Do you ever feel like, when you have a dog (especially of a breed that isn't THAT popular) and other people (presumably inspired by your dog) get one themselves... and are then a bit overwhelmed or disappointed or whatever
Do you feel guilty? weird? annoyed?
These two people that just got aussies (because they just LOVE merlin) did ask me what having Merlin was like and what raising him was like... but they NEVER EVER told me they were considering getting aussies, what the bad stuff was like, where I got Merlin, what the breed is like generally etc..
so I wasn't as detailed as I should have been and just told them the basics you know.. raising Merlin was easy (he was already crate trained, took to house training in a snap, didn't nip, doesn't bark that often). He is a sweet boy who learns well and for the most part is just an EASY DOG. But I wasn't specific and didn't really detail that this wasn't just a GIVEN for the breed
the thing is, people come in at work and meet Merlin all day where he plays 6 hours a day and is both on his best behavior and kind of tired from all that.
so people come in and they meet cuddly, affectionate, ready to party Merlin... who is amazing with all dogs and all people (LARGELY due to his breeder as well as his socialization through the store itself)
So people walk in and he is EXCEPTIONALLY cuddly with people, and such a great gentle player with dogs.. but I feel bad because I don't tell people that it's partly lots of exercise, partly training, and partly just his personality.. it isn't a general aussie thing.
and this is going to sound so wrong but AMAZING as merlin is.. he isn't exactly the "breed standard".. he is NOT aloof towards strangers (he loves everyone), he loves all animals, he doesn't bark often, he likes to nap..
Well these two people got aussie puppies and I feel so bad because they came in so freaked out asking if these pups were "normal" or like Merlin was when he was their age because they are SO OVERWHELMED
One puppy is 7 weeks, the other is about 8. but I don't know what to tell them because Merlin was NEVER like these pups one is confident but VERY VERY NIPPY and barky, and the other is very very shy and nervous and seems to be fear biting.
The 7 week old is from an unknown source online (keep in mind, I work there..I can't be THAT critical about where people get their dogs) but the 10 week old (who is very very nippy and barky) is from a working breeder and has SO MUCH ENERGY, more than Merlin even has now.
I just feel so conflicted.
I feel like I shouldn't have to make Merlin sound less fun.. but also, as my boss said, there's a responsibility. People come in, new and wanting dogs, and see this pretty dog and he behaves the way that he does and ugh I dunno
I just don't THINK that way, like I'm representing a breed. People come in and are like "WHAT A PRETTY DOG! WHAT IS HE? WHATS HE LIKE" and I don't think that I'm making some kind of statement I'm usually like "He's an aussie! He is such an easy dog, he is a very sweet boy, Loves everybody!"
I just feel so bad. These pups are both in homes that are wrong for them with people that wanted cuddly, sweet, go anywhere, playful dogs.. and I just didn't mention that all aussies aren't like him and that there is a lot of exercise and training that goes on behind the scenes and about finding the right breeder and just ugh.
Womp :/
Do you feel guilty? weird? annoyed?
These two people that just got aussies (because they just LOVE merlin) did ask me what having Merlin was like and what raising him was like... but they NEVER EVER told me they were considering getting aussies, what the bad stuff was like, where I got Merlin, what the breed is like generally etc..
so I wasn't as detailed as I should have been and just told them the basics you know.. raising Merlin was easy (he was already crate trained, took to house training in a snap, didn't nip, doesn't bark that often). He is a sweet boy who learns well and for the most part is just an EASY DOG. But I wasn't specific and didn't really detail that this wasn't just a GIVEN for the breed
the thing is, people come in at work and meet Merlin all day where he plays 6 hours a day and is both on his best behavior and kind of tired from all that.
so people come in and they meet cuddly, affectionate, ready to party Merlin... who is amazing with all dogs and all people (LARGELY due to his breeder as well as his socialization through the store itself)
So people walk in and he is EXCEPTIONALLY cuddly with people, and such a great gentle player with dogs.. but I feel bad because I don't tell people that it's partly lots of exercise, partly training, and partly just his personality.. it isn't a general aussie thing.
and this is going to sound so wrong but AMAZING as merlin is.. he isn't exactly the "breed standard".. he is NOT aloof towards strangers (he loves everyone), he loves all animals, he doesn't bark often, he likes to nap..
Well these two people got aussie puppies and I feel so bad because they came in so freaked out asking if these pups were "normal" or like Merlin was when he was their age because they are SO OVERWHELMED
One puppy is 7 weeks, the other is about 8. but I don't know what to tell them because Merlin was NEVER like these pups one is confident but VERY VERY NIPPY and barky, and the other is very very shy and nervous and seems to be fear biting.
The 7 week old is from an unknown source online (keep in mind, I work there..I can't be THAT critical about where people get their dogs) but the 10 week old (who is very very nippy and barky) is from a working breeder and has SO MUCH ENERGY, more than Merlin even has now.
I just feel so conflicted.
I feel like I shouldn't have to make Merlin sound less fun.. but also, as my boss said, there's a responsibility. People come in, new and wanting dogs, and see this pretty dog and he behaves the way that he does and ugh I dunno
I just don't THINK that way, like I'm representing a breed. People come in and are like "WHAT A PRETTY DOG! WHAT IS HE? WHATS HE LIKE" and I don't think that I'm making some kind of statement I'm usually like "He's an aussie! He is such an easy dog, he is a very sweet boy, Loves everybody!"
I just feel so bad. These pups are both in homes that are wrong for them with people that wanted cuddly, sweet, go anywhere, playful dogs.. and I just didn't mention that all aussies aren't like him and that there is a lot of exercise and training that goes on behind the scenes and about finding the right breeder and just ugh.
Womp :/