristics are also very important to consider when you look at what kind of enviroment you live in. My rescue, a German Shepherd, came to me because their owner had to move to an apartment and German Shepherd Dogs do tend to bark a lot and are considered "loud" dogs. This particular dog comes from a working line with very prestigious German Shepherd being recruited as police dogs, in military etc. But my dog does not really have what it takes to work in these jobs. So yes, individuality also matters a lot but breed characteristics should not be undermined. My labrador is one of the most typical labs you can meet personality wise, outgoing, friendly, and so on. But he isn't into retrieving. I hate it when dogs are suppose to fit into these molds and if they don't, they're either considered bad dogs or the blame is entirely put on you.k

Well i can say that breeds are usefull when making a choice about the dog. Personality is one thing and phisicality other thing. Size and strengh of a dog matters. I wanted a small dog for my family so we looked at small breeds. My grandpa is old and weaker so he needed a dog that wouldnt be to strong. He ended up with Amstaff so its not the best choice and it caused some problems, but its his 3rd. I ended up with Jack Russell and i couldnt be happier as well, about stereotypes my JRT is everything how ppl discribe him. So id say that breeds are usefull to have and can help chosing a dog suited for what you can provide. Personality and training is a whole diffrent book in my opinion and every dog can be lovely and agnry when treated accuratly.

I know soo many people that have labs with behavioural issues, mainly I think because people have this idea that they are 'easy' dogs that don't need training! It's not the breeds fault but the stereotype that they are these perfect family dogs everytime with no issues just isn't true, as with any breed!

More people need to see this video.

It is useful to understand breed characteristics when choosing a dog. For example, a Vizsla who was bred to run nonstop for eight hours, is NOT a good choice for a family who works all day and has little kids. Likely, they will not be able to take their dog out for an hour off-leash run every day. So what happens? The dog gets bored, gets destructive or just has too much energy for the family, and the dog ends up in rescue. Regarding Border Collies-would you recommend a Border Collie for someone who just wants a chill dog? This breed needs a job or they will be unhappy or a problem. Breeders have spent a hundred years to breed in certain characteristics, like a bird dog innately knows how to hunt-or a Anatolian knows to guard livestock. The particular breed does deserve some consideration, it would be a mistake not to at least be aware of the ‘stereotypes.’ Yes, there are variations within the breed and within the same litter, but don’t just ignore the characteristics of a Cane Corso if you have kids or live in an apartment.

This even goes with service dogs There's a litter of 9 lab puppies Only 3 or less even make it Some are too energetic, or fearful of people, or scared of loud noises, or vecomes stubborn So much goes into a service dog, especially for the blind and other disabilities Not every lab is the same Yes, they most likely will retrieve the ball compared to a chihuahua Or be more high energy than a bulldog But all does are different, just like us humans So I get where you're coming from I have a German shepherd mix He is very smart and has a high energy But another shepherd I know is not high energy, very skittish

I was so ready to say, really 🤷🏻‍♀️ by the headline. But you are right, I’ve got Great Danes and Afghan Hounds, generally you have a reasonable idea of what you will get, but there are variations within the breed. I turn Afghans that are supposed to be aloof into registered therapy dogs, I do lots of different things with my dogs other than showing. I’ve currently got a 13 month old Dane that is ridiculously high energy for a Dane and an 18 week old puppy, that is extremely laid back, I change training according to the dog

What you didn't adress, and this is a huge oversight considering you're talking about purebreed dogs, is that no responsible breeder is going to give just any puppy to any home. There's a vetting process where they ask you what exactly you're looking for in the dog, if you want a sport or show prospect or just a pet, what you're planning to do with the dog (example you don't want a sport prospect but you want to dabble in obedience and trick training), what your experiences are with the breed, why you chose the breed, etc. Good breeders temperament test every puppy even if they're from temperament sound parents and will match a puppy to the prospective owner. Every dog is an individual and therefore breeders who care about the animals they produce will make sure they get appropriate homes. If you're going to a working breeder it would be ignorant to expect that the dog would be able to conform to a casual pet lifestyle.

agreed I got a chihuahua mix and she doesn't act like a stereotypical chihuahua. everyone is surprised she is generally quiet and chill.

My background is in service work, and though temperament trumps all, there are certain breeds that more reliably produce certain temperaments. Also it’s a good indicator of genetic fulfillment and behavioral tendencies. But at the end of the day, dogs are dogs first

I agree, I would not get a dog breed based on physical characteristics (ex. size and fur), all dogs have their own personalities, like even though my dog is a mix of 4 stereotypically smart, energetic and heroic rescue type dogs he is a shy, aloof and not so bright little pup. There are only a few instances where I would not get a dog because of it's "stereotypical" behaviour but those are based off of personal experiences (ex. my dog absolutely hates all Schnauzers, so I would not get one because I don't want to risk triggering my dog).