How the Movie Effect Creates Shelter Dogs

I've always been partial to the Siberian Husky. "Snow Dogs" and "Eight Below" are two of my favorite movies because they showcase the breed's intelligence, what they were bred to do and their devotion to their owner. The adorable Chihuahua, Bruiser, in the "Legally Blonde" movies won our hearts and Cosmo, a rescued Jack Russell, is stealing the show in a new movie released this summer called, "Beginners". Seeing a specific dog breed in the movies is a good way to introduce movie goers to the positive and adoring side of the dog, but the movie effect also creates shelter dogs when people discover the negative characteristics of the breed once they get their dog home.

Dogs in movies are just like their human actors. What you see on the big screen is the hard work of a professional dog trainer who spent weeks or months training the dog to behave in a certain way. The average dog does not come fully trained from a breeder or a shelter and you will have to do that yourself. And the sweet, adoring personality movie goers fall in love with can be deceiving. Dogs are a complete package of positive and negative characteristics, just like we are. In other words, dogs are just as imperfect as we are and it's our job to teach them how we expect them to behave.

The movie effect creates shelter dogs when people don't stop to consider the whole dog before they buy. Celebrities who tote their small dogs around in bags that match their outfits give photographers a cute picture, but it doesn't give the public a realistic image of the dog. A dog is not an accessory to an outfit. Because of celebrities showing up in public with small dogs and successful movies like "Legally Blonde" and "Beverly Hills Chihuahua", California shelters saw the number of Chihuahuas surrendered across the state skyrocket as unknowing and uneducated dog lovers raced out to find their own cute little dogs. They brought a dog into their home without doing the proper homework to make sure the dog would fit into their lifestyle. Shelters in California are still shipping Chihuahuas to other areas of the country and to Canada in the hopes of finding thousands of shelter dogs new homes.

Always opportunistic puppy mill owners are happy to feed the publics' desire for specific dog breeds and they waste no time in jumping on the money making bandwagon by mass producing dogs without concern for the safety and health of the puppies or mothers. These backyard breeders are not responsible breeders and they don't care about breeding for positive characteristics. Their one and only concern is to mass produce as many puppies as possible. Inbreeding and sickly dogs who will most likely live a short life with expensive health issues are passed off in pet shops as healthy dogs. Even though most pet shops will deny it, nearly all of the puppies in pet shops are supplied by puppy mills.

The movie effect can be reduced only if dog lovers will stop and think before they buy. Owning a dog requires more than just buying a dog dish, leash, food and some toys. Families with small children need to consider which breed of dog will interact best with the youngest members in the home. Not all dogs like kids and no dog, regardless of how kid friendly he is, should ever be left alone with a small child. Shelters are full of dogs, purebred and mixed, who were surrendered because they were the wrong dog for the family and not because they were bad dogs.

Before choosing a dog, research dog breed characteristics. Knowing what to expect in a dog's temperament, how easy or difficult he is to train and the dog's pluses and minuses can help you decide if the dog is compatible with your lifestyle, your human family members and other pets you may have in the home. Understanding what you're getting can keep a dog out of a shelter and in the home where he belongs.

Dog ownership is a huge responsibility and it should never be taken lightly. All dogs need basic training, socialization with other people and pets, medical care when needed and an understanding of how to read a dog's body language. When you know who your dog is as an individual dog, it's much easier to train him according to his personality.

The movie effect is a big problem for shelters and adds to our pet overpopulation when puppy mills mass produce animals to sell to people who make bad decisions in choosing a dog. Siberian Huskies are great dogs, but they aren't for everyone. They shed heavily twice a year, are escape artists who love to roam if they get loose, can be hard to train if you don't take the lead role and may not get along with cats. I had two Huskies. My male loved the cats and my female only tolerated them.

Chihuahuas are small dogs who can easily develop "small dog syndrome" if the dog is allowed to control his owner and if he thinks he's the boss, this dog may not be good with young children or other dogs. Jack Russell terriers are energetic and intelligent dogs who can be a terror with the wrong owner who isn't this dog's leader. Any dog can develop bad behavior if they don't receive proper leadership, exercise and stimulation for their mind to keep them out of trouble.

Sharing your home and family with a dog is a decision most families never regret. Picking the right dog is as important as picking the right babysitter for your kids. The best place to buy a puppy is from a reputable breeder who can answer your questions and explain the good and bad qualities of their particular breed. Their concern is for the dog and they want to make sure you and the dog will be a good fit.

Shelters and breed specific rescue groups are also great places to find the dog of your dreams. The canine actors you see on the big screen most likely came from a shelter and were rescued by a dog trainer searching for the next dog star. Don't let the movie effect guide your decision when choosing a dog. Your local animal shelter will thank you for being a responsible and educated dog owner who chose a dog because he was the right one for you and your family.

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