Grrr...

I'm going to bite the American Veterinary Medical Association. According to the AVMA this demonstration of bad temperament must mean I was adopted from an orphanage.

Let me explain.

The American Veterinary Medical Association is not my favorite association and here is another reason. They list "risk factors for behavior problems" as "adoption after 12 weeks of age" and "being acquired from a shelter." I think the biggest risk factor for behavior problems is lack of training and even more so, a genetically poor temperament.

But these are also the same people who are against a longer period between vaccines because (to loosely quote) vaccines are often the only time a pet owner brings their pet to the vet and the vet needs to see the pet more often. Basically, they want your money and too bad if it is actually bad for your dog. I'm not even making a decision here if vaccinating lots is bad for your dog, I'm just pointing out that the AVMA doesn't even address the necessity of the vaccine as the reason for keeping the current protocol in place. Instead their reasoning is related to an entirely separate issue.

And with the statement at the top of this blog they are repeating an outdated, untrue idea that dogs are in the shelter due to some fault of the dog! That is so old-fashioned. "Moving" is the number one reason for turning a dog into the shelter. If the dog was turned in for a reason that the dog actually did cause- such as marking in the house or escaping (as was the case in Fancy's situation) that is really an owner/ training issue also. Training issues are very different from behavior issues. Fear biting is a behavior issue. Not being housebroken is a training issue.

Why do so many people rely on their vets for training or behavior issue anyway? The vet should do an exam to rule out medical causes of a training or behavior issue (example- make sure your female dog does not have a UTI if her housebreaking suddenly breaks) but see a trainer for training issues.

Being extremely fearful did not happen because the dog came out of the shelter. It happened due to poor breeding, or much more infrequently- abuse. Saying a shelter dog is at risk for behavior problems just ignores the true underlying cause.

The AVMA should stick with medical issues.

PS- I think perhaps my parent's lovely Aussie Roscoe was bought from a breeder at right around 12 weeks of age. You couldn't find a nicer dog. Fancy, Pie, Blossom, Dottie and Roscoe- 5 dogs who disprove that lame-o statement. Old Bloom would bite if in pain such as if I accidentally pulled his fur while brushing his super thick coat, so I'm not going to count him. Biting is never good, but is biting when in pain really a behavior issue? Or are dogs who don't bite even when in pain just abnormal?

PSS- If your dog truly has a behavior problem such as biting and the dog is unsafe to live with, the owner should put the dog down, rather than dumping it at the shelter. If the dog isn't safe for your family it isn't going to be safe for any family.