So you get this dog from the shelter. The tag on the cage said “Lab Shepherd mix.” You bring the dog home. What can you expect? Will he want to fetch constantly like a Labrador Retriever? Will he be intense and focused like a German Shepherd?
Maybe you read up on different dog breeds and decide that the best fit for your lifestyle is a calm, quiet dog like a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. You find a reputable breeder and bring the puppy home. She is non-stop playful and barks at you for attention.
Like the Queen of England, your family has always had Corgis and now that you are adult, you want one of your own. You go through a Corgi rescue group and are the proud owner of a 10 month old Pembroke Corgi. You are hoping your dog will run and chase and play with your kids. This particular dog, though, prefers to stand to the side and bark non-stop.
The Poodle mix you rescued turns out to be not quite as smart as Poodles are purported to be. You teach your dog to sit over and over, and still each day this dog looks blankly at you when you say “Sit.”
These scenarios are pretty typical experiences when people get a dog identified as a particular breed or combination of breeds. But here’s the deal: to paraphrase a well-known saying, it might look like a Bichon, walk like a Bichon and bark like a Bichon, but that doesn’t mean it will act like a Bichon.
Personally, I don’t believe breed is destiny. I’ve seen too many Labs that have no interest in swimming or playing ball. Chihuahuas that would rather be outside than on someone’s lap. Huskies that lay by the fireplace instead of outside in the snow.
Knowing a dog’s breed makes it visually identifiable. And often, a dog will “act” like the breed it is. Herding dogs, for example, like Aussies, Border Collies, and Cattle Dogs, are pretty notorious for chase-and-nip action. Westies and Cairn Terriers as a rule, are pretty headstrong. And Bloodhounds almost always have their nose to the ground.
Still, I never ever assume that a dog will embody the characteristics of the breed it is. What I DO know is that it will probably act like a dog. Untrained dogs, regardless of breed, will typically jump, bark, not listen to their owners, pull on the leash, get in your personal space, and assume that anything within reach must be chewable.
Any dog can be trained to behave like a polite family companion. No matter what breed that dog may be.
