Quote:
Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction
Some dogs are just jerks. When it comes to intelligence and personality, they have a lot of individual variation based on genetics, just like people. You might be able to train them to suppress their urges , but they will still emerge if the dog has not been bred to pick up on human social queues. Breeds that have been bred for companionship over hundreds of years pick it up naturally with little or no training. Dogs that were bred for working, hunting, or fighting will never suppress their urges 100% and be happy doing it. I think it's almost cruel to own an a dog like that in a normal urban setting because it must be incredibly frustrating for them to suppress their natural urges. The stuff they do that annoys us, is fun and rewarding for them. Making them go against their nature would be like training a human that having fun is a bad thing.
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Your post reminds me of the movie "Marly and Me". I don't think I could ever allow a lab to get that undisciplined. I think in the movie it was his father he took after, and he was not around when they came to evaluate the pups.
When choosing a dog, I think you should first know its natural traits, and what you want in a dog. As far as barking is concerned, some dogs are naturally yappy. Stay away from them, especially if your neighbor is Sliver. Secondly, choose a well recommended breeder, not a puppy mill. Thirdly, know what to look for in pups, as you say, they are all different.
For me, I want a hunting dog that is trainable, is a companion, protector, loves kids, and all round family dog. For me, the lab or golden retriever would qualify in all respects. I still think of those beautiful photos of Cowperson and his golden retrievers hiking through the hills.