High expectations can lead to disappointment for dogs

People are placing unrealistic expectations on their dogs, causing them to become victims of ‘Perfect Dog Syndrome’, warns Britain’s pet charity The Blue Cross.

A recent survey carried out by the charity showed that 60 per cent of dog owners do not believe that dog training should be ongoing and only 54 per cent spend all day with their dogs. The pet charity is concerned that an apparent lack of understanding about the importance of training and socialising could mean that dogs are not considered ‘perfect’ and are brought to rehoming centres, such as those run by The Blue Cross.

A massive 87 per cent of dog owners recently surveyed by the charity who said that their perfect dog would be able to be socialised in a month also wanted that dog to be good with people and kids. Worryingly, of those surveyed who could only dedicate 30 minutes a day to their dog, 75 per cent also expected it to be a family dog.

Julie Bedford, head of animal behaviour at The Blue Cross, said: “People may feel that their dogs have to be perfect – the need to attain perfection in all other walks of life means that we see our pet’s behaviour as another thing to conquer.”

Women are most likely to have PDS. Over a third of women said that the destruction of household items would be the thing most likely to make them give their dog up, and they find wetting or messing in the house the most annoying behaviour of a dog.  However, women are also more likely to leave their dogs alone all day, which could lead to these behaviours being exhibited. People aged over 55 are least likely to have PDS as 73 per cent say their dog is with them or someone else all day, and 70 per cent are willing to train their dog five times a day.

Julie continued: “It can be impossible to attain perfection, but with time, effort and the correct approach it is certainly possible to avoid the problems that may lead to disappointment and the dog ending up in a rescue centre.”

Media contact: Susan Crown
Direct line: 020 7932 4066
Mobile: 07880 781 637

Notes to editors
The Blue Cross is Britain's pet charity, providing practical support, information and advice for pet and horse owners. Through its network of animal adoption centres it rehomes thousands of animals each year. Its hospitals provide veterinary care for the pets of people who cannot afford private vets' fees.       

BMRB was commissioned by The Blue Cross to conduct the survey among 1000 dog owners between 14 and 24 October 2005. Interviews were conducted via the internet.                                                                                             

Other results from the survey included:

Regional stats showed that:

• Londoners are more likely to want an outdoors type job, like a collie, than a urban living dog like a Staffordshire bull terrier
• Southerners come top in wanting a small dog – like a Jack Russell
• People in the South West are less likely to be annoyed by dogs jumping up than any other region
• East Anglians are more annoyed by dogs’ begging than any other region
• Dog owners in the East Midlands are more likely to be annoyed by dogs chewing items than any other region
• Owners in Wales are more annoyed by dogs pulling on the lead than any other region
• Owners in the West Midlands are more likely to want a large dog, like a Rottweiler, than any other region
• Yorkshire’s owners came top in finding excessive barking more annoying than any other region
• Scotland has the most owners likely to be annoyed by normal canine behaviour – like dogs sniffing one another’s behinds.
• Dog owners in the North East are least likely to have PDS: understanding ongoing training, consistency and the importance of spending all day with a dog
• Lancastrian owners are the least likely to seek professional advice when their dog exhibits behavioural problems.
• overall, the perfect dog in looks and temperament was found to be female, medium sized, with mixed colouring, shorthair, good with people and kids, and a family dog
• respondents who want dogs that are able to be left alone are most likely, 38%, to be annoyed by wetting/messing in the house
• 55% of respondents desired ‘family dogs’, 22% thought outdoor dogs were perfect, 9% lap dogs and 7% urban types
• most new dog owners are more likely to leave their dogs alone at home during the day, 48% compared to an average of 34%